The Quiet Echoes of Survival
In the latest episode of The SumMARY Dr. Yunna Sinskey opens up to Dr. Doug Henry about her personal journey with stage 3 rectal cancer. She discusses her initial diagnosis and the tough reality of life after treatment, all while sharing honest insights on physical exhaustion and the mental toll of PTSD. Learn how her […]
Mary Free Bed Expanding Relationship with Beacon Health System
Leaders from Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation and Beacon Health System have signed a new agreement to expand their relationship and increase access to high-quality rehabilitation services for patients in Indiana. In 2020, the two organizations started working together under a professional services agreement, and now they are deepening their connection with a new management agreement. […]
Breaking Barriers: National Ms. Wheelchair America Returns to Grand Rapids
Women from 20 states across the nation will travel to Grand Rapids this month to showcase how they embody an important mission: advocating for people living with disabilities. Ms. Wheelchair America highlights advocacy, achievement, communication and presentation. The 54th national competition will select the most accomplished and articulate spokeswoman for persons with disabilities to hold […]
Mary Free Bed CFO and Former Patient Named Leader in Finance
It’s been 15 years since Ryan Podvin graduated from Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital following a spinal cord injury. After completing his rehabilitation, he returned to Mary Free Bed—not just to visit, but to lead. For the past 13 years, Ryan has been a vital part of our finance team, helping guide the hospital’s continued […]
41st Junior Wheelchair Sports Camp to Empower Athletes and Inspire Community
It’s the highlight of the summer for dozens of kids and teens who take part in adaptive sports. Mary Free Bed’s Junior Wheelchair Sports Camp is making a return, celebrating 41 years of building friendships and offering athletic opportunities for kids. The five-day camp, designed for youth with physical disabilities, is hosted by the Mary […]
A Flamboyance of Care: How a Flamingo Named Andes Became Grand Rapids’ Most Unexpected Rehab Story
Mary Free Bed + John Ball Zoo = One Wild Collaboration When you think of physical rehabilitation, you probably picture people. Patients recovering from surgery, injury or illness—maybe learning to walk again with a new prosthetic. What you probably don’t think of is a 14-year-old Chilean flamingo strutting around in a custom (pink) orthotic. But […]
Hundreds of Athletes with Disabilities from Across the U.S. Compete at The Hartford Nationals in Grand Rapids July 11-17
The Hartford Nationals conducted by Move United, the largest and longest-running national sport championship event for athletes with a physical disability, visual impairment, and/or intellectual disability, will take place in Grand Rapids, July 11-17. A first for the city and only the second time in Michigan, the competition is hosted locally by the West Michigan […]
What If a Bicycle Could Help Someone Walk Again? A Michigan Man Is Making It Happen
What if a bicycle could help someone walk again? That’s the question Ben Hogan, a prosthetist and former bike mechanic, set out to answer when he created a functional prosthetic leg made almost entirely from bicycle parts. His goal: to provide an open-source, low-cost solution for amputees in underserved communities around the world. The idea […]
Grand Rapids Gears Up to Host The Hartford Nationals Conducted by Move United July 11-17
West Michigan Sports Commission Seeks 600 Volunteers Plus Vendors and Sponsors in the Largest and Longest-Running National Adaptive Sports Competition (GRAND RAPIDS, MI – MAY 13, 2025) In two months, Grand Rapids will host The Hartford Nationals conducted by Move United, the largest and longest-running national sport championship event for athletes with a physical disability, […]
Cane Quest Empowers Visually Impaired Youth in Grand Rapids
The Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ABVI) successfully hosted its first-ever Cane Quest. The national orientation and mobility skills competition brought together students from grades 3 – 12 who are living with visual impairments. The event was hosted at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital in partnership with the Braille Institute and Michigan Department […]
Standing Tall, One Millimeter at a Time
