'ICU Grandpa' Of Atlanta Stars In New MassMutual TV Commercial

ATLANTA, GA — Babies born prematurely at a hospital in Georgia get an extra dose of TLC when their parents can’t be with them, thanks to a volunteer “cuddler” who is affectionately known as the “ICU Grandpa.” Retired marketing executive David Deutchman visits Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta hospital twice a week to comfort babies who are not yet big enough to leave the intensive care unit for infants. Some are there for many weeks, and aren’t always able to be cradled by mom or dad, who may be driving back and forth to tend to other responsibilities or take a much-needed break to shower and eat.

“After I retired, I didn’t have a lot to do with my time,” he said. “Initially, I did some guest lectures in the universities on international marketing, which is what I did in my previous life. And then one day I decided to walk into Children’s Hospital to see if they had any opportunities for volunteers. I started holding babies almost immediately.”

Deutchman’s story went viral when one anxious mom, who was rushing back and forth between home and the hospital, which was hours away, to care for her other children, hurried into the ICU expecting to find her son, Logan, all alone. What she found, instead, was her 6-week-old baby resting comfortably in Deutchman’s arms. Amid “happy tears,” she posted a photo of the pair on social media, which was “liked” by more than 250,000 people and shared more than 56,000 times.

Now, Deutchman is starring in a new, MassMutual nationwide commercial called "Unsung Heroes" that took to the airwaves on Thanksgiving and will be running through the holiday.

Other stars in the commercial are an Alabama businesswoman who bought her daughter's teacher a brand new car; a Florida engineering student who designed a device that is helping a child born without a left hand to play the violin; and a couple who opened their home to a wedding party when a couple's big day was about to be rained out.

“A lot of times in the neonatal ICU, I’m either holding a baby, or I’m holding Mom’s hand, which is pretty important because we have a lot of moms who are in a stressful position and they enjoy having somebody who they can talk to,” Deutchman said in a press release. “In the pediatric ICU, I actually work more with the parents than with the kids. The parents really need someone to sit down and talk with, and try to distract them from what’s going on.”

Deutchman said he loves giving back to his community and doesn’t plan to hang up his “baby cuddling” hat anytime soon.

“I look forward to starting my fourteenth year,” he said. “I think it’s important that the parents in the ICU can rely on someone and have somebody they can talk to. Sometimes it’s just a matter of distracting them, asking them about their other child. I’ll say, ‘Tell me about your little girl,’ and they’ll light up and tell me all about their other child.”

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Photo via Shutterstock