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Healthy cooking during the holidays

The holidays are quickly approaching and there are so many great family recipes to share. Unfortunately, that cookie recipe from great-great-great-grandma that calls for one and a half cups of butter may not align with your weight loss meal plan. It’s OK to splurge on occasion – but only within reason. Healthy cooking is possible […]

I’ll keep going until I can’t go anymore’

Thirty-four-year-old Nate Denofre doesn’t have much use for the term “disabled.” Born without legs below the knee – a result of amniotic band syndrome – Nate prefers to focus on what is possible for him to do, instead of what isn’t. His latest undertaking embodies the odds-defying spirit that’s driven him to live a life […]

Advances in foot drop rehabilitation benefit wide range of patients

foot drop rehab

There have been tremendous strides in foot drop rehabilitation in the last few decades, and Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital therapists have stayed in step with all the latest developments. “Foot drop” is the term commonly used to describe a difficulty in lifting the front part of the foot while walking. Foot drop can mean an […]

Educational opportunities abound at 2015 SCI Symposium

Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital was pleased to welcome 160 guests to the 2015 SCI Symposium held Thursday, Oct. 22, at the Prince Conference Center at Calvin College in Grand Rapids. The event, “Living | Loving,” covered a wide range of topics and drew a diverse audience. “As leaders in rehabilitation, it’s important for us […]

Cancer + Wellness series: Episodes 16 & 17 – Yoga for cancer patients and survivors

Need to unwind and relax? Looking for ways to holistically cope with stress and tension? Interested in learning more about yoga for cancer patients and survivors? Michele Fife, an instructor with Mary Free Bed’s Cancer + Wellness program, offers this free, 60-minute yoga practice. You also may benefit from a refresher on breathing techniques, which Michele […]

Mary Free Bed CEO Kent Riddle earns health leadership award

Congratulations to Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital’s chief executive officer Kent Riddle! Kent recently was honored by the Michigan Health & Hospital Association with a 2015 MHA Healthcare Leadership Award. Kent was recognized by the MHA for his role in guiding Mary Free Bed after hospital leaders decided it should remain an independent, community-owned organization. In his […]

Scoliosis treatment uses teamwork and technology

Scoliosis, a sideways curvature of the spine, affects an estimated 7 million Americans. The spinal condition typically is diagnosed in childhood or adolescence, often discovered during back-to-school “well child” checkups. Mary Free Bed’s Orthotics & Prosthetics (O&P) professionals are well-versed in helping to fit patients of all ages with custom scoliosis braces. These specialized orthotic devices are […]

Bissell’s Howl-O-Ween boosts pediatric & pet therapy programs

Sometimes, a wagging tail is just the motivation a patient needs to push through an intensive therapy session. That’s where “pet recreation professionals” like Walter and Charlie come into play. The two friendly (and hard-working) dogs are part of the animal-assisted therapy program at Mary Free Bed. Penny Richards, an occupational therapist at Mary Free […]

Cancer + Wellness series: Episodes 12-15 – Healthy recipes

Mick Von Doxatater (aka Surfer Mick), an instructor for Mary Free Bed’s Cancer + Wellness program, believes good food can play a key role in a person’s health. On this page, you’ll find 7 healthy recipes that are packed with nutritional powerhouse foods. Some of the recipes are written below, others are presented in video form – all […]

4-year-old Ayden experiences joy of riding his very own bike

Four-year-old Ayden Wilson wanted to ride a bike, just like the rest of the kids in the neighborhood. Born with a form of dwarfism, Ayden experiences pain in his hips and knees. Though he lives in northern Ohio, he earlier this year visited a doctor in Wisconsin. That physician referred him to Dr. Michael Forness at […]

Fast fitness ideas for your busy life

Trying to fit exercise into your busy life can be a challenge. Some days, it feels as if there aren’t enough hours in the day and fitness can fall by the wayside. Creating an exercise routine that works with your day-to-day schedule can help make exercise a habit that sticks. The experts in our Weight Management […]

Cancer + Wellness series: Episodes 10 & 11 – More plants, less sugar

Clean eating is beneficial for everyone, but it may be especially vital for those who have cancer or are in recovery from cancer and its treatment. The Cancer + Wellness Program at Mary Free Bed is focused on helping people work toward a healthier life after cancer. Cancer + Wellness nutrition instructor Wendy Borden encourages individuals to consider following […]

Cancer + Wellness series: Episodes 8 & 9 – Tips for better nutrition after cancer

Maximizing patients’ health and nutrition after cancer is an integral part of the Cancer + Wellness Program at Mary Free Bed. Program instructor Mick Von Doxatater encourages people to consider the steps they take to prepare their food; from washing, to chopping, to the actual method of cooking. In episodes 8 and 9 of our ongoing video series based on the […]

Mary Free Bed celebrates National Rehab Week [Video & Photo Recap]

Rehabilitation is hard work, and we take our mission seriously. But fun and laughter are an important part of the healing process. National Rehabilitation Awareness Week (Sept. 20-26) gave our staff and patients the perfect opportunity to cut loose and enjoy the lighter side of things. The week-long celebration included group activities (a staff cookout, pie-eating contest, […]

