Preschool Sampler gives sports-lover Greyson introduction to team play
Greyson Gibbs is an energetic first grader who loves sports and playing with his friends. His participation in the Wheelchair & Adaptive Sports Program’s new Preschool Sampler offers him the best of both worlds. “He loves all the games they play and seeing all of his friends on a weekly basis,” said Greyson’s mom, Leigh. […]
Larry LeForge on his cancer rehabilitation: ‘If you work hard, there will be rewards’
Larry LeForge spent 35 years of his career in health care, including 15 at Mary Free Bed as its director of facilities, construction and security. He never expected to be a patient here, but that changed after surgery to remove a cancerous brain tumor. In April 2015, Larry became nauseous, sweaty and persistently dizzy. The […]
The Ghost Inside drummer: ‘I have no doubt I’ll get back to doing what I love’
Guest blog: Andrew Tkaczyk is the drummer for Los Angeles-based metalcore band The Ghost Inside. He spent 5 weeks as an inpatient at Mary Free Bed following a November crash that killed two people and severely injured several others, including his bandmates. Andrew, 28, sustained head trauma and fractures to his spine, ribs and hip. […]
Abigail Kopf’s recovery: ‘To see where she is today is amazing’
Abigail Kopf, the Battle Creek teen critically injured in the Feb. 20 mass shootings in Kalamazoo, graduated April 20 from Mary Free Bed after 6 weeks of intensive inpatient treatment. Since her admission to Mary Free Bed on March 8, Abigail has made significant strides in her recovery from a gunshot wound to the head. […]
Restoring balance with vestibular rehabilitation therapy
A balance disorder can affect a person’s quality of life by significantly impacting his or her comfort and safety. A person who has vertigo, for instance, may have trouble performing daily tasks at home or work. Vestibular rehabilitation therapy, such as what’s offered at Mary Free Bed, can help to address these issues. Mary Free Bed therapists […]
Thank you to our volunteers – National Volunteer Appreciation Week 2016
National Volunteer Appreciation Week is here (April 12-18, 2016) and we love to salute the numerous volunteers who help Mary Free Bed every single day. Volunteers help with everything from administration and clerical duties, escorting patients and families, to helping therapists be an extra hand during rehabilitation. “I am continually amazed and grateful for all that […]
Susan Ford Bales attends Betty Bloomer Ford Cancer Rehabilitation Program dedication
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital officially dedicated the Betty Bloomer Ford Cancer Rehabilitation Program in a brief ceremony on Tuesday, April 12. Susan Ford Bales, daughter of President Gerald R. Ford and First Lady Betty Ford, was in attendance. The Betty Bloomer Ford Cancer Rehabilitation Program, which provides high-quality, cost-effective rehabilitative care […]
The ‘deets’ on sweets: How to reduce added sugar
Have you ever been confused about the sugar content on a food label? Apple juice seems healthy in moderation, but the label says there’s 25 grams of sugar in the unsweetened varieties – why? The latest federal dietary guidelines recommend consuming less than 50 grams of added sugar per day. The key word? Added. For perspective, […]
Nichols family works together to become a weight loss success story
Dave Nichols needed a total hip replacement, but his doctor told him that he had to lose 70 pounds before the surgery could be performed. His wife, Denise, saw a brochure for the Mary Free Bed’s Weight Management Program, which helps men and women of all ages and in all stages of their weight-loss journey. […]
NASC members raise thousands for Wheelchair & Adaptive Sports
Grand Rapids, Mich. — The National Association of Sports Commissions’ (NASC) Sports Legacy Fund on Thursday, April 7, 2016, presented $27,000 to Mary Free Bed’s Wheelchair & Adaptive Sports Program (WAS). The money was raised during the 24th NASC Sports Event Symposium hosted April 3-7 in downtown Grand Rapids. It is the highest-ever amount of any NASC Sports […]
Colin Sullivan is ‘passionate about living an active life’
In some ways, Colin Sullivan’s life has changed very little in the past 16 years. He still teaches the same subjects at the same school as he did before he fell asleep behind the wheel and crashed his car into a guardrail. “I still travel when I can, play sports, socialize with friends and try […]
Excitement building for next phase of expansion, renovation project
As Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital marks the first anniversary of the March 29, 2015 opening of the new West Building addition, renovations to the rest of campus are on schedule and Mary Free Bed Foundation’s “Join the Movement” capital campaign is on target. This transformative project will continue to keep Mary Free Bed on the […]
3-year-old gaining strength, skills through ‘play’
Guest blog by Sharon Weber Elena is 3 years old. She was born in China and came home to our family when she was 15 months old. She is a funny kid who likes to tell jokes. She is a girlie girl who particularly enjoys shopping and trying on shoes. Elena is active and likes to […]
Nurse Anna-Marie Lipka honored as ‘Everyday Hero’ for saving man’s life
Anna-Marie Lipka says she was just doing her job. Kara George is thankful she was. Kara’s husband, Andy, was driving east on Int. 96 in Ionia County the evening of Dec. 1 when he lost consciousness. Anna-Marie, a registered nurse at Mary Free Bed, was traveling behind him with her husband, Ben, when she noticed […]
A princess of a patient: Jerrensia enjoys royal treatment
This is an update to a Nov. 18, 2015, blog about the Kroll family. Visit that post for additional photos and details about Jen Kroll’s viral Facebook message. Like many girls her age, six-year-old Jerrensia Caroline Kroll loves Disney princesses. Elsa, the noble heroine of the animated film “Frozen,” ranks high on her list of […]
For Barb Barton, hope ‘started as a whisper’
