GRATITUDE IN ACTION - A Catholic and Marist School | Notre Dame Prep | Pre K-12 Oakland County, MI
Source: https://www.ndprep.org/gratitude-in-action
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:34
GRATITUDE IN ACTION - A Catholic and Marist School | Notre Dame Prep | Pre K-12 Oakland County, MI
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GRATITUDE IN ACTION
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April 14, 2026
For information on admission to Notre Dame Prep, please click
here
.
A premature birth, compassionate care and a lasting bond inspire a Notre Dame Prep family to support patients at Hurley Children’s Hospital.
In March, NDP junior Finley Wise and his parents, Chris and Elizabeth Wise, visited the Hurley Medical Center's neonatal intensive care unit to present children's books to patient families.
For the Wise family, a recent visit to Hurley Medical Center was not simply an act of charity. It was a return to the place where their story began — and where, years earlier, a team of medical professionals provided the care that made everything that followed possible.
Notre Dame Prep junior Finley Wise was born prematurely at 31 weeks, weighing approximately 3.5 pounds. He spent nearly five weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit at Hurley Children’s Hospital in Flint, Mich., where doctors and nurses monitored his development and supported his family through an uncertain time.
That early experience, though challenging, left a lasting impression on his family — not because of hardship alone, but because of the compassion and consistency of the care they received.
Compassionate care at a critical time
Finley’s mother, Elizabeth, recalls the NICU staff as a steady and reassuring presence during those first weeks.
Over time, those relationships became personal. Years later, during a return visit, a nurse remembered the exact location of Finley’s bed in the unit — a small but meaningful reflection of the attentiveness that defines the hospital’s approach.
Families in the NICU often face emotional and physical separation from their newborns due to medical risks. At Hurley, staff members work to bridge that gap in thoughtful ways. One such effort is encouraging parents to read to their infants, even when holding them is not possible.
“The NICU has its own bookshelf and encourages parents to read to their babies,” Finley said. “My mom found this to be very comforting during my time there.”
This attention to both medical and emotional care is what distinguishes Hurley’s neonatal program, according to the Wise family. It is not only the technology or facilities, but the intentional, human-centered approach that supports families during one of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.
Giving back to support other families
Motivated by that experience, the Wise family has remained committed to supporting the NICU and its patients.
In a recent initiative highlighted in regional media reports, the family helped donate copies of the children’s book, "Niko in the NICU," to Hurley’s neonatal unit. The story, written by other Michigan parents whose own child spent 100 days in intensive care, is designed to bring comfort and understanding to families navigating similar journeys.
The Finleys and hospital staff head to the NICU at Hurley Medical Center in Flint with books for patient families.
The donation was more than symbolic. Finley and his family joined NICU staff in personally delivering the books to current families, offering encouragement and connection during a difficult time.
A reflection of mission and community
The Wise family’s commitment to service reflects a broader ethos at Notre Dame Prep — one based on faith, leadership and responsibility to others.
Finley sees the experience as an opportunity to live out those values in a tangible way.
“Practicing the ‘upright citizen’ part of the school mission, I feel like it’s important to give back in any way you can to places, people and organizations that are impactful in your own life,” he said. “And to show gratitude toward them.”
That mindset — combining personal gratitude with outward action — is a hallmark of the school’s community. Acts of stewardship and charity are not isolated gestures, but extensions of a shared mission to serve others with purpose.
Lasting impact beyond the NICU
Today, Finley is a junior considering a future in business and marketing. But his connection to Hurley remains a defining part of his story.
What began as a medical necessity has grown into a lifelong relationship grounded in appreciation and respect for the professionals who cared for him.
For the Wise family, giving back is not about recognition. It is about ensuring that other families receive the same level of care, compassion and support that once meant so much to them.
And for the staff at Hurley Medical Center and Hurley Children’s Hospital, it is a reminder that their work extends far beyond the walls of the NICU — inspiring the kind of gratitude that endures for many years.
For information on admission to Notre Dame Prep, please click
here
.
Comments or questions?
mkelly@ndpma.org
About Notre Dame Preparatory School
"At Notre Dame Prep, we inspire our students to become the best versions of themselves. We challenge them through an experience of academic excellence, focused on active, project-based learning. We invite them to explore a world of opportunities beyond the classroom. We guide them as they grow in spirituality within a community strong in its Catholic and Marist identity."
Notre Dame Preparatory School is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. Notre Dame Preparatory School's upper school enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame Prep's middle and lower schools enroll students in pre-kindergarten through grade eight. All three schools are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDP is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the National Association of Independent Schools. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School, visit the school’s home page at
www.ndpma.org
.
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Office of Marketing & Communications
Dan Lai
Senior Director of Marketing and Strategic Communications
Phone: 248-630-7721
Mike Kelly
Director of Marketing
Phone: 248-972-7346
Jim Sesi
Webmaster
Phone: 248-630-7719
Email:
MAC@ndpma.org
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Skip To Main Content
GRATITUDE IN ACTION
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Print this page
Share this article with a friend.
April 14, 2026
For information on admission to Notre Dame Prep, please click
here
.
