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Wheelchair and Adaptive Sports Receives $50,000 Grant from The Hartford

Mary Free Bed Wheelchair and Adaptive Sports was awarded a $50,000 grant from The Hartford for new adaptive sports equipment. The grant enabled the Mary Free Bed Wheelchair and Adaptive Sports program, a member of the Move United member network, to purchase adaptive sports equipment, including seven handcycles and three sports wheelchairs for the inpatient […]

Wheelchair and Handcycles Geared up for Amway River Bank Run

It’s time for the 46th annual Amway River Bank Run and the wheelchair and handcycle athletes are ready to compete. Nearly 30 athletes from West Michigan and across the national will travel to downtown Grand Rapids to race on Saturday. River Bank Run is the largest road race in the country, and the only race […]

Polio Survivor Returns to Mary Free Bed Six Decades Later

In April, James Sloan returned to Mary Free Bed for the first time since he was a child. At 7 years old, James was diagnosed with polio. He spent a week at Mary Free Bed recovering and getting fitted for custom leg braces and crutches. Returning to Mary Free Bed 60 years later inspired James […]

Grand Rapids Mayor Honors Mary Free Bed Nurses with Proclamation

Every year, May 6 – 12 marks National Nurses Week. It’s a time to recognize and celebrate the exemplary contributions nurses make to our community. This week, Grand Rapids Mayor, Rosalynn Bliss, issued a written proclamation thanking nurses at Mary Free Bed and across the Grand Rapids community. Nurses make up the nation’s largest health […]

Experiencing the Great Outdoors in Michigan: An Accessible Resource Guide

Guest blog: With the guidance of the Mary Free Bed Recreational Therapy team, Kelsey Heller, recreational therapy intern, has created an Accessible Nature Resource Guide for our patients, their families, and other health care professionals.  Accessible Nature Resource Guide This guide contains a variety of accessible outdoor leisure and recreation information. It features wheelchair-accessible outdoor […]

Mary Free Bed’s Sled Hockey Teams Return to Nationals

The Grand Rapids Sled Wings are back competing for the title! The junior and adult teams have traveled to St. Louis for the USA Sled Hockey National Championship. The Junior Sled Wings feature young athletes ages 13-18, and they will be defending their title, after winning the national championship in 2022. The Sled Hockey National […]

Mary Free Bed Joins West Michigan Hospitals in Mask Policy Updates

As the COVID-19 pandemic heads toward endemic status, hospital systems across the U.S. are revisiting mask requirements within their facilities. These changes follow September 2022 guidance from the CDC announcing masking in health care settings is no longer needed unless transmission rates were high. Earlier this month, Michigan hospital systems – including Sparrow Health System […]

Coming Full Circle: Meet a Trailblazing Occupational Therapist from West Michigan

It was in the 1960s when Dorothy Singer found her calling. A college student at the time, Dorothy was working for Easterseals as a recreation planner for children and adults with disabilities. Two weeks into the job, she knew she’d found her life’s calling. Dorothy, of Grand Rapids, transferred schools to Eastern Michigan University to […]

That’s a Wrap! Lymphedema Workshop Shares Tools & Techniques for Incurable Condition

Thousands of people in Michigan suffer from an incurable condition that is rarely discussed. That makes March, which is Lymphedema Awareness Month, a great time to talk about it. Mary Free Bed’s lymphedema physician and specially-trained therapists are hosting a Lymphedema Workshop for the public. Participants will hear from experts about: • Equipment overviews • […]

Grand Rapids Hosts Sled Hockey Competition for over 250 Athletes

Sled Hockey is back in Grand Rapids! Twenty-four teams are traveling from eight states for this weekend’s Griff’s Sled Hockey Classic. With over 250 athletes, it’s the region’s largest tournament of its kind. The competition is hosted by Mary Free Bed Wheelchair and Adaptive Sports and serves as the league championship for the adult league. […]

Tough Like a Monster Truck: Kaden Recovers After Double Amputation

  “He’s my everything,” said Michele Stevenson, about her son, Kaden. When he started to get sick before Christmas, she didn’t think it was serious at first. But after a few days she knew something was wrong. As 7-year-old Kaden’s health grew getting progressively worse. Michele, of Grand Blanc, Michigan, rushed him to the emergency […]

Hearts on Fire: One Couple’s Rescue Story & Journey to Recovery

  It started with a spark. Carl Beintema knows how to play with fire. When it comes to welding, you’ve got to. Carl, 37, is a pipefitter from Allendale. On December 23, he was welding in his barn – something he’d done countless times before – when his grinder sparked an undetected gas leak. “The […]

Gilda’s Club and Mary Free Bed Launch Cancer Education Workshop Series

Gilda and Mary are teaming up to talk about cancer. Mary Free Bed cancer rehabilitation physicians are partnering with social workers at Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids to provide support and resources for patients, families and loved ones facing the rigorous disease. The new Cancer Rehabilitation Education & Wellness (CREW) initiative will hold free, quarterly workshops […]