Guest blog by Barb Barton I wanted it to be the rollercoasters. Rollercoasters and my increasing age. Rollercoasters and the too-tight pressure of the lap bar. Rollercoasters that looped and yanked my body into unnatural positions. My feet had been numb for 3 days, so I spent the weekend following a trip to Cedar Point amusement […]
The Ghost Inside drummer, Andrew Tkaczyk, rocks his rehabilitation with ‘Dr. Drums’ Bloom
During the 5 weeks Andrew Tkaczyk was an inpatient at Mary Free Bed, he developed a bond of trust with his doctor, not only because of his medical care but through their mutual passion for drumming. And now “Dr. Beats” – Andrew’s nickname – and “Dr. Drums,” aka Dr. Stephen Bloom, are working together with […]
How the buddy system supports successful weight loss
A successful weight loss or weight management plan includes strategies to manage common day-to-day temptations, like those freshly-baked cookies in the company breakroom or the friend who wants you to skip yoga in favor of happy hour. Enlisting a support person–or “buddy system”–is a fun and effective way to stay on track with your wellness goals. Kim Meeuwsen, […]
Lauren Brasure is racing to recovery
Lauren Brasure is no stranger to hard work. The 2014 Rockford High School graduate was an all-conference and all-state runner named “Ms. Cross Country” by the Michigan Interscholastic Track Coaches Association. Her tremendous talent led to a scholarship to compete for the University of Florida (UF) in Gainesville, where she’s also seen success for the Division […]
Mary Free Bed Guild celebrates 125 years
For 125 years, the women of the Mary Free Bed Guild have maintained the hospital’s nurturing culture of restoring hope and freedom through rehabilitation. To mark the significant anniversary of its unique history and vision, the Guild is sharing its story and celebrating its accomplishments with events throughout the year. Visitors touring the new West […]
Guild President Kim Ridings among 50 Most Influential Women in West Michigan
Grand Rapids, Mich. — Mary Free Bed Guild President Kim Ridings has been named one of the 50 Most Influential Women in West Michigan by the Grand Rapids Business Journal. She is among the region’s most influential women business owners, leaders, policy-shapers and decision-makers chosen for the honor. The honorees will be recognized during a March 8 awards luncheon […]
MyoPro’s myoelectric device helps Cindy regain use of arm after 19 years
UPDATE: Cindy’s amazing story has drawn attention from area media. The story also highlights the innovation of our care team and our relationship with Sparrow Hospital in Lansing. Here are links to those reports: Lansing State Journal WILX-TV 10 Cindy Pohl has been unable to use her left arm since being injured in a car […]
New fencing team challenges athletes physically, mentally
Tim Volkers loves swordplay. He’s a fan of “Zorro,” “The Three Musketeers,” “The Count of Monte Cristo” and “Star Wars” (yes, a lightsaber can be considered a sword). And now he’s wielding one himself. Tim is a member of Wheelchair and Adaptive Sports’ new fencing team, organized this year following success of the program’s adaptive […]
Winter workouts and activities to stay fit in the colder months
Unless you’re a winter sports enthusiast, the sting of the cold air can make it much more tempting to stay inside with a cup of hot chocolate rather than get outdoors to exercise. This makes it especially difficult to combat those seasonal blues. Trying new winter workouts and activities — or dusting off some classics […]
Ballroom dancing class helps Kathy feel ‘new’ and ‘normal’
Kathy Robinson is no wallflower. The 62-year-old retired school teacher loves to kayak, do yoga and dance. And despite her 2011 diagnosis of secondary-progressive multiple sclerosis, Kathy still does all three. Kathy is enrolled in Wheelchair & Adaptive Sports’ (WAS) new Ballroom Dancing course, which promote participants’ physical, social and emotional well-being. “Sometimes I can […]
Rec Therapy Team ‘blessed’ to be part of wedding
When Jenny Porter and Corey Maillette celebrate their wedding in November on an old farm near the White Mountains in Fryeburg, Maine, they’ll also celebrate their first anniversary. That’s because Jenny and Corey were married Nov. 27 in a ceremony quickly planned by the Recreational Therapy staff at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital so that […]
The Ghost Inside drummer develops bond with Dr. Bloom on rehabilitation journey
Dr. Stephen Bloom visited Andrew Tkaczyk about 7 am every day for 5 weeks at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital. He reviewed reports with his patient, and they talked about the next steps on his road to recovery. Then they talked about drumming. “Andrew’s nickname is Dr. Beats, and he calls me Dr. Drums,” said Bloom, […]
Mary Free Bed alumnus Chad Bush offers support to pediatric program
Pets can positively impact our health, reduce stress and make us happy – especially kids. That’s why it’s important to Chad Bush to help Mary Free Bed’s youngest patients. Chad is CFO of U.S. Retail, which owns and operates Pet Supplies Plus franchises across the country, including 6 in West Michigan. During the holiday season, […]
Effective therapies for patients with spinal cord injury
A customized therapy plan is crucial for patients who have sustained a complete or incomplete spinal cord injury. The Spinal Cord Injury Team at Mary Free Bed collaborates to determine the most appropriate rehabilitation methods to promote motor recovery after a spinal cord injury. Mary Free Bed therapist Kristina Simpson, PT, MSPT, recently authored an article, “Promoting Motor […]
Adaptive snowboarding gets Raphael back on the slopes
Raphael Correa, a patient of Mary Free Bed’s Orthotics & Prosthetics program, recently met a new, post-accident goal – snowboarding at Timber Ridge Ski Area in Gobles, Mich. After he spent a month in a wheelchair Correa got his walking leg in November 2014 and has been working and training ever since. Raphael’s goal is to get back to […]