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. […]
Get to work on a healthier lifestyle before January
From our experts: Jessi Holden is a registered dietitian/nutritionist at Mary Free Bed. In this blog, she shares 10 small lifestyle changes you can make now. The most common New Year’s resolutions focus on getting healthy – eating better, losing weight or exercising more. We tend to set these goals without outlining the steps to […]
Covenant HealthCare and Mary Free Bed Expand Joint Venture
Leaders from Covenant HealthCare and Mary Free Bed are expanding the scope of their existing 50-50 joint venture. In addition to the current 41-bed inpatient rehabilitation unit, four more areas will be included in the partnership. The expanded Mary Free Bed at Covenant Joint Venture will now include: Inpatient Rehabilitation Outpatient Rehabilitation Orthotics and Prosthetics […]
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 […]
Research shows interdisciplinary rehabilitation best treats fibromyalgia
Guest blog: Dr. James Hudson is medical director of the Pain Rehabilitation program. He’s specialized in the treatment and management of patients with chronic pain at Mary Free Bed for more than 30 years. He leads a specialized team of doctors and therapists who use a rehabilitation approach to pain management. In this blog, Dr. […]
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. […]
Mary Free Bed continues impact on rehabilitative care with full accreditation of PM&R Residency
GRAND RAPIDS – Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital’s role as an innovative, academic institution got another boost when it received full accreditation of its Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Program. This opens the door for Mary Free Bed to impact another dimension of rehabilitative care. “Mary Free Bed has been a pioneer in rehabilitation for […]
Muskegon couple fights their battles against pain together, with help from physical therapy
When Kevin and Beverly Battle were married 36 years ago, they took their vows to love each other in sickness and in health very seriously. Beverly was diagnosed with a rare genetic eye disorder that causes loss of vision. Her balance was affected, which led to falls, and she suffered back issues that required surgery. […]
Heather uses discipline, hard work to manage fibromyalgia pain
Heather Galli is passionate about martial arts and the values it teaches. A third-degree black belt, Heather says honor, respect, discipline and hard work are principles she and her husband also instill in their children. Unfortunately, the 48-year-old’s years of training and teaching also took a toll on her body. She was diagnosed in 2018 […]
Mary Free Bed Security Department awarded ‘Program of Distinction’ designation
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The security team responsible for maintaining a safe environment at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital has been recognized for its efforts by the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety. Mary Free Bed is the second hospital in Michigan to be named a Program of Distinction, an honor awarded by IAHSS […]
Mary Free Bed rises to the ‘Git Up’ challenge
“The Git Up” is sliding its way across the country this summer, and Mary Free Bed has accepted the “two-step then cowboy boogie” challenge. Blanco Brown’s country-infused rap song lassoed the top spot on music charts, while the line-dance ditty ignited a viral dance challenge across social media. From police officers to celebrities to daddy-daughter […]
Becky battles Guillain-Barre Syndrome with support from Mercy Health Muskegon, Mary Free Bed
On Dec. 23, Becky Ray was preparing for her family’s Christmas celebration when she felt tingling and numbness in her toes and fingers. Alarmed, she went to the emergency room at Mercy Health Muskegon’s Hackley campus. Test results were inconclusive, and her symptoms were attributed to anxiety. “I’m a super busy mom-on-the-go,” said Becky, 44. […]
Full Peds Ahead’ initiative betters access to care, creates brighter futures for Mary Free Bed kids
Improving the lives of children and teens with disabilities has been an important part of Mary Free Bed’s mission for more than a century. Recently renamed Mary Free Bed Kids, specialized programs and services continue to evolve with exciting potential. Mary Free Bed is the only inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Michigan with a secure unit […]
Pain Rehabilitation Program opens up ‘a whole new world’ for Gerry
Gerry King suffered with debilitating pain for three years. It became so unbearable, the 75-year-old was unable to care for herself at her Kalamazoo home and began living in a nursing facility. “You get to a point where you think, OK, if I have to be this way for the rest of my life, so […]
’Tis the season: Blueberry Cucumber Salsa a superfood summer treat
From our experts: Jessi Holden, MS, RDN, CSOWM, is a registered dietitian at Mary Free Bed. In this blog, she shares how healthy food choices contribute to a healthy lifestyle. It’s blueberry season! Now is the best time of year to get fresh, locally grown blueberries – a fruity superfood we love. Did you know: […]
Mary Free Bed welcomes next generation of rehabilitation physicians to residency program
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Four physicians focused on restoring hope and freedom to patients recovering from serious injuries or illnesses have begun their post-graduate training at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital. The 2019 class was selected from a pool of more than 400 candidates vying for spots in Mary Free Bed’s Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation […]
