Twice every week, one volunteer quietly walks through the doors of a neonatal intensive care unit with one simple goal — to bring comfort to babies facing the toughest start in life.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!For the past eight years, Dave Whitlow has dedicated his Tuesdays and Thursdays to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU in Richmond, Virginia. Rather than carrying medical equipment or assisting with clinical care, Whitlow serves as a volunteer cuddler, spending hours holding premature and critically ill newborns who benefit from the reassuring presence of human touch.
For Whitlow, the role has become much more than volunteering.
“It’s the best gig I’ve ever had. It just feels right,” Whitlow told CBS 6 News.
Each visit is different depending on the needs of the unit, but Whitlow typically spends time holding five or six babies during a shift. On busier days, that number can rise to as many as eight.
Before stepping inside the NICU, there’s a careful routine to follow. Whitlow gowns up, puts on gloves and leaves his phone outside, ensuring his full attention remains on the babies in his care.
“I pretty much just want to be with them,” he said.
Once he begins holding a baby, Whitlow remains constantly aware of their condition, carefully watching the monitors that track each infant’s vital signs.
“I watch the monitors first to see whether positionally there’s anything to do to improve, but he looks pretty good,” he said. “His stats are 100%, so that’s what we’re looking for.”
His approach doesn’t stop there. Before taking a baby into his arms, Whitlow speaks with the nurses responsible for their care to understand exactly what each child needs.
“I ask the nurse, ‘Tell me. Tell me what this child is receiving. What kind of treatment? Is there anything special I need to know about it?’ ” he said.
Although the role now comes naturally, Whitlow admitted that his first experience inside the NICU was daunting.
Despite being a father himself, the thought of handling extremely small premature babies initially filled him with anxiety.
“I was scared to death because, you know, I’d held — we have two children,” he shared. “They’re grown now and I could hold babies.”
According to CBS 6 News, Whitlow is a retired local government manager. Away from the hospital, he is also a father of two and grandfather to three grandchildren.
His years of volunteering have created countless moments with families and newborns, but one tradition has remained unchanged throughout every visit.
Before leaving each baby, Whitlow shares the same heartfelt message: “Grow strong, grow smart, grow kind.”
For him, those words carry meaning far beyond the walls of the NICU.
“It’s important to me to think that this is what I want from people in general,” he said.
While the babies he comforts may never remember the man who spent hours holding them during the earliest days of their lives, Whitlow’s quiet commitment has become an invaluable part of the support offered inside the Children’s Hospital of Richmond’s neonatal intensive care unit.
Week after week, he returns without seeking recognition, instead focusing entirely on providing comfort during some of life’s most fragile moments. His role may not involve medicine or surgery, but through patience, compassion and consistency, Whitlow continues to make a meaningful difference for babies fighting their first battles and for the healthcare teams caring for them.
Featured image credit: WTVR CBS 6 / YouTube
