Photo Of Dad Sleeping On Hospital Floor Goes Viral For All The Right Reasons

Heather Riggleman

When Sara Duncan captured a photo of her husband sleeping on the hospital floor, she never expected it to spark conversations about parenting or go viral. But the image did indeed go viral and for all the right reasons!

One day, Sara Duncan noticed her daughter was wheezing. So, she made the decision to have her baby be seen by a doctor. What she didn’t expect was to be there way into the wee hours of the morning.

RELATED: Viral Photo Of Hardworking Dad Asleep After He Refuses To Leave Sick Son’s Side

Because her husband, Joe Duncan, works 12-hour days as a cement technician, she was worried he wouldn’t get the sleep he needed. She texted him to stay home and get rest. But Joe isn’t that kind of guy. He’s a hands-on husband and dad. 

Devoted Dad Sleeps On Hospital Floor

Joe went home, changed into clean clothes, and then made the one-hour drive to the hospital. Even though there was nothing Sara nor Joe could do but sit, wait, and comfort their daughter, Joe didn’t want her to do it alone. Sara said, "He's a 'I have to be with you' type of guy. I knew that he was exhausted -- I said, 'Stay home. I know my way at [the hospital],’ and he was like, 'No. You're not going up there by yourself.'"

As they waited for doctors to clear their daughter to go home, Sara looked over and realized her husband had dozed off and was sleeping on the hospital floor. Over in the corner, her husband had laid down on his side and used their daughter’s car seat as a pillow.

In that moment Sara realized something truly precious. She had a man who was willing to do life with her no matter the cost.

Viral Photo Of Dad Sleeping On Hospital Floor

Sara Duncan wanted the world to know just how grateful she is for her husband. She then snapped a photo of him sleeping on the hospital floor and posted it to Facebook with the caption: 

RELATED: Devoted Dad Risks His Own Life And Heads Straight Into Danger To Rescue His Sleeping Kids

“Let’s talk about this because it doesn’t get enough attention......

What some may see: a Dad sleeping while Mom stays awake holding their sleeping baby in the ER at 2 am. What I see: A Dad sleeping on the hard floor of an ER after working 12-hour shifts 6 days a week for the last month, despite the fact his wife asked him to stay home and rest all because he didn’t want his babies in STL alone. Because he didn’t want his wife to have to do it on her own, no matter how exhausted he is.

Marriage and parenting isn’t 50/50. Some days it is. Other days it’s 60/40, 70/30, or even 80/20. And you have to be willing to pull your weight, no matter what your partner needs that day. This is what love is -- This is what being a husband is -- This is what being a Daddy is. And I wouldn’t want to do this life with anyone else! Thank you for all you do for us Daddy! We love you!”

Sara, we couldn’t agree more. Thank you for posting this photo and thank you for bringing attention to dads like Joe! 

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"He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers." Micah 4:6

LISTEN: Husband Shared A Photo Of Wife Napping And It Went Viral

h/t: GMA

Featured Image Credit: Facebook/Sara Duncan


Heather Riggleman is a believer, wife, mom, author, social consultant, and full-time writer. She lives in Minden, Nebraska with her kids, high school sweetheart, and three cats who are her entourage around the homestead. She is a former award-winning journalist with over 2,000 articles published. She is full of grace and grit, raw honesty, and truly believes tacos can solve just about any situation. You can find her on GodUpdates, iBelieve, Crosswalk, Hello Darling, Focus On The Family, and in Brio Magazine. Connect with her at www.HeatherRiggleman.com or on Facebook.  

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