“It would've been comforting to know that someone was able to hold him when I couldn’t be there.”

CHLA Mom

Carson was diagnosed with super cardiac TAPV R obstructed when he was born. He had to have open heart surgery. We stayed at Children's Hospital for almost 3 weeks.

During the time when Carson was staying at Children's Hospital, I was still healing from giving birth to him, and therefore I wasn't able to stay with him 24/7. It would've been comforting to know that someone was able to hold him when I couldn’t be there. 

When Carson was in the step down unit, he shared a room with a baby that for whatever reason his parents were frequently not there. I just felt really bad for the little baby. He spent hours in his crib alone. I wished I could hold him but for obvious reasons we were not allowed to. It would have been so good for him to have a cuddler available. 

"One of the most important things we could do for our daughter was to hold her. She needed constant comfort."‍ ‍

Dan Granger-CHLA Dad

“It was traumatizing to see other infants who were suffering like my daughter but they were alone in their crib.” - CHLA Mom

“As  soon as I entered and began interacting with the infant, he immediately stopped crying.”

Volunteer Cuddler

“A cuddling request call was received from a nurse for an infant who had become inconsolable.  The nurse was looking for cuddling support. When I arrived, the patient was crying and alone. As  soon as I entered and began interacting with the infant, he immediately stopped crying…The mom had to stay with and care for her other children in a shelter where they had  all been living.”