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Mary Free Bed at Sparrow: See the grand opening & new facilities [Video & Photos]

The first phase of renovations and expansion of the Mary Free Bed at Sparrow rehabilitation unit is complete, with 30 private patient rooms now open. This joint venture of Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital and Sparrow Hospital eventually will expand the inpatient rehabilitation unit at Sparrow to 40 private patient rooms and two state-of-the-art therapy […]

Mary Free Bed wins Chamber’s Excellence in Business Award

Grand Rapids, Mich. – Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital received the Excellence in Business Award from the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce during the sixth annual EPIC Awards on June 1, 2015 at Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. Mary Free Bed Chief Operating Officer Kent Riddle, who accepted the award, thanked the community and […]

Mary Free Bed at Sparrow rehabilitation unit debuts renovations, private patient rooms

Lansing, Mich. – The first phase of renovations and expansion of the Mary Free Bed at Sparrow rehabilitation unit is complete, with 30 private patient rooms open today. Mary Free Bed at Sparrow is a joint venture between Sparrow Hospital and Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital. The project will eventually expand the inpatient rehabilitation unit […]

General Motors donates SUV to Mary Free Bed at Sparrow rehabilitation unit

Guest blog by Sparrow Hospital Communications Staff Patients at the Mary Free Bed at Sparrow rehabilitation unit will now be able to practice getting in and out of a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) donated by General Motors and time and supplies given by mid-Michigan businesses. “We are thrilled to be able to donate a Lansing-built Chevrolet […]

New pink helmet elicits lots of smiles [Photo Gallery]

Violet Pratt is a spunky 4-year-old. With big brown eyes and a wide smile, she twirls and laughs as she waits with her family in an Orthotics & Prosthetics examination room at Mary Free Bed. On this May afternoon, Violet is here to receive a helmet – “a pink one,” she tells Kim Nequist, the […]

One-year-old girl defies the odds in outpatient therapy

At Mary Free Bed, we’re daily witnesses to our patients’ determination, grit and strength. This is particularly true of our youngest (and most vulnerable) patients. Aubry Maronek, who recently celebrated her first birthday, embodies this spirit of hope and resolve. After being diagnosed with hemimegalencephaly — a rare neurological condition in which one half of the brain is […]

People + technology = a winning combo for patient with spinal cord injury [Video]

Dean McClellan, a patient of the Mary Free Bed Spinal Cord Injury Program, has made great strides in his journey to once again walk. Leading-edge technology — like the LokomatPro and ZeroG — plays an important role in physical rehabilitation. But the human factor is just as crucial for a meaningful recovery. The videos below demonstrate […]

More than 60 years later, vintage photo leads former patient to revisit Mary Free Bed

An online gallery of vintage photos sparked a reunion of sorts for Mary Free Bed alumna Mary Jane Millard. Mary Jane, 70, was diagnosed with polio as a child and received rehabilitation twice at Mary Free Bed’s former Cherry Street facility. On Thursday, May 14, 2015, Mary Jane toured the hospital’s new state-of-the-art building on Wealthy Street and visited […]

2015 Fifth Third River Bank Run wrap-up [Photos & Video]

fifth third river bank run participant

Congratulations to everyone who rolled, ran or walked through a very rainy — but exciting! — Fifth Third River Bank Run on Saturday, May 9, in downtown Grand Rapids. Below is a wrap-up of Mary Free Bed’s 2015 River Bank Run experience, including photos, video and news coverage. Thank you to our handcycle and wheelchair […]

Mary Free Bed at Sparrow completes $ 7.5 million expansion and renovation

Lansing, Mich. – The $7.5 million Mary Free Bed at Sparrow expansion and renovation project is finished and will be completely open for patients on November 17, 2015. There are 40 private rooms, two state-of-the-art therapy gyms and several social areas. The 45,000-square-foot adult rehabilitation program spans the sixth floor of all three Sparrow Hospital towers. […]

Are you ‘Avenger Tough’? A look at the strengths & weaknesses of Marvel’s favorite heroes

Guest blog by Dr. Eddie O’Connor Sports psychologist for Mary Free Bed’s Performance Excellence Center Editor’s Note: ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ hit theaters on May 1, earning the record for second-highest-grossing opening weekend. Below is Dr. Eddie’s assessment of what it means to be ‘Avenger Tough.’ Subscribe to the Performance Excellence Center newsletter to get sports […]

Mary Free Bed recognized as a Bicycle Friendly Business

May is National Bike Month, making it the perfect time to share the exciting news that Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital is now recognized as a Bicycle Friendly Business! On April 22, the League of American Bicyclists announced its spring 2015 round of Bicycle Friendly Businesses (BFB), with Mary Free Bed earning a Silver Level […]

