Finley is a bright and busy 3-year-old who loves cars, tractors, and playing alongside his older brothers. He’s full of energy and keeps his parents, Nicholle and Dana, constantly on their toes.
“You would never know that he was born prematurely,” Nicholle said. “He is a tough boy who goes 100 miles per hour until he crashes.”
Nicholle describes her pregnancy as smooth sailing for the first 31 weeks. At a check-in appointment, their doctor broke the news that Nicholle’s pregnancy had become high risk. Nicholle and Dana’s hearts dropped, scared of the sudden uncertain future. Finley stopped growing as Nicholle developed preeclampsia. Within two weeks, an emergency C-section became necessary as Nicholle experienced life-threatening complications. Fortunately, they welcomed Finley into the world at 33 weeks at the University of Michigan Health-Sparrow.
With both Nicholle and Finley needing extra care at the hospital, and home being an hour away, Ronald McDonald House Mid-Michigan was strongly recommended to them by the hospital staff.
“We had heard of the Ronald McDonald House before, but we didn’t know what it did for people,” Dana said. “Until we stayed there, we didn’t know the span of their services and care.”
Nicholle and Dana felt relief as they entered the Ronald McDonald House for the first time. They were surprised by all the amenities such as the hot, homemade meals, spaces to store breast milk, a comforting room to stay in, and so much more, all offered free of cost.
During the holiday season, Finley continued to grow stronger in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital UM Health-Sparrow. Meanwhile, House Manager, Ruth, made sure his older brothers experienced a bit of Christmas cheer as they stayed at the House with their family.
“They made sure to take care of you in every way possible,” Dana said. “Not only did the House welcome my two sons to stay with us, but they had also surprised them with Christmas care packages which was a huge blessing for us.”
While the hospital is less than 500 steps away from the House, the Ronald McDonald House understands that moms who have undergone a C-section cannot easily walk that distance. To support them, the House partners with hospital security to provide convenient transportation between the hospital and the House.
“Dana couldn’t be at the House all the time.” Nicholle said. “I couldn’t drive or imagine walking so having a safe and reliable ride was a huge help for me.”
After 23 nights at the House, Nicholle and Dana were finally able to take Finley home. They admitted feeling nervous as it was difficult to imagine caring for him without the constant support of the NICU team. Adjusting to life at home took time, and they often reminded themselves that Finley was stronger now and no longer so fragile. As he began to show his lively, “wild child” personality, their fears slowly faded, replaced with relief and joy.
“There is no way to be prepared for every situation,” Dana said. “So, take help when it is offered to you. That’s what makes the Ronald McDonald House so special, they take care of everything so you can focus on your child.”
