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Inn at Mary Free Bed expansion accommodates more patients, families

GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. – Nicholas Burrell comes to Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital each week for outpatient therapy, traveling about 90 minutes from his home north of Shelby, Michigan. It’s a fairly long trek, but staying overnight at the Inn at Mary Free Bed makes it possible. Nicholas, 32, arrives in the afternoon for a therapy session, […]

Former patient Anthony White overcomes odds to earn PTA degree

Anthony White was catching a nap during the 18-hour trek back to college in Wyoming from his home in Michigan when his friend fell asleep at the wheel. The car careened off the road, striking a group of trees. His friend was OK, but Anthony sustained life-threatening injuries, including a traumatic brain injury. “My parents […]

Eric hits goals with Mary Free Bed’s Weight Management Program

Eric Lake, a pain psychologist with Mary Free Bed’s Pain Center, has learned to “listen to his body” and focus on his wellness goals with help from Mary Free Bed’s Weight Management Program. To support the weight-loss success he achieved in the program’s Foundation phase, Eric committed to the next phase of the program — […]

Wheelchair & Adaptive Sports motivates 10-year-old Ginessa to compete

Ginessa Aguirre is a spunky 10-year-old with a long brown ponytail who likes making slime, watching YouTube and cuddling with her cat, Smokey. She also likes cooking and baking with her mom, Nora. But what Ginessa likes most is playing basketball. “I like to steal the ball,” she said. See? Spunky. Ginessa plays for the […]

Rehabilitation, hard work help Dario overcome debilitating pain

In 2015, Dario Cook was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, a form of arthritis that affects the spine and can lead to severe, chronic pain. That was nearly eight years after he first experienced symptoms, collapsing in pain while walking to work. He initially was diagnosed with a hip strain, but the pain never really went […]

Mary Free Bed graduate Bobby Decair helps patients get in Super Bowl spirit

Bobby Decair has constantly reminded himself to not quit since Jan. 25, 2016 – his first day at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital. Just days earlier, Bobby sustained a traumatic spinal cord injury when his truck slid on black ice and flipped multiple times. “I just held on,” said Bobby, recalling the accident. He said […]

AlterG treadmill helps Mary Free Bed patients defy gravity, rehab sooner and safer

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Charlie Pietryga is a ballet dancer who relies on body strength to gracefully glide across a stage. But the 17-year-old from East Grand Rapids had to hang up her toe shoes when she suffered Morton’s neuroma, a painful condition that affects the ball of the foot. Following surgery, Charlie – a member […]

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 […]

Mary Free Bed Sub-Acute Rehabilitation named among best in nation

The Mary Free Bed Sub-Acute Rehabilitation program has earned a five-star rating from U.S. News & World Report to land a spot on its list of Best Nursing Homes for 2017-18.   U.S. News analysts evaluated more than 15,000 nursing homes nationwide, and just 15 percent (about 2,300) were identified as a “best nursing home.” […]

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 […]

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 […]

Kalamazoo bus driver who lost leg in crash ‘grateful to still be here’

La Shon Diallo was working overtime at her long-time job as a Kalamazoo Metro Transit bus driver to earn extra money for a new roof on her home. She remembers the traffic light turning green. Then she remembers waking up in the hospital. La Shon, 47, was seriously injured when a suspected drunken driver traveling […]

East Michigan resident chooses Mary Free Bed for rehabilitation after double amputation

UPDATE: Since Ken graduated from the inpatient Amputee Program, he’s returned to Mary Free Bed for outpatient therapy. His rehabilitation includes recreational therapy, which caters to each patient’s interests to improve their physical, social and emotional well-being, and to get them back to doing what they love. In Ken’s case, that’s being outside. Rachel Morse, […]

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 […]

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 […]