Dion’s Determined Comeback from Stroke If you had asked Dion Eason in April 2024 whether he’d be standing in a wedding come October, he would’ve told you, “No way.” Just weeks earlier, Dion was navigating his recovery journey after a stroke—still in a wheelchair, relearning how to walk, and processing what it meant to live […]
Speed & Spirit: Elite Wheelchair and Handcycle Athletes Ready for Amway River Bank Run
This weekend, racers of all abilities are heading to downtown Grand Rapids for the 48th annual Amway River Bank Run. Mary Free Bed Wheelchair and Adaptive Sports welcomes the wheelchair and handcycle divisions featuring 33 athletes from 13 states and Spain, showcasing talent from West Michigan and across the nation. The River Bank Run is […]
A Crowning Moment in Kids’ Rehabilitation: Crowning Ceremony for Joan Secchia Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital
The crowning ceremony marked a significant milestone in the construction of Joan Secchia Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital. The final steel beam was placed to complete the steel framework of Michigan’s first children’s rehabilitation hospital. It will be the country’s ninth freestanding children’s rehabilitation hospital once it’s completed in fall of 2026. This topping off ceremony is […]
Mary Free Bed Graduate Featured on NBC Nightly News
A recent pediatric graduate of Mary Free Bed was featured on the NBC Nightly News this weekend. Mason Madden and his parents were interviewed by NBC News for their weekly segment, “There’s Good News Tonight.” Mason spent months at Mary Free Bed in rehabilitation after doctors discovered and removed a tumor on his spine. For […]
Mary Free Bed Breaking Ground in Virginia on New Rehabilitation Tower
Valley Health, in partnership with Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation, celebrated the groundbreaking of the new Rehabilitation Tower at Winchester Medical Center (WMC) today. This milestone marks a significant step in expanding access to high-quality acute rehabilitation services in the region. In March 2024, Valley Health and Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation, one of the nation’s most […]
Mary Free Bed at Munson: Expanding Access to Top-Tier Rehabilitation Care
Mary Free Bed at Munson Healthcare continues to expand its team of highly skilled physiatrists in Traverse City. Dr. Barent Bradt and Dr. Kaitlyn Vanias bring a wealth of expertise to the region, providing specialized rehabilitation care to patients facing a wide range of diagnoses, from musculoskeletal to complex neurological conditions. Patients across northern Michigan […]
Better Sleep for Stronger Recoveries: Mary Free Bed’s Sleep Apnea Program in Action
During National Sleep Awareness Week, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital is emphasizing the importance of healthy sleep and highlighting the critical role its respiratory therapists play in diagnosing and helping to treat sleep apnea. With nearly one in three American adults affected by this potentially life-threatening condition, Mary Free Bed is dedicated to providing timely […]
Join the Action: Griffins and Sled Wings’ Annual Sled Hockey Game Returns
The Grand Rapids Griffins and Grand Rapids Sled Wings will play their 18th annual sled hockey game presented by Meijer this Monday, Feb. 17 at 6 p.m. at Griff’s IceHouse at Belknap Park (30 Coldbrook St. NE). The doors will open at 5 p.m. Prior to the game, fans can try out a sled on […]
Young Patients Score Big During Grand Rapids Griffins Visit to Mary Free Bed
Two Grand Rapids Griffins players took a break from practice to visit kids at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital. The hockey pros joined in the physical therapy sessions for the patients practicing passing and shooting the puck. First year pro, Gabriel Seger, Forward #11, from Sweden, was joined by six year pro, Joe Snively, #21 […]
Detroit Area Man Returns Home after 5 Months in Hospital After Car Crash
Imagine being trapped underneath a car for one hour while emergency crews tried to rescue you… Now imagine being the hospital for five months working on regaining the strength and function to be safely ready to return home… Surrounded by dozens of cheering hospital staff, Sawyer Pierce, walked down the hall to continue his recovery […]
Breaking Barriers: Art Professor and DJ Rynita McGuire Crowned Ms. Wheelchair Michigan
