Dave Whitlow, a 73-year-old retired local government manager in Virginia, spends his Tuesdays and Thursdays working the best gig of his life — serving as a volunteer cuddler in the neonatal intensive care unit at Children's Hospital of Richmond.

For the past eight years, Dave has shown up to hold, rock, and comfort some of the hospital's most fragile patients. On a typical shift, he cradles five to eight premature or critically ill infants — some weighing under two pounds — giving them the human connection and comfort they need while they fight for their lives. Dave works closely with the nursing staff, carefully tracking the babies' vital signs and monitoring their progress during every single cuddle.

Before placing each infant back into their bed, Dave quietly whispers the same heartfelt wish to them: "Grow strong, grow smart, grow kind."

Dave is happy he has the extra time in retirement to do this important job. "It's the best gig I've ever had. It just feels right. I pretty much just want to be with them," he said.