Scoliosis treatment uses teamwork and technology
Scoliosis, a sideways curvature of the spine, affects an estimated 7 million Americans. The spinal condition typically is diagnosed in childhood or adolescence, often discovered during back-to-school “well child” checkups. Mary Free Bed’s Orthotics & Prosthetics (O&P) professionals are well-versed in helping to fit patients of all ages with custom scoliosis braces. These specialized orthotic devices are […]
Bissell’s Howl-O-Ween boosts pediatric & pet therapy programs
Sometimes, a wagging tail is just the motivation a patient needs to push through an intensive therapy session. That’s where “pet recreation professionals” like Walter and Charlie come into play. The two friendly (and hard-working) dogs are part of the animal-assisted therapy program at Mary Free Bed. Penny Richards, an occupational therapist at Mary Free […]
Cancer + Wellness series: Episodes 12-15 – Healthy recipes
Mick Von Doxatater (aka Surfer Mick), an instructor for Mary Free Bed’s Cancer + Wellness program, believes good food can play a key role in a person’s health. On this page, you’ll find 7 healthy recipes that are packed with nutritional powerhouse foods. Some of the recipes are written below, others are presented in video form – all […]
4-year-old Ayden experiences joy of riding his very own bike
Four-year-old Ayden Wilson wanted to ride a bike, just like the rest of the kids in the neighborhood. Born with a form of dwarfism, Ayden experiences pain in his hips and knees. Though he lives in northern Ohio, he earlier this year visited a doctor in Wisconsin. That physician referred him to Dr. Michael Forness at […]
Fast fitness ideas for your busy life
Trying to fit exercise into your busy life can be a challenge. Some days, it feels as if there aren’t enough hours in the day and fitness can fall by the wayside. Creating an exercise routine that works with your day-to-day schedule can help make exercise a habit that sticks. The experts in our Weight Management […]
Cancer + Wellness series: Episodes 10 & 11 – More plants, less sugar
Clean eating is beneficial for everyone, but it may be especially vital for those who have cancer or are in recovery from cancer and its treatment. The Cancer + Wellness Program at Mary Free Bed is focused on helping people work toward a healthier life after cancer. Cancer + Wellness nutrition instructor Wendy Borden encourages individuals to consider following […]
Lylah Gritter battles Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) & defies the odds with help from Mary Free Bed
Guest Blog by Holly Gritter My daughter Lylah was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) at 6 months old. SMA is the No. 1 genetic killer in children two years and younger. Much like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig’s Disease, SMA is an atrophy that will slowly take away Lylah’s ability to talk, smile, swallow, […]
Cancer + Wellness series: Episodes 8 & 9 – Tips for better nutrition after cancer
Maximizing patients’ health and nutrition after cancer is an integral part of the Cancer + Wellness Program at Mary Free Bed. Program instructor Mick Von Doxatater encourages people to consider the steps they take to prepare their food; from washing, to chopping, to the actual method of cooking. In episodes 8 and 9 of our ongoing video series based on the […]
Mary Free Bed celebrates National Rehab Week [Video & Photo Recap]
Rehabilitation is hard work, and we take our mission seriously. But fun and laughter are an important part of the healing process. National Rehabilitation Awareness Week (Sept. 20-26) gave our staff and patients the perfect opportunity to cut loose and enjoy the lighter side of things. The week-long celebration included group activities (a staff cookout, pie-eating contest, […]
Patients create mural art as part of recreational therapy
Just in time for National Rehabilitation Awareness Week — and the opening of the seventh year of ArtPrize — Mary Free Bed recreational therapists put the finishing touches on a new, temporary art project on the first floor of the hospital’s West Addition. The colorful mural features dozens of geometric shapes painted by rehabilitation patients as part of […]
National Rehabilitation Awareness Week 2015
Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital is gearing up for National Rehabilitation Awareness Week, celebrated Sunday, Sept. 20, through Saturday, Sept. 26. Staff and volunteers will get festive with activities like a build-a-scarecrow contest, pie-eating contest and a team cookout. Patients and families are invited to join in the fun for events like themed wardrobe days […]
Cancer + Wellness series: Episode 7 – Clean Eating Starts Here
Mick Von Doxatater offers guidance in how to support a more healthy diet after cancer. In the seventh episode of our video series, inspired by the Cancer + Wellness Program, “Surfer Mick” emphasizes the importance of (literally) eating clean. In this brief segment, he provides tips on how to properly clean fruits and vegetables before preparing them […]
New program offers in-depth rehab services in outpatient setting
When Mary Free Bed’s Day Rehab Program launches this fall, it will help to address a growing rehabilitation need by “bridging the gap between inpatient and outpatient levels of care.” Patients attend 4-hour sessions, 2-5 days a week, participating in physical, occupational and speech therapy. Additional time is allotted for exploring related rehabilitation services. Coordinated, […]
Healthy harvest: Easy fall recipes & fitness ideas
As humid summer days turn into crisp fall evenings, you may find yourself craving comfort casseroles, hot beverages, and, let’s be honest: pumpkin-flavored everything. The autumnal shift doesn’t have to halt your weight loss journey. There are many ways to enjoy the flavors and beauty of fall without sacrificing your healthy habits. Enjoy these tips and […]
Cancer + Wellness series: Episode 6 – Tips for Healthy Eating
In the sixth episode of our video series, inspired by the Cancer + Wellness Program, Wendy Borden offers tips on healthy eating after cancer and treatment. She encourages people to take a simple approach and emphasize “whole, fresh, local, seasonal” ingredients as much as possible. “(Eat) clean, organic foods that are really going to nourish […]
