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Category: Kids

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 […]

Jack’s Journey: Calling on Superheroes of Integrated Care

At first glance, it might appear as though 4-year-old Jack Lohman is playing an imaginary game with his superhero figurines – but this little boy is on a mission. He’s channeling his inner Batman on the journey of a lifetime. At 3 years old, Jack was diagnosed with hemimegaloencephaly, a rare condition that causes part […]

Warrior Mac: Thriving Against the Odds with Cerebral Palsy

When McKay Mortier, affectionately known as “Mac,” entered the world in December 2015, his parents, Jessica and Justin Mortier, braced for a future that would come with uncertainties.   A Fighter from the Start: Mac’s Challenging Beginnings Born via an emergency C-section, Mac was unresponsive. But from his very first breath, he was a warrior. […]

A New Era for Michigan’s Kids: Announcing Joan Secchia Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital

It’s a significant milestone for our community as we proudly unveil the name for Michigan’s first pediatric rehabilitation hospital at Mary Free Bed: Joan Secchia Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital. The name not only represents state-of-the-art rehabilitation care but also celebrates the continuing legacy of one of our community’s most devoted philanthropists, Joan Secchia. The Secchia family’s […]

Stayin’ Alive: Pastor Uses CPR to Save Teen’s Life

Rafe Oard, 17, of Gladwin, Michigan, is an active teenager with a great sense of humor. You’re likely to find him outdoors, working on cars with his grandpa, or caring for his pheasants and quails. Last February, Rafe headed to the weekly open gymnasium hour at his church. He often joined members of the community […]

Tough Like a Monster Truck: Kaden Recovers After Double Amputation

  “He’s my everything,” said Michele Stevenson, about her son, Kaden. When he started to get sick before Christmas, she didn’t think it was serious at first. But after a few days she knew something was wrong. As 7-year-old Kaden’s health grew getting progressively worse. Michele, of Grand Blanc, Michigan, rushed him to the emergency […]

International Design Firm Selected for New Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital in Grand Rapids

The award-winning design firm SmithGroup has been chosen to design Michigan’s first children’s rehabilitation hospital. The facility will be constructed on the Grand Rapids campus of Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital.   SmithGroup has been honored with over 400 design awards in the past five years, and ranked 5th in Building Design + Construction’s Top Architecture/Engineering […]

#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 […]

Acts of Kindness: Brooklyn Zylstra Gives Back in a Big Way

Brooklyn Zylstra understands the assignment. But her project isn’t like that of many middle schoolers her age. This 13-year-old has been giving back to the Grand Rapids community in a very unique way. Brooklyn, an 8th grader at KPS Pinewood Middle School, has taken it upon herself to bring joy to kids who are on […]

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 […]

Mary Free Bed Brings Halloween to the Hospital for Patients and Families

This year’s Halloween event Mary Free Bed was an eerie-sistable success! The Mary Free Bed Kids inpatient team transformed the hospital’s outdoor therapy garden into the “Mary Cemetery.” The haunted “scare-apy” garden was filled with smiles and screams to those who dared to enter. In true trunk-or-treat style, staff and community members ‘dressed up’ over […]

Breathing Easier: Hannah Blumka Makes a Remarkable COVID-19 Recovery

Last December, 17-year-old Hannah Blumka arrived at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital fighting for her life. Before contracting COVID-19, Hannah was a healthy, lively teenage girl. The infection quickly and unexpectedly took a toll on every system in her body. Within a day of arrival at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, she was placed on life-support – […]

Mary Free Bed Kids Celebrate Diversity Month in the Kitchen

In recognition of Diversity Month, patients at Mary Free Bed Kids celebrated with a culinary twist! All month long, six teenagers who are patients at Mary Free Bed’s pediatric inpatient program in Grand Rapids along with their parents and staff, celebrated different heritages in the Mary Free Bed therapy kitchen. Each week, the creative team […]

