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Diamond Lee – A Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Story

Editor’s note: As part of our holiday campaign, Mary Free Bed is asking former patients to tell us about their rehabilitation experience. What follows is one of those stories. I went to Mary Free Bed after I broke my neck in a car accident. I loved being there. The nurses and therapists made me feel […]

Jennifer Crowell – A Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Story

Editor’s note: As part of our holiday campaign, Mary Free Bed is asking former patients to tell us about their rehabilitation experience. What follows is one of those stories. Who would have thought that a life-changing injury would bring such incredible people into my life? It was July 15, 2008 – a gorgeous summer day […]

Jason Ratliff – A Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Story

Editor’s note: As part of our holiday campaign, Mary Free Bed is asking former patients to tell us about their rehabilitation experience. What follows is one of those stories My husband, Jason, was a patient at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital this past summer. Jason experienced a traumatic brain injury as a result of a […]

Adam Willis – A Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Story

Editor’s note: As part of our holiday campaign, Mary Free Bed is asking former patients to tell us about their rehabilitation experience. What follows is one of those stories. My husband, Adam Willis, was a patient at Mary Free Bed from September 30 – November 17, 2013 after a mountain biking accident that resulted in […]

A Man with Two Prosthetic Legs Receives a Change for the Better

When he was only 7 years old, Harry Zemmer received his first pair of artificial legs from Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital. “They were like hollow logs,” recalls Harry, a 60-year-old Ann Arbor man who was born without fully developed lower limbs. “There were no knees.” With hydraulics, microprocessors, braking mechanisms, energy-saving technology and myriad […]

Mom and Son Receive Support from the Mary Free Bed Feeding Clinic

When Clare Griswold watched her newborn son, Desmond, sleep, she noticed his body would twitch. The twitching would wake him up, which led to even less sleep — for both of them. At two months old, Desmond was evaluated by a doctor and diagnosed with benign neonatal sleep myoclonus – a sleep disorder common among […]

Mary Free Bed Pain Center Highlight Videos (Parts 9-12)

In this 12-part Mary Free Bed Pain Center video series, Dr. Eddie O’Connor explains what you can expect during your 6-12 week journey at the Mary Free Bed Pain Center. Our team is here to teach you how to interact with and overcome your pain so that you can get back to the life you […]

Mary Free Bed Patient Gets Back to the Hunt

“It’s about getting me back to me…and who I’m going to be for the rest of my life,” says Mike Kibben of his time spent in the Spinal Cord Injury Program at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital in 1997. Mike fell from a tree while hunting, paralyzing him for life. But with the help of Mary […]

Mary Free Bed Pain Center Highlight Videos (Parts 5-8)

In this 12-part Mary Free Bed Pain Center video series, Dr. Eddie O’Connor explains what you can expect during your 6-12 week journey at the Mary Free Bed Pain Center. Our team is here to teach you how to interact with and overcome your pain so that you can get back to the life you want live. […]

Mary Free Bed Spine Center Gets Ballerina Back On Her Toes

Aurora Lewis decided at 16 she wanted to be a professional ballerina. She realized that dream as a freshman in college, but severe back pain soon followed and lead to her having to cancel her contract. The next two years were a mix of pain, confusion and disappointment as Aurora went to more than a […]

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 […]

Mary Free Bed Pain Center Highlight Videos (Parts 1-4)

In this 12-part Mary Free Bed Pain Center video series, Dr. Eddie O’Connor explains what you can expect during your 6-12 week journey at the Mary Free Bed Pain Center. Our team is here to teach you how to interact with and overcome your pain so that you can get back to the life you […]

A Mary Free Bed Cancer Thriver’s Grand Journey

Ask Randy Herlein of Twin Lake, Michigan to describe his perfect day and rest-assured the answer would involve the outdoors. From caribou hunting near the Arctic Circle, to mountain climbs, canyon hikes, fishing trips and triathlons, Randy is always ready for his next adventure. He is a loving husband and devoted father. Randy is also […]

Rec Therapy Clinics held throughout entire year (Part 2)

Editor’s Note: Christy VanHaver is a Mary Free Bed therapist who agreed to write a guest blog on her role working with sports clinics throughout the year. Part 2 of 2. June is our adaptive Canoe/Kayak and Rowing Clinic. This clinic, also in partnership with Kentwood Parks and Recreation, is held at the boathouse at […]