Mary Free Bed YMCA to have universal design and LEED certification

Guest Blog by Bryan Koehn, @bwkoehn ProgressiveAE Principal, Director of Design The greatest of all ideas are universal. They transcend the boundaries of age, ability, location, or financial situation. They are brilliantly simple, yet inherently complicated. The greatest of ideas are dreamt by few, understood by many, and accessible to all. The Mary Free Bed […]

River Bank Run with Mary Free Bed handcycle and wheelchair athletes

Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital is proud to sponsor the Fifth Third River Bank Run Wheelchair & Handcycle divisions. The following videos show you first-hand what it’s like to train and race on a handcycle or wheelchair. Please contact Wheelchair & Adaptive Sports if you’re interested in being involved with the team. #MFBRollin | #53RBR – Join […]

2015 Bikes for the Rest of Us matches 80 people with adaptive cycles

Bikes for the Rest of Us — Mary Free Bed’s popular annual adaptive bike event — was held Saturday, April 25, in the parking ramp of the Mary Free Bed professional building in downtown Grand Rapids. The chilly (but dry!) morning provided a productive, fun-filled opportunity for attendees to select and try the bicycle best suited for […]

Wheelchair basketball coach & player earns spot in national hall of fame

Lee Montgomery — a wheelchair basketball player and coach of Mary Free Bed’s Wheelchair & Adaptive Sports’ basketball teams, the Junior Pacers and the Adult Pacers — recently was inducted into the National Wheelchair Basketball Association Hall of Fame. The coach’s relationship with Mary Free Bed spans more than 5 decades. Coach Lee, 57, was born with limb differences […]

Orthotics & Prosthetics now open in West addition

Mary Free Bed’s Orthotics & Prosthetics department has officially moved into its new home in the state-of-the-art West addition of Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital. All O&P services — prosthetics, orthotics, assistive technology and OrthoSEAT — are now housed together in one convenient location (Suite 1100 at 235 Wealthy St. SE). The move was completed […]

The FAQs of handcycling and wheelchair racing

Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital is proud to sponsor the wheelchair and handcycle divisions of the Fifth Third River Bank Run for 26 years and support the Grand Rapids community. Below you’ll find some frequently asked questions about the Wheelchair & Adaptive Sports team, wheelchair racing, handcycling and how to be involved. 1. How long […]

Orthotics & Prosthetics relocates to upgraded facilities

Grand Rapids, Mich. – Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital’s orthotics and prosthetics patients will have access to enhanced services and experience improved patient care as the hospital’s Orthotics & Prosthetics Corporation moved into new and high-tech office space over the weekend. For the first time, the following four orthotics and prosthetics services will be housed […]

A vintage look at kids of courage

kids of courage vintage photo

From the Grand Rapids Press – Sunday, April 12, 2015 CLICK the image to open a larger version in a new window. For more Mary Free Bed historical photos go to: bit.ly/maryfreebed

Thank you volunteers – National Volunteer Appreciation Week 2015

National Volunteer Appreciation Week is here again (April 12-18, 2015) and we love to salute the many volunteers who help Mary Free Bed on a daily basis. Volunteers help with everything from administration/clerical duties to helping therapists be an extra helping hand during rehabilitation. “Mary Free Bed volunteers come from a variety of background and […]

National Championship Pride – The Grand Rapids Sled Wings

Guest Blog by Steve Kozlowski, Grand Rapids Sled Wings Coach Hello, my name is Steve Kozlowski. Athletes and parents call me Coach Koz, or just Coach. I currently coach the Grand Rapids Sled Wings youth program but it’s important to know that the youth and adult programs and all of our coaches and coordinators work […]

Welcome to the all-new maryfreebed.com

New functionality, easier navigation, social media integration and tons of web videos. Welcome to the new MaryFreeBed.com – your one-stop shop for rehabilitation information. If you need rehabilitation, please #AskForMary.

Jamie Spore: ‘I am proof that dreams absolutely do come true!’

UPDATE: Jamie Spore, who was crowned Ms. Wheelchair Michigan 2016 in February, will vie for the title of Ms. Wheelchair America 2017 this week. Jamie joins 25 other contestants from across the country who will compete in the 45th annual national pageant, which celebrates the achievements of women with disabilities. The Aug. 8-14 event is being […]

Rebekah reflects on her unexpected friendship with Marion

Guest Blog by Rebekah Karel, Mary Free Bed alumni It is with a sad heart to inform you that my recent roommate at Mary Free Bed, Miss Marion, went to be with her Lord and Savior at 9pm on December 5, 2014. While I only roomed with her for a short seven days, I feel […]