Taking it Day by Day: Greyson’s Healing Journey after a Brain Injury
The summer before his freshman year of high school, 14-year-old Greyson Schuelke walked out of the Mary Free Bed Kids Inpatient Rehabilitation Program after 41 days of intense recovery. Just weeks earlier, he had been relearning how to walk, talk and eat following a traumatic brain injury. His graduation was a milestone celebrated by family, […]
Next Steps and New Friends: Madeline’s TBI Recovery
Madeline Bade is teasing her dad during his interview. While he’s trying to describe her, she flexes and points to her bicep. He laughs: “She’s tough. Spirited. Strong in every way.” At 23, Madeline is smack dab in the middle of five siblings, and she credits her family as a huge part of her recovery […]
Mary Free Bed Nurse Desiree Zoet Receives Prestigious DAISY Award for Extraordinary Care
Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital announced its first recipient of the DAISY Award, registered nurse Desiree Zoet. She’s worked with Mary Free Bed for 10 years and works on the hospital’s Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program. The DAISY Award is an honor given to nurses across the globe for their compassionate contributions to the lives of […]
Harvesting Hope: Crane Orchards Corn Maze Salutes Mary Free Bed
With fall around the corner, something special is happening at Crane Orchards. The six-generation farm is known for its U-pick apples, pumpkins and 20-acre corn maze, which features a different design and new challenges every year. This year, it’s designed in honor of two medical facilities that have made a difference in the Crane family’s […]
West MI Whitecaps Players Bring Smiles with Heartwarming Visit
Two West Michigan Whitecaps players took time out of their schedules ahead of playoff season to meet with kids patients at the Mary Free Bed Grand Rapids Campus. Lucas Bradshaw is recovering from a brain injury in the Mary Free Bed Kids Inpatient Rehabilitation Program. He’s a huge baseball fan, so he took advantage of […]
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 […]
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 […]
#SamStrong: A Village Rallies for Teen after his Traumatic Brain Injury
In September, 16-year-old Sam Smalldon was airlifted to Corewell Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital after a car crash. Sam was driving in his hometown of Holland, when he lost control of his Chevy Cruze, hit several trees and was thrown from the car. The impact was so violent, the car split in two. Sam suffered […]
Timmy Fanco Defies the Odds Following Car Crash
To say the Fancos are fighters is an understatement. On June 10, 2022, Liz Fanco of Alto, MI, received a phone call. Her children, Anna and Timmy, had just been in a broadside collision. Anna, 17, was driving and suffered a collapsed lung, broken leg and several broken ribs. Her younger brother, Timmy, 11 at […]
Brain injury rocks geologist Mike DeVasto’s world, but he’s on the road to recovery
Ask Mike DeVasto what his favorite rock is, and the geologist is on a roll. “Rocks aren’t static,” he said. “They are an unraveling of history.” Mylonite is his favorite. “They’re a product of a shear zone,” Mike said. “When you put a rock under heat and pressure and forces act on the rock, the […]
Brothers’ bond stronger than ever a year after sledding accident
On a beautiful winter’s day a year ago, Jaden and Jurian Shaffer were excited by the new fallen snow, eager to go sledding with friends. But a tragic twist of fate changed their lives forever. The boys were being pulled behind a snowmobile when their sled struck a tree. Jurian, 13 at the time, broke […]
Hit by car, Bek makes amazing progress after traumatic brain injury
Rehabilitation is a vital part of recovery after a brain injury. Research shows people with brain injuries experience better outcomes the sooner rehabilitation begins. Rebekah Caudle’s journey is testament to that. Bek and her boyfriend were involved in a New Year’s Day crash on a highway north of Ann Arbor. When she got out of […]
The beat goes on for The Ghost Inside drummer seriously injured in 2015 crash
When Andrew Tkaczyk wrote a guest blog in 2016 about his recovery after a devastating traffic crash, the drummer for The Ghost Inside was very clear. “I have no doubt I’ll get back to doing what I love,” he wrote. “That’s still a while away, but I’m very confident it will happen. Very confident.” It’s […]
Faith, hope fuel ‘Miracle Malachi’s’ recovery from traumatic brain injury
One of life’s greatest lessons is how quickly it can change in a split second. That’s why, when the Griffin family gathers this week to celebrate Thanksgiving, they’ll give thanks for second chances. “We look for every moment we can to celebrate,” said Thomas Griffin, his son, Malachi, sitting by his side. They were visiting […]
Clementine triumphs over brain injury, internal decapitation and cherishes second chance to ‘love’
Update: Clementine met the first responders who saved her life right after the crash early in February. You can see the FOX 17 story by clicking or tapping here. Original story: Clementine Sikiri says the theme of Proverbs 31:25 perfectly describes her. “I’m clothed with strength and dignity. I laugh without fear of the future.” […]
Hard work, lots of laughter help 14-year-old Kendall on long path to recovery
Kendall Hicks is a bubbly 14-year-old with sparkling green eyes who loves playing the flute in the middle school band and cuddling with her guinea pig, Levi. Hangouts with friends typically turn into laugh-fests. And laughter, as the saying goes, is the best medicine. Walking into Kendall’s room at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital, a […]
