Dave loses 100 pounds, improves health with Weight Management Program
Mary Free Bed’s mission is to restore hope and freedom through rehabilitation. Our programs and services are an extension of that mission. For Dave Nichols, a graduate of the Mary Free Bed Weight Management Program, hope and freedom came by way of improving his wellness. In this interview, Dave explains how the medically based program […]
Mary Free Bed, GVSU announce expanded partnership
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Leaders from Grand Valley State University and Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital are expanding their partnership, which will strengthen the region’s health care talent pipeline and serve the needs of rehabilitation patients. The two organizations have a long history of collaboration. Mary Free Bed serves as a clinical site for Grand […]
Covenant HealthCare and Mary Free Bed forge partnership to expand inpatient rehabilitation care
This week, leaders from Covenant HealthCare and Mary Free Bed signed a partnership agreement to form a 50-50 joint venture. Working together, Covenant and Mary Free Bed will bring advanced rehabilitation care to Saginaw and the Great Lakes Bay Region. Located in Saginaw, Covenant HealthCare is a 642-bed health care system. Providing quality inpatient rehabilitation […]
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,” […]
Participants with traumatic spinal cord injury being recruited for new research study
Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital has been awarded a three-year, $400,000 grant from the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation to measure how physical activity impacts the lives of people with spinal cord injury. Researchers will focus on whether a positive impact can be made on people’s participation in physical activity over a year-long period, said Mary […]
Mary Free Bed Foundation receives Excellence in Fundraising Award
The Mary Free Bed Foundation has been honored with the 2017 Excellence in Fundraising Award by the Association of Fundraising Professionals West Michigan Chapter. The award was presented today at the chapter’s National Philanthropy Day event at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. National Philanthropy Day, established by President Ronald Reagan in 1986, recognizes the impact […]
How to stay healthy during the holidays
The average Thanksgiving meal has 3,000 calories and 229 grams of fat. Other holiday meals will have similar caloric opportunities. Many people start by snacking throughout the day. That, combined with the meal, can lead to a total of more than 4,500 calories. Not to worry! The holidays can be healthfully enjoyed if they’re taken […]
New coloring book introduces Mary Free Bed pediatric patients to ‘Hope and Freedom League’
Pediatric patients at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital have a fun way to get to know their team of physicians, therapists, nurses and caregivers – otherwise known as the “Hope and Freedom League.” A new coloring book introduces the hospital’s youngest patients to the superheroes whose special powers will help them “get better at lightning […]
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 […]
Easy recipe ideas for a healthier autumn: What to eat this fall
Fall is in the air and it’s the perfect time to enjoy Michigan’s tasty seasonal produce. Shopping at your local farmers markets is a great way to savor fruits and veggies at peak freshness, and meet the people who grow your food. Plus, shopping local has environmental benefits, too. What types of food are hopping […]
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 […]
Ryan Podvin honored as a ‘40 Under 40’ Business Leader
Congratulations to Ryan Podvin, manager of Decision Support for Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital, who’s been named one of the Grand Rapids Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Business Leaders. He is among the 2017 class of honorees selected for the honor based on business and career goals and achievements; industry expertise and leadership; and community […]
Cancer survivor, Mary Free Bed Guild member gears up for trek to Mount Everest Base Camp
Anne Chamberlin has a simple mission: “My goal every day is to feel alive.” The 56-year-old East Grand Rapids native is a wife and mother of four, friend and philanthropist. And a cancer survivor ready to feel more alive than she ever has. Anne, a member of the Mary Free Bed Guild, will leave Oct. […]
Patient continues rehabilitation journey at home
Trula Schutt came to Mary Free Bed for rehabilitation after back surgery to treat spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal that causes pain. She eventually gained enough strength to walk with a walker, then on her own before graduating from the inpatient program. But Trula still needed a little help, so she transitioned […]
Mary Free Bed wins Studer Group Excellence in Patient Care Award
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital has been honored by Studer Group®, a Huron solution, with an Excellence in Patient Care Award for employee engagement. Excellence in Patient Care Awards are presented annually to a select group of organizations from Studer Group’s partner base of hospitals, health systems and physician organizations. “Mary […]
Brandon McElhenie gets ‘stronger day by day’ after off-road vehicle crash, walks out doors at graduation
