KNOXVILLE, Tenn (WVLT) -- Oaklynn and twin brother Kendal are unexpectedly spending some time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at UT Medical Center.

They were born prematurely, and getting the extra TLC they need.

The boys parents, Courtney and Dusty Holden are impressed with the facilities, equipment, nurses, care, and everything in the NICU, they say, including the "Cuddlers."

Sue Hay gives parents and nurses an extra hand, or in this case, two.

She has been "Cuddler" every Thursday morning in the NICU from 7:30-11:30 for 16 years now!

"I love every minute of it, love every minute of it," says Hay.

Kim Massey, the Nurse Manager of NICU, "Sue is fabulous, all of our Cuddlers are wonderful, we have a very dedicated cuddler staff, they come routinely. They don't miss this."

On average, there are 45 babies in the NICU daily, sometimes up to 66, taking up all of the beds.

They are here because they are premature or need critical care.

Sue says, "It's just so wonderful, you come in and hold a baby distressed and talk to them, and hold them and they relax, and they just snuggle into you like a snuggle bunny."

The Holdens are convinced that special touch, the cuddler's volunteer spirit helps these tiny patients in many ways.

Courtney Holden says, "We're finding out just being with our boys more often they're getting so good at certain things and making progress rapidly, so I can see where someone else's touch would help other babies."

There is a waiting list to become a cuddler at UT Medical Center.

Money from a fundraiser called an Evening in Orange on May 12 at Neyland Stadium will allow the NICU to expand and add more private rooms.

They still need support for the NICU project read more by grabbing the link provided.