Former patient Anthony White overcomes odds to earn PTA degree
Anthony White was catching a nap during the 18-hour trek back to college in Wyoming from his home in Michigan when his friend fell asleep at the wheel. The car careened off the road, striking a group of trees. His friend was OK, but Anthony sustained life-threatening injuries, including a traumatic brain injury. “My parents […]
Road to recovery comes ‘full circle’ for Kalamazoo bike crash survivor
It’s been nearly a year since Paul Gobble graduated from Mary Free Bed. A survivor of the June 7, 2016 bicycle collision in Kalamazoo County that killed five others, Paul has been recovering from a head injury, multiple spinal cord injuries and a fractured fibula. “When I left Mary Free Bed, I was wearing three […]
Lids for Kids and the importance of wearing a bicycle helmet
At Mary Free Bed, we treat hundreds of people each year in our brain injury programs with a focus on helping each patient reach his or her maximum potential. Helmet use while riding a bicycle has been estimated to reduce the odds of head injury by 50 percent according to statistics from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. […]
Safety precautions can help prevent ‘life-altering’ injuries from tree stand falls
Hunting is a tradition for many Michigan families and can be rewarding and fun when the proper safety precautions are taken. Each fall, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital provides rehabilitation to hunters injured while hunting, mostly in falls from elevated tree stands. Such falls are often very serious and can result in multiple trauma, complete […]
David Lulenski: ‘Mary Free Bed gave me a chance’
In 1997, David Lulenski was 18 years old and ready to start his sophomore year at the University of Arizona when he was involved in a car accident that nearly cost him his life. He was thrown more than 40 feet from a Jeep and hit the side of a house, head-first. After spending nearly […]
Ghost Inside drummer Andrew Tkaczyk reunites with bandmates for first time since crash at Alternative Press Music Awards
Andrew Tkaczyk is walking. He’s also driving and playing drums, things the 28-year-old could only hope for after being seriously injured in a crash eight months ago. Andrew, drummer for Los Angeles-based metalcore band The Ghost Inside, spent five weeks as an inpatient at Mary Free Bed after their tour bus was involved in a head-on […]
Kalamazoo bike crash survivor Paul Gobble happy to be home, ready to return to cycling
Paul Gobble’s love for cycling is anchored in his desire to be healthy. About three years ago, he and his wife, Chris (pictured below with Paul), decided to become more fit by eating healthfully, exercising more and losing weight. “Cycling became very important for me,” Paul said. “It became a very consistent, passionate part of […]
After traumatic brain injury, Jake Rodgers defies odds with strong support system, hard work
Jake Rodgers has defied the odds since being struck by a car in December 2014. The Grand Rapids teenager sustained a traumatic brain injury and broken shoulder while crossing Fuller Avenue on the way home from a friend’s house. After being hospitalized for several months, Jake came to Mary Free Bed for rehabilitation. In this video, […]
Nurse Anna-Marie Lipka honored as ‘Everyday Hero’ for saving man’s life
Anna-Marie Lipka says she was just doing her job. Kara George is thankful she was. Kara’s husband, Andy, was driving east on Int. 96 in Ionia County the evening of Dec. 1 when he lost consciousness. Anna-Marie, a registered nurse at Mary Free Bed, was traveling behind him with her husband, Ben, when she noticed […]
Lauren Brasure is racing to recovery
Lauren Brasure is no stranger to hard work. The 2014 Rockford High School graduate was an all-conference and all-state runner named “Ms. Cross Country” by the Michigan Interscholastic Track Coaches Association. Her tremendous talent led to a scholarship to compete for the University of Florida (UF) in Gainesville, where she’s also seen success for the Division […]
The Ghost Inside drummer develops bond with Dr. Bloom on rehabilitation journey
Dr. Stephen Bloom visited Andrew Tkaczyk about 7 am every day for 5 weeks at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital. He reviewed reports with his patient, and they talked about the next steps on his road to recovery. Then they talked about drumming. “Andrew’s nickname is Dr. Beats, and he calls me Dr. Drums,” said Bloom, […]
Hunting safety tips for an injury-free season
This weekend marks the beginning of Michigan’s regular firearm season for deer (Nov. 15-30, 2015). Hunting is an important tradition for many Michigan families. With proper safety precautions in place, hunting can be a safe and rewarding recreational activity. Hunting safety is a topic of great concern at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital. Each fall and winter, […]
Local Doctor Graduates from Mary Free Bed’s Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program
Guest blog: Dr. Russell Dykstra is a graduate of Mary Free Bed’s Brain Injury Program who agreed to write a guest blog about his recovery. My traumatic brain injury was caused by a collision while I was riding my cyclo-cross bike. I was going down a steep hill on a bike path, gaining speed as […]
Man Recovers from Brain Injury and Dances with His Bride
Editor’s Note: Chad Brooks is a graduate of Mary Free Bed’s Brain Injury Program. His wife, Sarah, agreed to write a guest blog about his recovery. Precisely four months before our wedding, the only thing on my mind and on Chad’s mind were invitations and party plans. But on April 24, 2013, everything changed. Chad was involved in […]