“I was shocked …”
Homeowner Lynn Boutwell was puzzled when an unpleasant swamp-like smell began emanating from her refrigerator. Despite thoroughly cleaning the fridge and discarding wilted produce, the odor lingered, leaving Boutwell determined to uncover the source.
That’s when she noticed what appeared to be a couple of limp bean sprouts on a lower shelf. Upon closer inspection, Boutwell realized the shocking truth—the “bean sprouts” were actually the shriveled body of a small frog that had somehow made its way into her fridge, likely hitching a ride on some produce.
The frog appeared lifeless, its body dehydrated from the fridge’s cold, dry air. But as Boutwell prepared to discard it, she spotted something remarkable.
“I saw a faint heartbeat,” Boutwell said. “That tugged at my heartstrings.”
Realizing the frog was still alive, Boutwell decided to act. She placed the tiny creature in a bowl with water and a moist paper towel, hoping to revive him. Slowly but surely, the frog began to recover. Hours later, he was moving around, with all his appendages fully functional.
“I was shocked the frog survived,” Boutwell said. “More shocked that [the frog] seemed to fully recover.”
Though the frog was too small and bedraggled to identify its species, Boutwell wanted to ensure it was safe before releasing him. However, the sneaky survivor had other plans—he hopped from the bowl and disappeared before she could take any further steps.
Boutwell’s story, shared online, drew admiration from countless commenters inspired by her kindness.
“What a strange and delightful story!” one commenter wrote. “Thanks for saving his life.”
It’s a tale of resilience and compassion, proving that even the smallest lives can hold surprising strength.