Fifth Third Bank joins Foundation’s Community Partnership Program
When selecting organizations to support in the communities it serves, Fifth Third Bank looks for those that may help its own employees and customers. Its mission to strengthen families and build strong communities complements Mary Free Bed’s mission to restore hope and freedom through rehabilitation so people can achieve their highest level of independence. That’s […]
Care granted: Gabriel uses personal experience after spinal cord injury to help others
Gabriel Grant was an 18-year-old high school graduate looking forward to going to Grand Rapids Community College to play golf as a walk on. But when a tire blew on the car he was riding in, Gabriel’s life took a different path. Gabriel broke his neck and became a quadriplegic in the 2009 crash. After […]
Wes battles SMA with help of Pain Rehabilitation Program and finds ‘the art of hope’
Wes DeVries has spinal muscular atrophy, a rare condition that affects the muscles, but he hasn’t allowed his physical limitations to quash his creativity. Diagnosed in 1996, the 59-year-old Grand Rapids native is a renowned local artist who dismisses his pain and limited mobility to create abstracts rich in texture and color. In this video, […]
Mary Free Bed Guild awards scholarships to ‘inspiring and dedicated’ students
Twenty-one outstanding college students have been recognized for their academic achievements with scholarships awarded by the Mary Free Bed Guild. The Guild has awarded more than $500,000 in scholarships since it established the Minority Scholarship Program in 2006 and the Disability Scholarship Program in 2013. This year, the guild accepted applications from throughout Michigan […]
Debbie credits Weight Management Program with new confidence, well-being
When Debbie Erickson’s physician told her she was pre-diabetic, she knew it was time to do something and joined the Mary Free Bed Weight Management Program. Not only did she lose weight, Debbie no longer was pre-diabetic. She gained self-confidence and belief in her ability to maintain her weight loss. Debbie shares her experience here: […]
Five reasons you should add asparagus to your plate
From our experts: Jessi Holden, MS, RDN, CSOWM is a registered dietitian/nutritionist at Mary Free Bed. In this blog, she shares how healthy food choices contribute to a healthy lifestyle. Well, Michiganders, we made it! Spring is here, and that means fresh fruits and vegetables. One of the first veggies of the season, nutrient-packed asparagus, […]
Lakeland and Mary Free Bed establish orthotics and prosthetics joint venture
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Spectrum Health Lakeland and Mary Free Bed Orthotics & Prosthetics have joined to create Mary Free Bed Orthotics & Prosthetics at Spectrum Health Lakeland, a joint venture providing advanced orthotic and prosthetic care for patients in southwest Michigan and northern Indiana. Located at 2500 Niles Road, Suite 9, in St. Joseph, Mary Free Bed […]
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 […]
Mary Free Bed handcyclist Matthew Chaffee to compete in Boston Marathon
When Matthew Chaffee was introduced to the world of adaptive sports, it changed the way he views his disability. “I learned to be more independent,” said Matthew, who was paralyzed in a 2014 motorcycle crash. “I’ve met people with all types of disabilities, and everyone has their own way of doing things. The more I […]
From caregiver to patient: Mary Free Bed physician assistant says experience provided new perspective
Guest blog: Doris Jacobs is a physician assistant at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital. When Doris needed rehabilitation following back-to-back emergency surgeries, the caregiver became the patient. She says that experience gave her a deeper understanding of her own patients’ needs. When I became a physician assistant in 2005, I was fortunate enough to work […]
Pain management techniques help with flare ups
Guest blog: Courtney Husen is an occupational therapist in Mary Free Bed’s Pain Rehabilitation Program. As a member of the program’s team of experts, she works with patients to reduce their chronic pain and improve their ability to function. In this blog, Courtney offers strategies to ease painful flare ups. Chronic pain can impact our […]
Covenant HealthCare and Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation will build leading-edge rehabilitation hospital in Saginaw
Leaders from Covenant HealthCare and Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation approved a request to build a $40.7 million rehabilitation hospital. Located in Saginaw on the Covenant HealthCare main campus, the new building will include 48 inpatient beds with shelled space for 12 beds for future use, and a state-of-the-art outpatient therapy facility. In addition to new […]
Living with chronic pain: Pain rehabilitation and graded exposure to activity
Guest blog: Nicole DeHaan is a physical therapist and therapeutic pain specialist in Mary Free Bed’s Pain Rehabilitation Program. As a member of the program’s team of experts, she works with patients to reduce their chronic pain and improve their ability to function. In this blog, Nicole discusses the benefits of graded exposure to activity, […]
Travis on ‘road to a healthier life’ with help from Bronson, Mary Free Bed
Travis Laws was determined to get his life back and knew it wouldn’t be easy. Bedridden for several years, the 46-year-old from Allegan had significant health issues, including a large mass on his right leg. He weighed nearly 1,300 pounds. Specialists from Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo cared for Travis and developed a diet and […]