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Volunteer NICU cuddler sits in for parents

Posted at 5:23 AM, Dec 11, 2018
and last updated 2018-12-11 06:23:56-05

(KSL) Little Evelyn was born prematurely a couple months ago, weighing just 3 pounds, 1 ounce. But she still hasn’t left the hospital. She was born a preemie after her mom Katelyn went into preterm labor.

“It was like a scene in a movie doctor’s running down the hall,” Katelyn described. “You’re terrified for your baby. You don’t know what is going on.”

Today, Evelyn is healthy, but she will likely spend a couple more weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit at Intermountain Medical Center. But between caring for their other son and working, Katelyn and her husband, Zac, can’t always be at the hospital.

“Most of the time, I’m at work,” Zac explained.

The family asked to not have their last name disclosed.

Katelyn admitted it’s been difficult to juggle their work and home life between spending time at the hospital.

That’s where volunteer Craig Provost enters the picture.

He is a retired man who has made it part of his routine to volunteer at Salt Lake City’s Intermountain Medical Center regularly. He checks into the NICU via his Vocera messaging system by saying, “Hi! I’m Craig and I’m here to cuddle!”

Provost comes in several times a month to do exactly that, cuddle newborn babies when their parents can’t be there.

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