Doctor Comforts Terrified Baby With Serenade Of Nat King Cole’s ‘Unforgettable’ During Her Medical Test

Jun 08, 2023

Children are usually afraid of needles, but a heartwarming video of a pediatrician soothing a terrified baby during a blood test has captured the hearts of viewers around the world. Dr. Ryan Coetzee, a pediatrician at Raigmore Hospital in the United Kingdom, has gained widespread recognition for his unique approach to calming his patients. 

The video, which was posted on Facebook on November 2019 by a grateful mother, Shannon Wemyss, showed Coetzee serenading 10-month-old Gracey as she underwent a blood test. The baby, born with several medical complications, including Down syndrome, has spent a significant portion of her young life inside the hospital. Blood tests, a routine part of her medical care, have always been a traumatic experience for her.  

In the clip captured by Wemyss, Coetzee could be seen gently singing "Unforgettable" by Nat King Cole to Gracey as he prepared her for the blood test. Usually distressed during the procedure, Gracey was captivated by the doctor's melodious voice. Her tears were replaced with wonder as she gazed at Coetzee, completely engrossed in his performance.

"Unforgettable," released in 1951, made a significant impact on the music industry. It broke barriers as one of the earliest examples of a black musician gaining immense commercial success in an industry that was dominated by white talents. The song, composed by Irving Gordon as a tribute to his wife, found its lasting fame through Cole's exceptionally soothing rendition despite Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Englebert Humperdinck and Kenny Rogers also recording their own versions.

In 1991, Natalie Cole re-recorded "Unforgettable" as a posthumous duet with her father, who died in 1965, with the help of sound engineers. The song became a Billboard Best-Selling single. It was also named the Song of the Year and the Record of the Year at the 1992 Grammy Awards. 

Wemyss explained that her daughter has been through so much because of her treatments. Since she was too young to have a numbing cream for the needle insertions, nothing else could calm her down until they met the doctor. 

"I have never seen anything like it," Wemyss exclaimed per 6ABC. "He sang to her the whole time while being able to concentrate on getting the blood with a tiny needle."

Wemyss also said that Gracey did not shed any tears during the procedure until Coetzee stopped singing. Since the mother shared the video online, the doctor became a local celebrity and got a lot of media attention. People have also been calling him The Singing Doctor, per Inverness Courier.  

Coetzee has a background in classical singing and has always used his musical abilities to connect with his young patients. He said that if his singing is helping other people, then it's good enough for him. His colleagues at the hospital also welcomed the reactions to the video. 

"Ryan was just doing what came naturally to keep his patient calm," Head nurse Iona McGauran told Inverness Courier. "But it was a lovely video to see and the feedback from patients and their families has been fantastic to hear." 

In 2020, Gracey hit a milestone as she was off feeding tubes forever, and Coetzee was in touch with the family and celebrated the good news.  

Today, Gracey is a thriving and resilient child who has become a big sister to Matthew. However, she still has her medical struggles and was diagnosed with Raynaud's Syndrome in June 2023. 

Dr. Ryan Coetzee's remarkable ability to use his singing talents to alleviate the fear and discomfort experienced by young patients like Gracey has touched the hearts of people worldwide. What can you say about his compassion and dedication to providing quality care? Please pass this story along to someone who might need the good vibes!