The 86-year-old grandfather who captured the hearts of thousands after his story went viral has passed away.
David Deutchman, also known as the ICU Grandpa, spent more than 14 years cuddling babies and playing with children at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
In an interview with Today, his daughter Susan Lilly said: “Volunteering absolutely enriched his life. The most meaningful part was the actual time he spent with these patients and their families.”
Mr. Deutchman started volunteering in the pediatric and neonatal intensive care units after he retired. He cuddled infants whose parents could not stay in the hospital and he made rounds in the NICU once a week.
Mr. Deutchman became so famous that he earned the nickname ICU Grandpa. The hospital then decided to share a picture of him cuddling a baby, and his beautiful story immediately went viral.
“He had a very successful business career, and I’ve never heard him talk with such appreciation and love for what he was doing any time during his 41 years with the company like he talked about his involvement with the people at the hospital,” Lilly shared.
In a 2017 interview with 11 Alive, Mr. Deutchman said: “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.”
Lilly continued: “He would go back [to the hospital] even if it wasn’t during one of his days that he volunteered — especially if they had to have a certain procedure. He would go in and hold their hands or hold them.”
But volunteering became difficult for the ICU Grandpa during the COVID-19 pandemic. He continued to become weaker as the months passed and on October 27, he was diagnosed with metastatic pancreatic cancer.
“None of us expected to get such a dire diagnosis,” Lilly said. “He made it very clear to all his loved ones and even his friends that he feels grateful to have lived a full and rich life.”
Before he passed away, the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta arranged a parade to cheer him and his family.
“Led by one of our NICU transport trucks, a procession of nearly 30 cars — some carrying Children’s employees, some carrying patients who had been soothed by David many years ago — honked, waved, and shared well wishes as his family gathered in their driveway,” the hospital wrote on Facebook.
“For a grand finale, a Children’s transport helicopter circled over his home, an emotional tribute to a man who has dedicated his retirement years to watching over our kids.”
Mr. Deutchman died days later. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, his daughters Jill Deutchman and Susan Lilly, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
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