For 20 years, he’s volunteered at the Philly children’s hospital where his son died

a father, electrical engineer, and volunteer at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children.“Don’t do what you think you should do, do what you need to do. Working at St. Christopher’s, I have to do it. It’s the most self-interested thing I have ever done in my life.”While cuddling infants in the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children or comforting families there in oncology, Michael Cray will often turn to his son, Ian, for help.Ian Cray took his last breath at St.

“Our friends always ask ‘After the stuff that happened to your family why would you want to get deeper into medicine?’ and it’s a valid question,” Cray said. “It’s a lot easier to do brave things when you’re around brave people. And who is braver than a kid?” Last Friday, as Cray picked up 5-month-old Mason in the NICU and cradled him in his arms, the infant quieted, wrapped his hand around Cray’s finger, and looked straight into his eyes.Out of 74 active volunteers at St. Christopher’s, Cray is one of only four who work in the NICU “Cuddler Program,” providing babies whose parents aren’t able to be on site with the human contact necessary for development, said Sharon Leonardo, a NICU charge nurse.

Dina Melchiorre, director of volunteer services at St. Christopher’s, said Cray always goes “above and beyond,” accepting any assignment given, from mentoring new volunteers to wrapping Christmas presents.

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