This man has become the NICU Grandpa and stolen hearts everywhere.
David Deutchman has been visiting Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta each Tuesday and Thursday for 12 years now. At each visit, he takes the time to hold and soothe the smallest babies, giving them extra love to help them heal, and talking to their parents, if they are there.
In an interview with 11Alive, Deutchman told reporters that this is the best job he’s had and he gets a great deal out of cuddling these premature babies, possibly more than the babies themselves do.
Holding the babies is comforting to him.
“Some of my guy friends, they ask me what I do here. And I say, ‘well, I hold babies. I get puked on, I get peed on,’ and they say, ‘Why would you do that?’ Some people just don’t understand the kind of reward you would get from holding a baby like this.”
When discussing his experiences in the NICU, Deutchman said:
“It’s been wonderful because it gives me something to do that has meaning to it.”
Between his regular volunteering, loving embrace, and easy demeanor, Deutchman earned the well-deserved nickname of NICU Grandpa.
Parents of the babies also appreciate everything Deutchman does for their children.
Mary Beth Brulette recently went into the NICU to visit her son, Logan, who had been born at 25 weeks. For six weeks, she had been making the two-hour trek – in each direction – to visit her son. At birth, Logan was only 1 pound 15 ounces, meaning the NICU was life-saving for him.
When Brulette arrived like she normally does, she was surprised to see a stranger holding Logan, but she was also extremely relieved and happy. She told reporters:
“Every morning I get here as soon as I can, but I’m always anxious that he’s alone, and he’s missing Mommy.”
Seeing Deutchman cuddling her baby and giving him love alleviated that concern.
For Brulette, who usually finds her son in an incubator when she gets to the NICU, seeing him cuddling with a stranger was a welcome change.
“All my anxiety and everything was gone, and I was just filled with joy. […] When I saw Grandpa, I of course started crying. Because it was so precious and he was so cozy in his arms and Grandpa was just as happy as can be, as if it was his own grandchild.”
Brulette was so overwhelmed with emotion that she could barely find the words to thank him. She wanted him to know what his care means to the families of the young ones in the NICU. Brulette strongly appreciates that
“He comes and snuggles when mommies and daddies have to take showers or eat, or be with brothers and sisters.”
Becoming the NICU Grandpa was natural for Deutchman.
He told reporters that he treasures each minute he spends with the babies.
“Every day I drive in here I don’t know what kids I’m going to meet, what parents I’m going to meet, what the issues will be and how I can help. It’s been wonderful for me.”
Deutchman’s journey to becoming the NICU Grandpa began with his retirement. He was an international marketing executive until 2000, at which point he decided to spend retirement giving guest lectures at universities around Atlanta, according to CNN. Even so, Deutchman felt like he had too much free time.
He figured out exactly what to do one day when he was leaving a rehab appointment for his leg injury and stopped by Children’s.
“I decided to walk in there, just wondering if they had volunteer opportunities. They did, and they were happy to take me on board.”
He started volunteering with long-term patients, but after realizing how much stress the parents of the kids were under, and how many emotions they had bundled up inside, he had an epiphany. Deutchman started spending his volunteer time in the NICU and pediatric ICU, where he talks to parents as well as holds babies.
According to Elizabeth Mittiga, who is a NICU nurse, Deutchman’s efforts can improve the babies’ health.
“It definitely helps them to, I think, grow faster and put more weight on.”
Deutchman told CNN that his recent viral fame has given him the chance to remember some of his best experiences.
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The ICU Grandpa of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
By now, you’ve probably heard about our ICU Grandpa. Here’s a look at the hospital legend doing what he does best.
Posted by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta on Friday, September 29, 2017
