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Category: Kids

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 […]

Young plane crash survivor shares her rehabilitation journey

Laney Perdue, the sole survivor of a plane crash in northern Michigan last year, is telling her emotional story to a national audience. On Nov. 13, the 11-year-old and her father, Mike, were flying to Beaver Island – her family’s favorite vacation spot – when the commuter plane crashed, killing everyone on board except, miraculously, […]

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 […]

Spectrum Health and Mary Free Bed announce enhanced pediatric care collaboration

Grand Rapids, Mich., September 29, 2021 – Spectrum Health and Mary Free Bed leaders today announced an enhanced collaboration aimed at increasing access to excellent pediatric acute inpatient rehabilitation. Through a Joint Operating Agreement, Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital and Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital will operate an acute pediatric inpatient rehabilitation unit at […]

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 […]

Sales from Grand Rapids photographer’s new book to benefit Mary Free Bed Kids

Brian Kelly’s new passion project exemplifying his love for the city of Grand Rapids will help two local organizations near and dear to his heart.  The popular Grand Rapids photographer is publishing a book of aerial photographs offering a unique perspective of the city. “AERIAL: Grand Rapids from Above” is a 100-page coffee table book […]

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 […]

Halloween Heroes celebrate in style

Kids love Halloween, and volunteers from the community and Mary Free Bed made sure 35 current and former patients were able to celebrate in a special way. The fourth annual Halloween Heroes Parade marched around Mary Free Bed and Mercy Health Saint Mary’s Hospital on Oct. 26, with the Forest Hills Central Marching Band leading […]

Heroes Bash a party of galactic proportions for Mary Free Bed Kids graduates

  The Force is strong in the Mary Free Bed family. The mysterious energy field in the fictional “Star Wars” universe provides extraordinary abilities to those who possess it, binding the galaxy together. The magical power of the Force bears similarities to Mary Free Bed’s unique culture and the special bond between caregivers and patients. […]

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 […]

Divya’s new adventures a year after traveling from India for surgery, rehabilitation

UPDATE Oct. 3, 2019: A year ago, Divya Harkema couldn’t stand by herself. Today, she swims and rides horses in her native India. Merissa Harkema brought her adopted daughter to Grand Rapids in September 2018 for surgery to reduce problems caused by spastic diplegia cerebral palsy. Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital was one of a limited […]

Paige heads back to school after spinal cord injury

Summer took a scary turn for the Baird family when their eight-year-old daughter fell from the deck of a cottage in Northern Michigan. Paige wasn’t breathing and had to be resuscitated. She was taken to Munson Healthcare in Cadillac, where doctors determined Paige broke the C2 vertebrae in her neck and bruised her spinal cord. […]

Evelyn thrives in face of rare diagnosis of osteogenesis imperfecta

Evelyn Franchetti is a typical 3½-year-old. She loves singing and dancing, princesses and puppies. When she arrives at preschool, Evelyn looks around the classroom and declares “These are my friends!” before scampering off to play, protected by her bright red walker. The happy-go-lucky little girl doesn’t need the device to help her walk. It’s a […]

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 […]

Wheelchair & Adaptive Sports motivates 10-year-old Ginessa to compete

Ginessa Aguirre is a spunky 10-year-old with a long brown ponytail who likes making slime, watching YouTube and cuddling with her cat, Smokey. She also likes cooking and baking with her mom, Nora. But what Ginessa likes most is playing basketball. “I like to steal the ball,” she said. See? Spunky. Ginessa plays for the […]

Mary Free Bed adds new outpatient rehabilitation locations to serve patients in Holland, Kalamazoo

Grand Rapids, Mich. – People who need specialized outpatient rehabilitation now have more options in the Holland and Kalamazoo areas. Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital has expanded its system of care to satellite locations in the West Michigan communities. “We’re excited to offer our specialized rehabilitation programs in convenient locations for Holland and Kalamazoo patients,” […]

Halloween for the Rest of Us costume parade a treat for kids who use wheelchairs

Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital once again is teaming with community volunteers to make Halloween a little more magical for kids who use wheelchairs. Costume construction is nearly complete for more than a dozen current and former Mary Free Bed patients, who will get to show off their awesome creations in the Halloween for the […]

Heroes Bash to celebrate Mary Free Bed pediatric patients

Updated Oct. 24 with the above images from the Oct. 20 event. Click here for additional photos  Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital will celebrate its youngest patients and their families at “Heroes Bash 2017.” Current Pediatric Program patients and many who graduated this year are among more than 120 people expected to attend tonight’s superhero-themed […]

Mary Free Bed welcomes inaugural class of PM&R residents

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Four physicians from across the country have begun their post-graduate training in the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation as Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital launches its first medical residency program. The rigorous training program, approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, encompasses clinical, educational and research opportunities in all […]

Arlee Rodgers tackles cerebral palsy with determination and a lot of spunk

Guest blog: Jynel Rodgers shares her daughter, Arlee’s, story and how Mary Free Bed’s pediatric rehabilitation specialists have helped put her on the path to independence following Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy surgery to treat cerebral palsy. Scroll to the bottom of the page to watch her heartwarming video story.  Arlee is 7 1/2 years old. She […]