Chronic Pain Program helps Selena – and kids like her – find relief

Selena Jacinto is looking forward to graduating from high school this spring and gearing up for college in the fall. A few months ago, the 17-year-old’s life goals seemed out of reach. Plagued by disabling headaches and body pain for years, Selena found it difficult to attend school, exercise or enjoy hobbies. Chronic pain was […]

Well-known athlete, motivational speaker Johnny Agar giving back to Mary Free Bed

Grand Rapids, Mich. – Johnny Agar has cerebral palsy, but he’s never let it define him. The 27-year-old Rockford man is an Ironman athlete admired by Olympians and professional athletes, a brand ambassador, motivational speaker and, now, an author. He’s also a Mary Free Bed graduate. In his new book “The Impossible Mile,” which he […]

Grant helps Mary Free Bed pediatric patients feel more at home

Grand Rapids, Mich. – Little things can make a big difference for hospitalized kids and their families.  Mary Free Bed Kids, the rehabilitation hospital’s pediatric unit, is ensuring patients of color have what they need to feel supported and comfortable during their stay. Thanks to a grant from the Mary Free Bed Guild Foundation, participating […]

Junior Wheelchair Sports Camp is back in action

ALLENDALE, Mich. – After a year off due to COVID-19, campers are back and ready to play. Over 40 kids with disabilities are attending Mary Free Bed’s Junior Wheelchair Sports Camp. All week, participants from the ages of 7 – 18 will try sports such as lacrosse, kayaking and sled hockey and will make friends […]

Playground supports therapy disguised as play for children of all abilities

When Mary’s Therapy Playground was created in 2018, the outdoor space provided a fun, healing space for our youngest patients to grow. Three years later, the playground has grown, too! The growth occurred as part of Mary Free Bed’s decision to build its own kitchen to better serve the nutritional needs of patients. Construction of […]

Brooklyn raises money for Mary Free Bed a second time

UPDATE: She did it again! Brooklyn Hammer, now a fifth grader, visited Mary Free Bed on Giving Tuesday this week with another generous donation – $611 – for the Mary Free Bed Foundation. Since she last visited in 2018, Brooklyn’s family once again has experienced rehabilitation through Mary Free Bed. Her 14-year-old cousin was admitted […]

ShenaLi continues progress after surgery with Virtual Services therapy sessions

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began early last spring, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital has taken measures to protect the health and safety of patients, employees and the community. Those measures include offering Virtual Services to help adults and children maintain their therapy progress in the comfort and safety of home, like ShenaLi Chien. The 12-year-old […]

Mitch Albom embraces Mary Free Bed Kids staff for care of young family friend

Bestselling author, longtime Detroit Free Press columnist and philanthropist Mitch Albom sent a “long-distance hug” to Mary Free Bed employees for taking care of someone special to him and for doing “really important, amazing work.” Albom shared his sentiments in a video message for helping a young girl during her recent inpatient stay. Albom is […]

Mary Free Bed Kids therapists earn neurodevelopmental treatment certification

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Five members of the Mary Free Bed Kids therapy team have earned specialized certification in a well-established treatment approach to help children with neurological conditions, such as cerebral palsy or spina bifida, become as independent as possible. Physical therapists Andrea Dennis, Micah Huegel and Kate Rustem, and occupational therapists Elle Augustine […]

Portage teen battles EEE virus with rehabilitation at Mary Free Bed

It was Aug. 16 when Kerri Dooley noticed her 14-year-old daughter wasn’t feeling well. Savanah DeHart had a severe headache and was acting dazed and lethargic. When her symptoms worsened overnight, Kerri took Savanah to the emergency room at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, Michigan, not far from their Portage home. Doctors performed several tests […]

Shriners Hospitals for Children partners with Mary Free Bed to launch telehealth program

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Michigan families will have more convenient visits with their specialists and reduced transportation costs thanks to a new collaboration between Chicago and Cincinnati Shriners Hospitals for Children and Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Instead of making out-of-state trips, young patients and their families can receive consultations from […]