11/08/2018
We appreciate you sharing if you can.
The UF Health Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is often “home” for weeks at a time for our tiniest and most fragile patients. It is here, among little incubators cradling very sick babies, that we find dedicated volunteer, Cliff Preston. Since 1992, Cliff has been a “cuddler” for babies whose parents need a respite or who must have time away to meet other obligations, such as military service. Cliff is here to hold and soothe newborns who need the nurturing provided through human touch to grow stronger, a direct service to children.
Over the last 26 years, Cliff Preston has logged more than 3,300 hours as a NICU volunteer, including Christmas mornings and many other holidays. Cliff often stops at the NICU for several hours before starting his regular job in UFIT’s Enterprise Systems division. His philosophy about such strong volunteerism is simple – the babies in the NICU need him. “I like the notion of being able to take a baby that doesn’t have a clue about what’s going on and making that time better for them. It’s only an hour or two, but in that little bit of time I can make them happier.”
More than 30,000 children in the state of Florida are born
premature each year. The NICU at UF Health Shands
Children’s Hospital was the first of its kind in the state of
Florida and today treats approximately 800 critically ill
newborns each year. Having volunteers like Cliff in the NICU helps the staff to provide the best care possible to these newborns.
We need your help each day, once a day, until Nov 19!
Voting is now open for The NASCAR Foundation’s 2018 Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award. Cliff Preston is one of four champions for children. Help him win $100,000 for UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital’s NICU. Vote now at NASCARfoundation.org/Award
