Watch the video of this woman who is known as the ‘Grandma Cuddler’
Video Credit: Facebook/Power of Positivity
Many hospitals have NICU Cuddler Programs nowadays and the NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital is one of them.
“The Cuddler Program helps parents feel a little bit better knowing that their baby will be comforted and soothed when they are not here,” a child life specialist, Christy Dowd at the NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital said.
“These babies’ brains are like sponges, and they’re learning more and more each day. When they are receiving different medical procedures and constant negative stimuli, it’s extremely important for their social-emotional development to have that comforting touch in between” she added.
81-year-old Joan Hart, who never had kids of her own, is a participant in that program and offers comforting cuddles.
She is also known as the “Grandma Cuddler”. She spends a good amount of her time comforting and cuddling newborns in the NICU.
“We’re not taking temperatures. We’re not drawing blood. We’re not showing them how to move. We’re just a love bug. That’s it. And what better thing to do than to bring a little bit of joy and a kind touch?” Hart told NewYork-Presbyterian.
“My ears are tuned in when I walk in that door.point 291 |
I look around and say, ‘What’s the cause of the crying?’ Sometimes it’s mom changing a diaper or nurses or doctors fussing with them, but if no one’s there and they’re fussing, that’s when it’s cuddler to the rescue!”point 197 | 1
“When I hold them, sometimes I hum or sing — tunes like “You Are My Sunshine” or Frank Sinatra’s love songs — or I talk to them. I tell them, ‘You have to eat and sleep so you can get big and strong.’ I talk to them about their future. I say, ‘You think a pacifier’s good? Wait till you see ice cream or lollipops or pancakes’” she added.
“I like to say I cuddle them and they cuddle me back. I’ve loved every minute of it.”
“There was a period of time in my life when I thought I’d marry someone and have lots of kids, but that didn’t happen. I don’t have children, but I feel I have angels all over. That’s what they are to me — my little angels” Hart said.
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