Grandpa Comforts Premature Babies for Eight Years

Dave Whitlow, a 73-year-old man, volunteers twice a week at the Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU in Virginia to provide comfort to premature and critically ill babies in the neonatal intensive care unit. For the past eight years, Whitlow has carefully prepared for each visit, donning gowns and gloves and checking in with nurses about each infant’s specific needs.

He cradles five to eight babies per visit, monitoring their vital signs and adjusting their position to help improve their oxygen saturation levels. Whitlow previously worked in local government for over 40 years and now views the NICU as a place that addresses not only the medical needs of the infants but also the emotional and spiritual needs of families and staff.

He consistently whispers “Grow strong, grow smart, grow kind” to each baby before returning them to their beds. Whitlow considers his volunteer work deeply fulfilling and now considers the NICU a found family.