Brandon McElhenie couldn’t wait to drive his new 2016 Yamaha YXZ1000R at Silver Lake Sand Dunes. A fan of cars, dirt bikes and ATVs since he was young, the 25-year-old Battle Creek resident was excited to take the side-by-side UTV (Utility Task Vehicle) for an off-road ride with friends. Brandon, his girlfriend, Sara Roberts, and […]
Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation gives $10,000 to Mary Free Bed
Grant adds bike to fleet, creates state’s only off-road adaptive handcycle program GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital has received a $10,000 Quality of Life grant from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation to help people with disabilities go places that, until now, have been inaccessible. The grant was used to purchase […]
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 […]
Stay healthy and hydrated with infused water recipes
Welcome to summer! Rising temps, humidity and sun exposure can make you break a sweat. When that happens, it’s important to replace the water you’ve lost. Water is a key nutrient and is essential for your body to function at its best. It is vital for most bodily functions, including digestion. It also helps transport […]
Fine Arts Exhibition showcases works by artists with disabilities
More than 80 works of art, from paintings to photographs and drawings, will be featured in the Mary Free Bed Fine Arts Exhibition, which opens Monday and runs through June 27. The 35th annual event, sponsored by the Mary Free Bed Guild, will spotlight pieces by 31 artists with disabilities. The exhibition kicks off with […]
Bikes for the Rest of Us draws dozens of participants, volunteers
More than 75 children and adults with physical disabilities were introduced to adaptive bicycling during Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital’s annual Bikes for the Rest of Us event on Saturday. Each participant was paired with a therapist to determine the necessary adaptations that will enable them to pedal alongside their able-bodied friends. “This event helps […]
Bronson South Haven Hospital joins Mary Free Bed Network
Grand Rapids, Mich. – Bronson South Haven Hospital is the newest member to join the Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Network, an innovative alliance of hospitals and providers dedicated to enhancing patient care and rehabilitation services throughout Michigan. The network was established in 2011 to extend Mary Free Bed’s expertise and specialized services to other settings, […]
‘Put Your Best Fork Forward’ for National Nutrition Month
March is National Nutrition Month, and Mary Free Bed’s nutrition team is excited to celebrate all things wellness. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has selected “Put Your Best Fork Forward” as this year’s theme. What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think about putting your best fork forward? Bites of food! […]
Legacy lives on in artwork donated to Mary Free Bed
Pat Seanor met Larry O’Toole in 1969, when they were students at Grand Rapids Junior College. The young, aspiring artists struck up a friendship that continued until Larry’s death in 1986 following a lifelong struggle with rheumatoid arthritis. Larry was just 34 when he died, but his legacy is preserved in his large scope of […]
Gerber Foundation board members visit outpatient pediatric gym
Members of the Gerber Foundation Board of Trustees visited Mary Free Bed for a first-hand look at its new and renovated facilities, including the Pediatric Therapy Gym, where a plaque is displayed in recognition of the foundation’s generous $250,000 gift to the “Join the Movement” capital campaign. “We have the great fortune as a foundation […]
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 […]
Creativity in the kitchen can inspire healthy eating
Have your 2017 wellness resolutions stalled? Creativity in the kitchen can rekindle and refocus your nutrition goals. Mary Free Bed registered dietitians Jessi Boehme and Joanna Gritter (pictured below, right to left) are doing their part to keep hospital staff motivated with healthy, on-site cooking and recipe demos. Here, Jessi shares guidelines for healthy dishes recently shared […]
Smith family ‘very hopeful’ as 6-year-old recovers from influenza-induced encephalitis
Celebrating the New Year and what the future holds has taken on new meaning for Tesfa and Brooke Smith. The Smiths are treasuring family time with their twin daughters, Amarie and Adalie, since returning to their Big Rapids home Dec. 22, just in time to spend the holidays and welcome 2017. “This year will be […]
New Adaptive Cheerleading Team breaks barriers, builds friendships
The Mary Free Bed All Stars Adaptive Cheerleading team boasts enthusiasm and spirit to spare. The newest team organized by Wheelchair & Adaptive Sports is made up of enthusiastic young athletes with physical or cognitive impairments that prevent participation in able-bodied cheer. “A cheerleading team was a missing piece of our program, and it has […]
Weight Management grads share stories of weight loss success
Expert guest blog: Jessi Boehme, MS, RDN, is a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist at Mary Free Bed. Following is a Q&A with graduates of the Mary Free Bed Weight Management program. The Centers for Disease Control report 70 percent of adults ages 20 and older are overweight or obese. Carrying extra weight can put a person at increased […]