Patients create mural art as part of recreational therapy

Just in time for National Rehabilitation Awareness Week — and the opening of the seventh year of ArtPrize — Mary Free Bed recreational therapists put the finishing touches on a new, temporary art project on the first floor of the hospital’s West Addition. The colorful mural features dozens of geometric shapes painted by rehabilitation patients as part of […]

National Rehabilitation Awareness Week 2015

Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital is gearing up for National Rehabilitation Awareness Week, celebrated Sunday, Sept. 20, through Saturday, Sept. 26. Staff and volunteers will get festive with activities like a build-a-scarecrow contest, pie-eating contest and a team cookout. Patients and families are invited to join in the fun for events like themed wardrobe days […]

Cancer + Wellness series: Episode 7 – Clean Eating Starts Here

Mick Von Doxatater offers guidance in how to support a more healthy diet after cancer. In the seventh episode of our video series, inspired by the Cancer + Wellness Program, “Surfer Mick” emphasizes the importance of (literally) eating clean. In this brief segment, he provides tips on how to properly clean fruits and vegetables before preparing them […]

Physiatrist joins Mary Free Bed Medical Group

Grand Rapids, Mich. — Mary Free Bed Medical Group is pleased to introduce Carolyn F. Vollmer, MD, as a physiatrist working primarily in the Spine Center. Areas of focus and sub-specialization include occupational medicine/work-related injuries, interventional spine procedures, musculoskeletal conditions, sports medicine and women’s health. Dr. Vollmer is a graduate of Michigan State University’s College of Human […]

New program offers in-depth rehab services in outpatient setting

When Mary Free Bed’s Day Rehab Program launches this fall, it will help to address a growing rehabilitation need by “bridging the gap between inpatient and outpatient levels of care.” Patients attend 4-hour sessions, 2-5 days a week, participating in physical, occupational and speech therapy. Additional time is allotted for exploring related rehabilitation services. Coordinated, […]

Healthy harvest: Easy fall recipes & fitness ideas

As humid summer days turn into crisp fall evenings, you may find yourself craving comfort casseroles, hot beverages, and, let’s be honest: pumpkin-flavored everything. The autumnal shift doesn’t have to halt your weight loss journey. There are many ways to enjoy the flavors and beauty of fall without sacrificing your healthy habits. Enjoy these tips and […]

Cancer + Wellness series: Episode 6 – Tips for Healthy Eating

In the sixth episode of our video series, inspired by the Cancer + Wellness Program, Wendy Borden offers tips on healthy eating after cancer and treatment. She encourages people to take a simple approach and emphasize “whole, fresh, local, seasonal” ingredients as much as possible. “(Eat) clean, organic foods that are really going to nourish […]

Faith & friendship guide Mildred’s rehabilitation at Mary Free Bed at Sparrow

An unexpected fall led to the discovery of Mildred Mendenhall’s rare spinal tumor. The condition affected the use of her legs and necessitated months of intense rehabilitation at Mary Free Bed at Sparrow in Lansing. “They taught me how to sit up and maintain my balance,” Mildred says of her 5-month stay. “It was hard […]

Cancer + Wellness series: Episode 5 – Eating by Color

In the fifth episode of our video series, inspired by the Cancer + Wellness Program, Mick Von Doxatater offers advice on how to eat a more colorful diet and why it matters: “Your immune system and your body will thank you.” Mick says “variety is the key word here. Between 5 and 10 colors is what […]

They believe in Anna, so Anna believes in herself’

Guest blog by Juliana Morano, mother to pediatric patient Anna Morano Anna was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate. She is being treated by Dr. Mann, which is where she first met her speech therapist, Jenn Bobb. Due to her cleft, Anna was having a very difficult time making sounds and forming words […]

Cancer + Wellness series: Episode 4 – Meet Michele Fife

Ayurvedic yoga therapist and nutritionist Michele Fife is an instructor with the Mary Free Bed Cancer + Wellness Program. She was drawn to the innovative program because of her passion for positively impacting people’s lives. “I’m very much a fixer person, a helper person,” Michele says. “I love to help people. I like to be of use. I like […]

Brian bonds with team at Mary Free Bed at Sparrow

Brian Byelich needed 4 months of rehabilitation after undergoing surgery to remove a brain tumor. Knowing he had the right to choose where he received his care, he asked for Mary Free Bed at Sparrow. This decision also meant he could be close to his wife, Jessie, and their two kids – a crucial factor in […]

Cancer + Wellness series: Episode 3 – Meet Brooke DeBeck

Registered dietitian Brooke DeBeck serves as an instructor with the Mary Free Bed Cancer + Wellness Program, which provides holistic education for people at all stages of their cancer journey; newly diagnosed, in treatment and post treatment. Brooke encourages people to learn more about the relationship between diet and cancer, and other health concerns. “It’s not really one […]

Little Abby decides to “give back” to MFB Pediatric Patients

Guest Blog by Shannon Almassian (Abby Almassian’s mother) Abby’s birthday theme was “Giving is Good.” She decided to donate to Mary Free Bed because she wanted the kids (in the inpatient pediatric program) to know other kids care and hope they would feel what comfort a stuffed animal can bring. She and her friends picked […]