Rec Therapy Clinics held throughout entire year (Part 1)

Editor’s Note: Christy is a Mary Free Bed therapist who agreed to write a guest blog on her role working with sports clinics throughout the year. Part 1 of 2. My name is Christy VanHaver. I am a Recreational Therapist for the Wheelchair and Adaptive Sports Department. My role as the clinic coordinator gives me […]

Family learns what life is like with Arthrogryposis

“Following the earthquake in Haiti in 2010, my heart knew we needed to go. Not to photograph, though I did do a little of that, but to restore what was broken and give hope where there was none. We found ourselves in a mountainside orphanage above Port-au-Prince less than three months following the earthquake. Little […]

Man Returns to Hunting after Experiencing a Spinal Cord Injury

As an experienced hunter, Breck Lonier was familiar with the safety precautions. However, one mistake led him to fall from a tree stand and become paralyzed. The only thing Breck remembers during that hunting trip in October 1999 was that he wasn’t feeling well. “I actually fell from the tree stand twice,” Breck explains. “I […]

Teenager with Cerebral Palsy Graduates from Mary Free Bed

During her month-long stay at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital, Kat agreed to share her rehabilitation journey with the world. She was featured on WOOD-TV’s eightWest program and was Mary Free Bed’s first guest blogger. In this final video entry, Kat reflects on her time at Mary Free Bed and looks forward to a bright […]

Mary Free Bed Receives 100 stuffed animals from Bedside Healers

  Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital was the recent recipient of 100 Bedside Healers, stuffed animals with velcro straps that make it possible to attach them to bedside railing, wheelchairs, walkers, and even wrists. This generous donation was made possible by Augusta Tower Technologies, Inc. Jason Peach of Bedside Healers announced the Mary Free Bed […]

Pediatric Therapy at Mary Free Bed

  This video montage showcases the Mary Free Bed Pediatric Program and our dedicated nurses and therapists who work alongside our patients ever day. You will hear directly from our pediatric patients and their families as they describe the “miracles” that happen at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital.

Faith and Hope Helps Man Recover from Traumatic Brain Injury

  Dave Meinema suffered a traumatic brain injury from a severe car accident in February 2013. His faith and hope has led him to a remarkable recovery. “It is a miracle that I’m here today,” says Dave. Read more about Dave and Marissa’s journey on their CaringBridge page.

Teenager Documents Journey with Cerebral Palsy Part 4

We are excited to welcome Katharine as our first Mary Free Bed Guest Blogger. She came to Mary Free Bed for rehabilitation following a complicated surgery to correct her gait. Kat is blogging about this experience, and she is allowing us to share her thoughts with you. Keep on keepin’ on Well hey! So far […]

Teenager Documents Journey with Cerebral Palsy Part 3

We are excited to welcome Katharine as our first Mary Free Bed Guest Blogger. She came to Mary Free Bed for rehabilitation following a complicated surgery to correct her gait. Kat is blogging about this experience, and she is allowing us to share her thoughts with you. My new home. Today was a big day […]

Teenager Documents Journey with Cerebral Palsy Part 2

We are excited to welcome Katharine as our first Mary Free Bed Guest Blogger. She came to Mary Free Bed for rehabilitation following a complicated surgery to correct her gait. Kat is blogging about this experience, and she is allowing us to share her thoughts with you. Hi! So I’m still getting the hang of […]

Teenager Documents Journey with Cerebral Palsy

We are excited to welcome Katharine as a Mary Free Bed Guest Blogger. She came to Mary Free Bed for rehabilitation following a complicated surgery to correct her gait. Kat is blogging about this experience, and she is allowing us to share her thoughts with you. My Story. Hi! My name is Katharine, and I created […]

Young girl learns how to thrive with epilepsy

Epilepsy is a general term for a variety of neurological conditions characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures. It is the fourth most common neurological disorder in the United States after migraine headaches, strokes and Alzheimer’s disease. About one percent of Americans have some form of epilepsy, and nearly one in 26 people will develop epilepsy at some […]

Man Overcomes Guillain-Barré Syndrome and Restores His Independence

  Robert Clark, an avid tennis player, awoke with a severe backache after an exhausting match the day before. His condition deteriorated from there – loss of finger, hand, arm and leg movement until Robert was completely paralyzed. His diagnosis turned out to be Guillain-Barré syndrome, a serious disorder that occurs when the body’s immune […]