A premature birth, compassionate care and a lasting bond inspire a Notre Dame Prep family to support patients at Hurley Children’s Hospital.
In March, NDP junior Finley Wise and his parents, Chris and Elizabeth Wise, visited the Hurley Medical Center's neonatal intensive care unit to present children's books to patient families.
For the Wise family, a recent visit to Hurley Medical Center was not simply an act of charity. It was a return to the place where their story began — and where, years earlier, a team of medical professionals provided the care that made everything that followed possible.
Notre Dame Prep junior Finley Wise was born prematurely at 31 weeks, weighing approximately 3.5 pounds. He spent nearly five weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit at Hurley Children’s Hospital in Flint, Mich., where doctors and nurses monitored his development and supported his family through an uncertain time.
That early experience, though challenging, left a lasting impression on his family — not because of hardship alone, but because of the compassion and consistency of the care they received.
Compassionate care at a critical time
Finley’s mother, Elizabeth, recalls the NICU staff as a steady and reassuring presence during those first weeks.
Over time, those relationships became personal. Years later, during a return visit, a nurse remembered the exact location of Finley’s bed in the unit — a small but meaningful reflection of the attentiveness that defines the hospital’s approach.
Families in the NICU often face emotional and physical separation from their newborns due to medical risks. At Hurley, staff members work to bridge that gap in thoughtful ways. One such effort is encouraging parents to read to their infants, even when holding them is not possible.
“The NICU has its own bookshelf and encourages parents to read to their babies,” Finley said. “My mom found this to be very comforting during my time there.”
This attention to both medical and emotional care is what distinguishes Hurley’s neonatal program, according to the Wise family. It is not only the technology or facilities, but the intentional, human-centered approach that supports families during one of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.
Giving back to support other families
Motivated by that experience, the Wise family has remained committed to supporting the NICU and its patients.
In a recent initiative highlighted in regional media reports, the family helped donate copies of the children’s book, "Niko in the NICU," to Hurley’s neonatal unit. The story, written by other Michigan parents whose own child spent 100 days in intensive care, is designed to bring comfort and understanding to families navigating similar journeys.
The Finleys and hospital staff head to the NICU at Hurley Medical Center in Flint with books for patient families.
The donation was more than symbolic. Finley and his family joined NICU staff in personally delivering the books to current families, offering encouragement and connection during a difficult time.
A reflection of mission and community
The Wise family’s commitment to service reflects a broader ethos at Notre Dame Prep — one based on faith, leadership and responsibility to others.
Finley sees the experience as an opportunity to live out those values in a tangible way.
“Practicing the ‘upright citizen’ part of the school mission, I feel like it’s important to give back in any way you can to places, people and organizations that are impactful in your own life,” he said. “And to show gratitude toward them.”
That mindset — combining personal gratitude with outward action — is a hallmark of the school’s community. Acts of stewardship and charity are not isolated gestures, but extensions of a shared mission to serve others with purpose.
Lasting impact beyond the NICU
Today, Finley is a junior considering a future in business and marketing. But his connection to Hurley remains a defining part of his story.
What began as a medical necessity has grown into a lifelong relationship grounded in appreciation and respect for the professionals who cared for him.
For the Wise family, giving back is not about recognition. It is about ensuring that other families receive the same level of care, compassion and support that once meant so much to them.
And for the staff at Hurley Medical Center and Hurley Children’s Hospital, it is a reminder that their work extends far beyond the walls of the NICU — inspiring the kind of gratitude that endures for many years.
For information on admission to Notre Dame Prep, please click
here
.
Comments or questions?
mkelly@ndpma.org
About Notre Dame Preparatory School
"At Notre Dame Prep, we inspire our students to become the best versions of themselves. We challenge them through an experience of academic excellence, focused on active, project-based learning. We invite them to explore a world of opportunities beyond the classroom. We guide them as they grow in spirituality within a community strong in its Catholic and Marist identity."
Notre Dame Preparatory School is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. Notre Dame Preparatory School's upper school enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame Prep's middle and lower schools enroll students in pre-kindergarten through grade eight. All three schools are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDP is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the National Association of Independent Schools. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School, visit the school’s home page at
www.ndpma.org
.
Post RSS Feeds
NDP CELEBRATES 2026 IB DIPLOMA CANDIDATES
FAITH IN ACTION
THREE SIGN TO PLAY SPORTS IN COLLEGE
GRATITUDE IN ACTION
A MISSION IN MOTION
THREE NDP STUDENTS EARN NJHS OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
NDP NAMES JASON WHALEN HEAD FOOTBALL COACH AND HONORS PAT FOX’S LASTING LEGACY
A COHERENT VISION FOR MATHEMATICS
Prep News Now
Irish Magazine
Submit a story idea
Viewbook
Storybook
Visual Identity Standards
Office of Marketing & Communications
Dan Lai
Senior Director of Marketing and Strategic Communications
Phone: 248-630-7721
Mike Kelly
Director of Marketing
Phone: 248-972-7346
Jim Sesi
Webmaster
Phone: 248-630-7719
Email:
MAC@ndpma.org
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