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Major Area Health Care Partners Announce $50 Million Gift to Advance Children’s Medical, Rehabilitative and Mental Health Care

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Feb. 19, 2024 – Today, leadership from Corewell Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation, and Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services came together to announce a landmark $50 million gift from the DeVos Family. This gift furthers the DeVos Family’s longstanding commitment to the health and well-being of children […]

Jack’s Journey: Calling on Superheroes of Integrated Care

At first glance, it might appear as though 4-year-old Jack Lohman is playing an imaginary game with his superhero figurines – but this little boy is on a mission. He’s channeling his inner Batman on the journey of a lifetime. At 3 years old, Jack was diagnosed with hemimegaloencephaly, a rare condition that causes part […]

Mary Free Bed Partnering with Virginia Hospital to Bring Expert Rehabilitation to Region

Mary Free Bed is expanding its rehabilitation services to a new region with the announcement of a partnership with Valley Health. Valley Health is a not-for-profit health system based in Winchester, Virginia, serving communities in northern Virginia and parts of West Virginia and Maryland. The Valley Health system includes six hospitals and more than 70 […]

Warrior Mac: Thriving Against the Odds with Cerebral Palsy

When McKay Mortier, affectionately known as “Mac,” entered the world in December 2015, his parents, Jessica and Justin Mortier, braced for a future that would come with uncertainties.   A Fighter from the Start: Mac’s Challenging Beginnings Born via an emergency C-section, Mac was unresponsive. But from his very first breath, he was a warrior. […]

Mary Free Bed Sub-Acute Rehabilitation Honored for Seventh Year by U.S. News

For the seventh year in a row, Mary Free Bed Sub-Acute Rehabilitation has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report for Best Short-Term Rehabilitation. For the thousands of individuals and families, these ratings from U.S. News aid their search for health care needs. U.S. News & World Report evaluated over 15,000 nursing homes, skilled […]

GRPS Students “Gear Up” for Careers in Health Care with Mary Free Bed

High school students from Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS) took a break from the classroom to learn about careers in physical rehabilitation health care.   The Mary Free Bed Grand Rapids Campus welcomed GRPS students as the first participants of its Pathways to Mary program – a new initiative that invites local students into the hospital […]

Mary Free Bed Hosts Michigan’s First Power Soccer Tournament

Local athletes have been waiting for it. Michigan has its first power soccer tournament right here in Grand Rapids. The Inaugural Overdrive Power Soccer Invitational Tournament presented by Lake Michigan Credit Union will feature nearly 50 athletes and coaches in the fastest growing sport on four wheels. Mary Free Bed’s Wheelchair and Adaptive Sports program […]

Rolling to the Hoop: Youth Wheelchair Basketball Glides into Grand Rapids

This weekend, young athletes will hit the courts for Mary Free Bed’s 24th annual Keep Up the Pace tournament. The junior wheelchair basketball tournament features over 50 athletes, ages 7 – 18 with various physical disabilities. The tournament is hosted by the Mary Free Bed Wheelchair and Adaptive Sports program. Six different teams are traveling […]

Ms. Wheelchair Michigan Crowning: Championing Advocacy and Leadership

This weekend, a new winner will be crowned Ms. Wheelchair Michigan. Contestants will be competing for the state title in an event hosted and sponsored by Mary Free Bed.  Organizers are still accepting applications for the state competition that’s anything but a “beauty pageant.” Ms. Wheelchair Michigan is an advocacy-based competition that gives women opportunities […]

A New Era for Michigan’s Kids: Announcing Joan Secchia Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital

It’s a significant milestone for our community as we proudly unveil the name for Michigan’s first pediatric rehabilitation hospital at Mary Free Bed: Joan Secchia Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital. The name not only represents state-of-the-art rehabilitation care but also celebrates the continuing legacy of one of our community’s most devoted philanthropists, Joan Secchia. The Secchia family’s […]

Mary Free Bed and GRCC Partnership to Help Cover Tuition for Nursing Students

Grand Rapids Community College Nursing students are receiving an opportunity to have their final semester of tuition paid for by Mary Free Bed. Tuition will be covered for nursing students with a one-year commitment to working for the hospital after graduation. Students in GRCC’s Associate Degree and Practical Nursing programs are eligible for this new […]

Celebrating National Rehabilitation Awareness Week

September 18 – 24 was National Rehabilitation Awareness Week 2023. Every year, the third week in September gives us a special opportunity raise awareness about the benefits of rehabilitation to the overall health of our community. The week also serves as a platform to honor and recognize the outstanding efforts and hard work by our […]

Sky’s the Limit: Bruce’s Resilience after a Spinal Cord Injury

  In April 2023, life took an unexpected turn for Bruce Roger, 58, of Traverse City, Michigan. A fall at work left him with a concussion, orbital fracture and a spinal cord injury. Following the accident, Bruce was diagnosed with quadriplegia. Fortunately, Bruce’s C3/C4 spinal cord injury was incomplete, which meant he still had some […]

A Winner is Crowned Ms. Wheelchair America During National Competition in Grand Rapids

This year’s national, week-long competition wrapped up with the crowning of Ms. Wheelchair America 2024, presented by the Mary Free Bed Guild. The title was awarded to Ms. Wheelchair Maryland, Chandra Smith, who competed alongside a group of 18 outstanding women. This was the 52nd year of Ms. Wheelchair America. The competition doesn’t focus on […]

