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 […]
UPDATE: Young athlete recovers from stroke with help from Mary Free Bed
Updated October 22, 2019 Lauren Ziegler achieved her goal of running a half-marathon on October 20. She finished the half-marathon at the Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon five minutes faster than she had planned. She also plans to continue running and run in more races in the future. Updated April 9, 2019 Lauren Ziegler […]
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 […]
Rehabilitation and technology improve patient experience
Grand Rapids, Mich. – Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital is partnering with technology company eVideon to improve patient experience. The 167-inpatient bed rehabilitation hospital uses the eVideon PX platform to entertain, engage and educate patients during acute rehabilitation stays. The technology provides patients, families and visitors with live TV, movies on demand and relaxation videos. […]
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 […]
Munson Medical Center, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital sign JOA
Munson Medical Center and Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital have signed a joint operating agreement that expands their partnership to provide rehabilitation services to northern Michigan residents. The agreement took effect Jan. 1. Mary Free Bed has managed inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services at Munson Medical Center since August 2015. A significant increase in the […]
Shorty first patient to graduate from Ventilator and Pulmonary Rehabilitation at Mary Free Bed
Herb “Shorty” Monroe was seriously injured in a July car crash just a mile from where he works. He was taken by ambulance to Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo, where doctors discovered Shorty had a spinal cord injury that required surgery, as well as spinal fractures, broken ribs and bruised lungs. He needed a ventilator […]
Lila’s recovery from internal decapitation called miraculous
An August car crash near her Cedar Springs home left Lila DeLine with a life-threatening spinal cord injury. Essentially, she was internally decapitated when the force of the impact separated her skull from her spine, an injury that most often proves fatal. But Lila defied the odds. She was an inpatient at Spectrum Health for […]
Manage holiday stress with these simple tips
The holiday season can be equal parts joyful and stressful. From long to-do lists to strained family relationships and the desire to create the “perfect” holiday, we often put too much pressure on ourselves. When we feel stress, we increase our risk for stress-induced eating. Jessi Boehme, a registered dietitian at Mary Free Bed, has […]
‘Tis the season to holiday-proof your healthy eating goals
The holidays are a time to celebrate and enjoy family and friends. The season is filled with gatherings that feature festive meals and delectable treats – full of calories. But with a little planning, you can still enjoy yourself and stick to your wellness goals. Jessi Boehme, a registered dietitian at Mary Free Bed, offers […]
Charlotte makes great gains with outpatient pediatric rehabilitation: ‘We were looking for hope’
UPDATE: After their daughter, Charlotte, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when she was about six months old, Kristine Hendricks and her husband, Matt, knew early intervention would have a positive impact on her quality of life. So, every Tuesday morning, Kristine drove Charlotte to Mary Free Bed for therapy. “It was about two years ago […]
Mary Free Bed, Spectrum Health establish Forum for Hospital Collaboration
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Experts from Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital and Spectrum Health have been long-time collaborators in patient care and are now forming a deeper relationship. “For years we have worked closely with clinicians at Mary Free Bed to coordinate care for patients who can benefit from the highly specialized technology and expertise […]
Mary Free Bed and University of Michigan collaborate on research
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital and the University of Michigan’s Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation are partnering on research to help people with spinal cord injuries. Researchers from Mary Free Bed and the University of Michigan are collaborating on a three-year study investigating the effect of a novel exercise training […]
Gardening-as-therapy helps Betty bloom
Betty Wustman loves tending to the flowers at her Byron Center home … bountiful roses and hydrangeas, beautiful flowering baskets and beds, and a house full of African violets. “I love, love, love flowers,” said Betty, 74, who came to Mary Free Bed after being diagnosed with polymyositis, an uncommon condition that causes muscle weakness. […]
Kim finds accountability, education and support with Weight Management Program: ‘I’m in the best place’
