Every week, 73-year-old Dave Whitelaw enters the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at VCU Children’s Hospital of Richmond, where some of the hospital’s youngest and most vulnerable patients fight for their lives.
For the past eight years, he has been a volunteer “Hug the baby”gently holds premature and critically ill newborns when their parents are not always by their side. Before putting each child back to bed, she quietly whispers and recites the same six words: “Be strong, be smart, be kind.” It’s a simple ritual that reflects his hopes for each child, and has become a poignant symbol of compassion after his story recently captured hearts online.
Who is Dave Whitlow, the 73-year-old foster carer from Virginia?
Dave Whitlow is a retired local government administrator who found new purpose after retiring in 2017. Looking for a meaningful way to give back, he joined the volunteer program at VCU Children’s Hospital of Richmond and eventually became one of the baby sitters assigned to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Over the past eight years, he has comforted more than 500 premature and critically ill babies, earning the affection of hospital staff, who often call him “the unit doctor.” “The child whispers”.
Whitlow describes volunteer work in the NICU as: “Best gig I’ve ever had.” During a typical shift, he may spend time with five to eight children, soothing them with gentle hugs, soft conversation or simply by being quietly there.
Why does he whisper the same six words to every child?
Before each baby leaves, Whitley says softly, “Be strong, be smart, be kind.” The six-word blessing has become a personal tradition of his and reflects the future he hopes each child will have.His words are not part of any medical procedure, but a sincere farewell that expresses his desire that every premature baby recover, grow into a healthy adult who lives with compassion. The simple ritual became one of the most memorable aspects of his story.
What does a NICU nurse do?
A baby cuddler is a hospital-trained volunteer who provides comfort to newborn babies receiving intensive medical care. While doctors and nurses focus on treatment, volunteers help calm babies with gentle holding, soothing sounds and reassuring touch when safe to do so.If the infant cannot be lifted due to medical equipment, he gently holds the infant with a small hand, strokes the infant’s forehead, or speaks softly to the infant. Its presence provides comfort to infants while allowing nurses to perform basic medical procedures.
Why can cuddling help premature babies?
Premature babies often spend weeks or even months in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) connected to ventilators, monitors and feeding tubes. As a result, they may receive less physical contact than healthy newborns.Research suggests that supervised volunteer cuddle programs can help stabilize heart rate, improve oxygen levels, reduce stress, and support healthy brain development. Some studies have also linked developmental care to shorter hospital stays, although experts say physical contact between parents remains the most beneficial form of touch whenever possible.
Volunteers undergo rigorous training
Becoming a baby sitter in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) requires extensive preparation.
Volunteers complete health screenings, basic screenings and infection control training before entering the neonatal unit.They follow strict hygiene protocols, wear protective gowns and gloves, and interact with children only after approval from the medical team. Each embrace is done under clinical supervision to ensure infants remain safe throughout their care.
A quiet act of kindness always makes a difference
Over the years, Whitlow has reunited with some of the children he once held as vulnerable newborns, and they are now happy, healthy young adults.
Moments like this remind him why he keeps coming back to the NICU week after week.His story is a powerful example of how compassion can make a difference, even in the most difficult circumstances. While medicine helps premature babies survive, Whitlow’s gentle presence and six simple words offer something similarly meaningful: comfort, hope, and the promise of a brighter future.