Run for Sight Along Michigan’s Lakeshore

This Labor Day weekend you can run along Michigan’s lakeshore and help raise funds for those who are blind or visually impaired. Saturday marks the 17th annual Run for Sight 5K held at the beautiful Pere Marquette Park in Muskegon.  The Run for Sight 5K benefits the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired. For […]

Teenager with Cerebral Palsy Breaks Barriers and Inspires us All

Loralei DeHoek is a thrill seeker.   At age 15, she’s just begun her freshman year at Caledonia High School. Looking back, her summer was one for the books.   If you can keep up with her busy teenage schedule, you’ll find Loralei sailing on Reeds Lake, kayaking with friends, competing in Miracle League baseball, playing […]

National Ms. Wheelchair America Competition Returns to Grand Rapids

Competitors from across the nation are heading to Grand Rapids to contend for the title of Ms. Wheelchair America. Unlike traditional beauty pageants, Ms. Wheelchair America doesn’t focus on physical attributes. The competition highlights participant achievements, disability advocacy and presentation skills. In the 52nd year of this annual event, 18 women will compete for the […]

Mary Free Bed Joins Top 10 Rehabilitation Hospitals in Nation

For ten years, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital has been ranked within the top 50 Best Rehabilitation Hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report. This year, we’re pleased to share our hospital is ranked among the nation’s top ten leaders. U.S. News & World Report ranks Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital as […]

National Disability Independence Day: Celebrating 33 Years of Progress

July 26, 2023, marks the 33rd anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law. It’s commemorated as National Disability Independence Day.  The landmark civil rights law prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in all areas of public life – including employment, education, transportation, and public accommodations. The goal is to […]

Camp is in Session: Junior Wheelchair Sports Camp is back

It’s the highlight of their summer! Mary Free Bed’s Junior Wheelchair Sports Camp is back in action. Kids and teens age 7-18 will take over Grand Valley State University’s campus playing sports like basketball, lacrosse and tennis. Every year camp provides the chance for kids to come together through adaptive sports to try new activities, […]

Next Level Rehab: Mary Free Bed Expands 6th Floor to Serve More Patients

Mary Free Bed is taking rehabilitation to the next level with its newest expansion in Grand Rapids. The hospital is building out its 6th floor in order to serve more patients. The nine-month expansion project will add a total of 28 private inpatient bedrooms; 20 of the new beds will be licensed, while the other […]

Local Paralympian & Admired Veteran Returns to West Michigan

Our Family® Brand Spokesperson Melissa Stockwell Visits Patients and Staff at Mary Free Bed Melissa Stockwell, West Michigan native and three-time medal winning Paralympian, brought her story back home thanks to a partnership with SpartanNash and Our Family®. She visited patients and hospital staff at Mary Free Bed and lead a keynote speaking engagement, which […]

Mary Free Bed Celebrates Retirement of Three Long-Time Leaders

This month, three long-time leaders and clinicians celebrated their retirement from Mary Free Bed.  Ingrid Cheslek, RN, chief operating officer  Michael Jakubowski, MD, chief medical officer  Richard Ball, MD, medical director of the Mary Free Bed PM&R Residency program  Through their leadership, mentorship and dedication to the Mary Free Bed mission, these exemplary team members […]

Wheelchair and Para-Standing Tennis Action Returns with Tournament

Wheelchair and para-standing tennis athletes are competing in Grand Rapids at the 2023 Midwest Wheelchair Tennis Championships, presented by Mary Free Bed Wheelchair and Adaptive Sports. This highly competitive tournament has been in Grand Rapids for over 30 years. It will be hosted at MVP Athletic Club – Crahen and features athletes with all levels […]

Mary Free Bed Dietitian & GRCC Professor Competes on Food Network’s Chopped    

Jenn Struik is a registered dietitian, personal chef and college professor. Now, she’s bringing her culinary skills to the national stage on the next episode of Food Network’s Chopped.   Chopped is a reality-based cooking television game show series in which four chefs face off to create delicious dishes out of mystery ingredients. The competition tests […]

Mary Free Bed Celebrates 2023 PM&R Residency Graduates

Mary Free Bed is honored to congratulate its newest class of graduating residents. Five physicians are headed into the next phase of their careers after graduating from Mary Free Bed’s Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) Residency program in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The residents finished their post-graduate training program through the single-specialty teaching hospital which is […]

Stayin’ Alive: Pastor Uses CPR to Save Teen’s Life

Rafe Oard, 17, of Gladwin, Michigan, is an active teenager with a great sense of humor. You’re likely to find him outdoors, working on cars with his grandpa, or caring for his pheasants and quails. Last February, Rafe headed to the weekly open gymnasium hour at his church. He often joined members of the community […]

Destiny by His Side: Grand Rapids EMT is Getting His Groove Back after a Stroke

  It’s hard not to smile when you’re in the company of Lavell McDaniel. He’s got the kind of laugh that makes others laugh harder. His positivity lights up the room. Ask anyone he knows, and they’ll tell you: Lavell knows how to boogie. “Lavell likes to do little dances,” explained his wife, Destiny. “He […]