Twelve years ago, Kim Murphy decided to work toward a healthier lifestyle. Her journey has included challenges and successes, including a 100-plus pound weight loss. Adding Mary Free Bed’s Weight Management Program to her support circle has helped Kim feel better than ever. Since she joined the program six months ago, Kim has lost an […]
Mary’s Therapy Playground provides a fun, healing space for youngest patients
A playground is a happy place where children can explore, learn and grow. At Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital, it’s also a haven for healing, hope and freedom. Mary’s Therapy Playground is a joyful new space where the hospital’s youngest patients can work on their rehabilitation goals in a safe, secure and accessible environment. The […]
Mary Free Bed Spine Center patient Ann Ward: ‘They truly gave me my life back’
Ann Ward has a posse of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandchild, and she doesn’t have time for pain. The retired Grattan Township paramedic suffered from near-disabling back pain and came to the Mary Free Bed Spine Center for treatment. In this video, Ann shares how Spine Center specialists helped identify the source of her pain […]
Mary Free Bed partners with Synzi to streamline admissions and virtual consults
CLEARWATER, Fla. — Virtual care company Synzi announced that Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital, a not-for-profit Michigan-based rehabilitation hospital, has selected its virtual care communication platform to streamline admissions by remotely connecting clinicians and patients. The platform also will enable virtual consults across the Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Network of 30-plus hospitals throughout Michigan. Mary Free Bed […]
Inclusive dance video ‘Miracles in Motion’ showcases hope, rehability
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – “Miracles in Motion” is an inclusive dance video featuring Mary Free Bed employees, former patients and campers from our Junior Wheelchair Sports Camp. This project was inspired by and created to celebrate National Rehabilitation Awareness Week and was our entry for ArtPrize 10, Grand Rapids’ international art competition. Produced by Mary Free Bed staff […]
Teen tackles rehabilitation from serious illness with self-motivation and her Mary Free Bed team
Samantha Beckhorn thought her life was “shattered and broken” after she woke up at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, unable to move. Diagnosed with autoimmune-related encephalitis and transverse myelitis, Sam came to Mary Free Bed for rehabilitation following a month in the Intensive Care Unit at Sparrow. That’s when she changed her mindset. “I was like […]
Andria finds hope, learns mindfulness with Weight Management Program
Andria Kiel joined the Mary Free Bed Weight Management Program hoping to drop weight for good. Through participation in the program’s 20-week Foundation class followed by the year-round Stride program, Andria’s goals evolved into achieving lifelong health and wellness. She recently completed her first 5K. In this blog, Andria shares her experience: Why did you […]
Kristy calls recovery from back pain ‘amazing’ with help of Mary Free Bed Spine Center
Kristy Reuss suffered with back pain for nearly two years. At one point, her pain was so debilitating she was unable to stand or walk and missed a month of work. Diagnosed with a disc herniation between the L5 and S1 vertebrae in her spine, Kristy’s course of treatment provided some relief but only for […]
Hard work, lots of laughter help 14-year-old Kendall on long path to recovery
Kendall Hicks is a bubbly 14-year-old with sparkling green eyes who loves playing the flute in the middle school band and cuddling with her guinea pig, Levi. Hangouts with friends typically turn into laugh-fests. And laughter, as the saying goes, is the best medicine. Walking into Kendall’s room at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital, 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 […]
Child life specialist helps Mary Free Bed’s youngest patients cope with hospitalization
Mariah Bruff always knew she wanted to become a teacher, but she didn’t expect a hospital to be her classroom and its youngest patients to be her students. Mariah studied education at Grand Valley State University, but found teaching in front of a large group in a small classroom wasn’t for her. Her sister, a […]
Mary Free Bed launches most competitive, inclusive sports rehabilitation program in Michigan
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Whether it’s an organized competitive team sport or an afternoon with friends on the court, we love sports. Unfortunately, they don’t always love us back. The experts at Mary Free Bed Sports Rehabilitation can help. The program is the most comprehensive and inclusive offering of its kind in Michigan. The four […]
RaeAnn loses weight, gains confidence with Weight Management Program
Mary Free Bed’s Weight Management Program uses a team-based approach to weight loss – a physician, registered dietitian, psychologist and an exercise physiologist all play an integral part in each patient’s success. Participants lose an average of 29.5 pounds or 11.58 percent of their body weight during the first 20-week phase of the program, and […]