Faith & friendship guide Mildred’s rehabilitation at Mary Free Bed at Sparrow
An unexpected fall led to the discovery of Mildred Mendenhall’s rare spinal tumor. The condition affected the use of her legs and necessitated months of intense rehabilitation at Mary Free Bed at Sparrow in Lansing. “They taught me how to sit up and maintain my balance,” Mildred says of her 5-month stay. “It was hard […]
Cancer + Wellness series: Episode 5 – Eating by Color
In the fifth episode of our video series, inspired by the Cancer + Wellness Program, Mick Von Doxatater offers advice on how to eat a more colorful diet and why it matters: “Your immune system and your body will thank you.” Mick says “variety is the key word here. Between 5 and 10 colors is what […]
They believe in Anna, so Anna believes in herself’
Guest blog by Juliana Morano, mother to pediatric patient Anna Morano Anna was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate. She is being treated by Dr. Mann, which is where she first met her speech therapist, Jenn Bobb. Due to her cleft, Anna was having a very difficult time making sounds and forming words […]
Cancer + Wellness series: Episode 4 – Meet Michele Fife
Ayurvedic yoga therapist and nutritionist Michele Fife is an instructor with the Mary Free Bed Cancer + Wellness Program. She was drawn to the innovative program because of her passion for positively impacting people’s lives. “I’m very much a fixer person, a helper person,” Michele says. “I love to help people. I like to be of use. I like […]
Brian bonds with team at Mary Free Bed at Sparrow
Brian Byelich needed 4 months of rehabilitation after undergoing surgery to remove a brain tumor. Knowing he had the right to choose where he received his care, he asked for Mary Free Bed at Sparrow. This decision also meant he could be close to his wife, Jessie, and their two kids – a crucial factor in […]
Cancer + Wellness series: Episode 3 – Meet Brooke DeBeck
Registered dietitian Brooke DeBeck serves as an instructor with the Mary Free Bed Cancer + Wellness Program, which provides holistic education for people at all stages of their cancer journey; newly diagnosed, in treatment and post treatment. Brooke encourages people to learn more about the relationship between diet and cancer, and other health concerns. “It’s not really one […]
Little Abby decides to “give back” to MFB Pediatric Patients
Guest Blog by Shannon Almassian (Abby Almassian’s mother) Abby’s birthday theme was “Giving is Good.” She decided to donate to Mary Free Bed because she wanted the kids (in the inpatient pediatric program) to know other kids care and hope they would feel what comfort a stuffed animal can bring. She and her friends picked […]
Munson Medical Center joins Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Network
Grand Rapids, Mich. – Munson Medical Center and Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital have signed an agreement that supports improving the quality of care for patients and enhancing rehabilitation services at Munson Medical Center. This agreement brings Munson Medical Center into the Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Network, an innovative alliance of hospitals and providers throughout […]
Wheelchair & Adaptive Sports Program named as beneficiary of Sports Legacy Fund
The Mary Free Bed Wheelchair & Adaptive Sports Program (WAS) has been named as the beneficiary of the National Association of Sports Commissions’ (NASC) Sports Legacy Fund in 2016. WAS has previously worked with the West Michigan Sports Commission (WMSC), a member of NASC. Grand Rapids will host the 24th NASC Sports Event Symposium April 3-7, 2016. […]
Cancer + Wellness series: Episode 2 – Meet Wendy Borden
Wendy Borden, Executive Director of the Revive and Thrive Project, serves as an instructor with the Mary Free Bed Cancer + Wellness Program. Through the program, Wendy provides holistic education for people at all stages of their cancer journey; newly diagnosed, in treatment and post treatment. “I have a unique perspective on the program, because I […]
Marty makes strides – and plenty of friends – at Mary Free Bed at Sparrow
It’s been a long road to recovery for Marty McDougall, who, for more than year, has been coping with the effects of a fall she sustained in May 2014. Every day, with help from her team at Mary Free Bed at Sparrow, Marty is improving her mobility and strength. She says she “clicked” immediately with her […]
Celebrating National Smile Week at Mary Free Bed
A friendly smile is a popular accessory at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital, where we value compassion, warmth and a good sense of humor. In honor of National Smile Week, celebrated annually during the second week of August, here are a few Mary Free Bed patients and staff showing off their happy mugs in the hospital and […]
Ryan Podvin continues to thrive at Mary Free Bed as an employee after diving accident
Summer is a time for fun and recreation, but it’s also known as trauma season. Unfortunately, accidents can occur during every day, familiar activities, like swimming, diving and playing sports. Ryan Podvin, an experienced swimmer, suffered a spinal cord injury after barely nicking his chin in a diving accident in Lake Michigan. Five years later […]
Cancer + Wellness series: Episode 1 – Meet Surfer Mick
Mick Von Doxatater, aka “Surfer Mick,” is a surfer, chef and world traveler with a holistic approach to food and its healing potential. “The same foods that build you up and keep you strong are the same foods that will restore you when you get hit with a life-threatening illness, or when you’re coming back […]
Join the Movement & support Mary Free Bed’s expansion & renovation
Mary Free Bed officials and community leaders/philanthropists joined together on Tuesday, Aug. 4, to announce the launch of the public phase of a capital campaign to support a $66.4 million expansion and renovation project. The project will provide leading-edge rehabilitation care and services to the West Michigan community and well beyond. Read more about Tuesday’s press conference […]