The good Cornellians can do: Kelly Banach ’79

For 35 years, Kelly Banach ’79 worked inside the criminal justice system, both as a prosecutor and as a criminal trial and juvenile delinquency judge. Kelly says she frequently saw the same kids: first as victims of child abuse and domestic violence, and then again as parents of troubled children. By the time she retired in 2021, she felt burned out.

She made a plan to recharge by volunteering as a “cuddler” in the neonatal intensive care unit at the Lehigh Valley Healthy Network in her hometown of Allentown, Pennsylvania.

“I wanted and needed to find the joy and sweetness in life,” Kelly says. “If helping kids through the ‘system’ didn't really make a difference, surely some basic TLC should.”

A few times each month, Kelly holds, rocks, and sings to extremely premature, sick, and/or substance addicted newborns. She says that this experience brings her serenity and immense joy. Kelly shares this recent experience with a baby whose mom was in active addiction during her pregnancy:

“When Baby O is awake, his cry is hearty, loud, and heartbreaking. He is difficult to soothe. On our last visit together, I held and rocked him and attempted to soothe him with my usual setlist of lullabies, 80s soft rock, and show tunes, almost in tune. He eventually stopped crying and began looking into my eyes. We held each other’s gaze for several minutes and continued to rock. Eventually, the nurse in charge of his care rounded the corner. When she saw us two lovebirds, she couldn't believe it. It was her first time observing O making eye contact with anyone. Doesn't get any better than that!”

Cornellians around the globe are sharing how they do good in communities big and small. Share your own story.