After a day of workshops and panel judging, Kalamazoo resident Rynita McGuire was crowed Ms. Wheelchair Michigan 2025. “It was an amazing day and experience, I feel great and thankful,” said McGuire. Ms. Wheelchair Michigan is anything but a “beauty” pageant, it provides a unique platform where women can strengthen their advocacy skills, develop as […]
Seeking the Next Disability Rights Champion: Ms. Wheelchair Michigan 2025
We’re looking for the next Ms. Wheelchair Michigan in an event that’s anything but a “beauty” pageant. Ms. Wheelchair Michigan provides a unique platform where women can strengthen their advocacy skills, develop as leaders, and amplify their voices for meaningful change. Join in an inspiring day of connection and growth alongside other dynamic women who […]
The Toughest Workout: Personal Trainer’s Recovery Following a Traumatic Brain Injury
Forest Hills Northern and Davenport University hockey alum is inspiring others through his determination and recovery following a traumatic brain injury. After an accident on his one-wheeler, Marc Anderson, a personal trainer at MVP Athletic Club, was fighting for his life. The 29-year-old sustained a severe traumatic brain injury in September 2024. Anderson underwent multiple […]
Stroke Survivor Competes in Kalamazoo After Winning National Dog Competition
Monica Adair Loves her dogs, “My heart and Soul”. She also has a love for showing her two terriers in competitions. This summer, that love was taken away when she had a stroke. After her initial recovery, she transferred to Mary Free Bed for intensive stroke rehabilitation, with hopes of getting back in the ring […]
Gold Medal Winning Paralympian Plays in Local Wheelchair Basketball Tournament
John Boie is fresh off winning his second gold medal at 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. John is bringing his Team USA experience to Grand Rapids again playing his second year with the Mary Free Bed Pacers wheelchair basketball team. This weekend, seven teams from Midwest, Alabama and Canada will tip off at the annual […]
Mary Free Bed Partnering with Vandalia Health to Bring Expert Rehabilitation to West Virginia
Mary Free Bed is expanding its rehabilitation services to West Virginia with the announcement of a partnership with Vandalia Health at Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC). Vandalia Health is headquartered in Charleston, WV, with locations in Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Vandalia Health has 1,530 beds in its system with more than 13,000 employees, 17 […]
ABVI and Cleanlogic partner to Champion Blind and Visually Impaired Individuals
The Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired and Cleanlogic are proud to honor both Disability Employment Awareness Month and Blindness Awareness Month by raising awareness of the barriers individuals with disabilities and vision impairment face in securing employment. With the continued high unemployment rates among disabled individuals, especially those who are blind or visually impaired, Cleanlogic is committed to […]
Mary Free Bed Celebrates Paw-sitive Retirement for Furry Staff Member after 8 Years of Service
Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation is bidding a fond farewell to a beloved member of its team – Vandy, the hospital’s first animal-assisted intervention (AAI) therapy dog. Vandy, a furry beacon of hope and joy, has been dedicated to restoring hope and freedom for patients since joining Mary Free Bed in 2016. Vandy, the first-ever AAI […]
Three Mary Free Bed Leaders Named to Crain’s Notable Leaders in Health Care
Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation is proud to share that three of its senior leaders have been named to the Crain’s Grand Rapids Business Notable Leaders in Health Care 2024 list. This recognition honors health care professionals who demonstrate excellence in providing high-quality, whole-person care through collaboration with various health care stakeholders. Crain’s Grand Rapids Business […]
Meeting Patients, Anywhere, Anytime: Mary Free Bed’s Fully Remote Virtual Physical Therapy
Wherever, whenever. People anywhere across Michigan can receive access to the rehabilitation experts at Mary Free Bed, thanks to a recently launched fully remote virtual physical therapy program. Life can be busy and sometimes making it consistently to in-person appointments can be challenging. With Mary Free Bed’s fully remote program, patients can work with experts […]