Griffins & Sled Wings Sled Hockey Game Returns

Renewing one of the most unique events anywhere involving a pro sports team, the Grand Rapids Griffins and Grand Rapids Sled Wings will play their 16th annual sled hockey game presented by Meijer on Wednesday, Feb. 8, at 6 p.m. at Griff’s IceHouse at Belknap Park (30 Coldbrook St. NE). The doors will open at […]

International Design Firm Selected for New Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital in Grand Rapids

The award-winning design firm SmithGroup has been chosen to design Michigan’s first children’s rehabilitation hospital. The facility will be constructed on the Grand Rapids campus of Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital.   SmithGroup has been honored with over 400 design awards in the past five years, and ranked 5th in Building Design + Construction’s Top Architecture/Engineering […]

Sean Campbell is Getting “Back” to What He Loves with Chiropractic Care

Last May, Sean Campbell and his wife, Amanda, were excited to pick up their new motorcycle and drive it home. A few hours after buying it, the experience took a dangerous turn. Sean and Amanda, of Norton Shores, were riding in southeast Michigan on I-94 when a mechanical issue with the vehicle caused Sean to […]

#SamStrong: A Village Rallies for Teen after his Traumatic Brain Injury

In September, 16-year-old Sam Smalldon was airlifted to Corewell Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital after a car crash. Sam was driving in his hometown of Holland, when he lost control of his Chevy Cruze, hit several trees and was thrown from the car. The impact was so violent, the car split in two. Sam suffered […]

Mary Free Bed Welcomes New Vice President of Human Resources

Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation is excited to welcome Cynthia Springer as the new Vice President of Human Resources. With more than 20 years of executive leadership, Springer brings experience in organizational development; diversity, equity and inclusion; and leading human resources in highly regulated, complex organizations. Before coming to Mary Free Bed, she held human resource […]

Looking Back: The Mary-est Moments of 2022

It’s been another year full of Mary-aculous possibilities. And while it’s tough to capture every moment and team member who inspired us in photos, we celebrate them all. Take a look back at some of the patients, families, team members and events that powered our recoveries in 2022.   From all of us at Mary […]

Mary Free Bed Sub-Acute Rehabilitation Among Nation’s Best for Sixth Year in a Row

For the Sixth straight year, Mary Free Bed Sub-Acute Rehabilitation has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report for Best Short-Term Rehabilitation. Ratings from U.S. News & World Report help individuals and families in their search for health care needs. More than 15,000 nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities and sub-acute care facilities were evaluated […]

Rehabilitation Hospital Celebrates One Year Anniversary Treating Patients in Region

The new Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation at Covenant HealthCare hospital is celebrating one year of restoring hope and freedom through rehabilitation in the Great Lakes Bay Region. Opening its doors in December 2021, this state-of-the-art facility was the first major hospital construction in Saginaw in decades. Located on the main Covenant campus, the $41 million […]

Mary Free Bed Orthotics & Prosthetics + Bionics Goes Global with ROMP

For the second year in a row, members of the Mary Free Beds Orthotics & Prosthetics + Bionics team traveled from Michigan to Zacapa, Guatemala. Their mission? Restore hope and freedom … globally. The trip was made possible through philanthropic support from the Mary Free Bed Guild. Six O&P+B team members joined the Range of […]

Acts of Kindness: Brooklyn Zylstra Gives Back in a Big Way

Brooklyn Zylstra understands the assignment. But her project isn’t like that of many middle schoolers her age. This 13-year-old has been giving back to the Grand Rapids community in a very unique way. Brooklyn, an 8th grader at KPS Pinewood Middle School, has taken it upon herself to bring joy to kids who are on […]

Mary Free Bed Hosts 4th Annual Mary & Brite Celebration

This week, the team at Mary Free Bed brought the joy of the holiday season to patients in rehabilitation. The fourth annual Mary & Brite holiday event returned to the Main Campus in Grand Rapids for patients and their families. Inspired by the Christmas Lite Show at LMCU Ballpark, patients were invited to walk or […]

Mary Free Bed Adds New Cancer Rehabilitation Physician and Services

Mary Free Bed is expanding its levels of comprehensive cancer rehabilitation for patients as part of the Betty Bloomer Ford Cancer Rehabilitation Program. The program includes inpatient and outpatient physician-led treatment and specialized offerings for lymphedema care, interventional services, virtual visits and more. Cancer rehabilitation can help fight the debilitating effects of cancer at every […]

ABVI Announces New CEO to Lead Historic Organization

The Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ABVI) has been serving the low vision and blind community in West Michigan since 1913. This month, the organization took a new step in supporting their clients by announcing Timothy Tuthill as its new president and CEO. ABVI helps clients by providing low vision services, rehabilitation, education, […]

Returning to Play after a Concussion: The Mary Free Bed Sports Concussion Program

Participating in sports is a great way to stay healthy – both physically and mentally. But physical activity can sometimes lead to injury. With sporting programs in full swing, there is no better time to bring awareness to concussions.   Every year, millions of concussions occur due to sports-related injuries. Most concussions go undiagnosed, meaning […]

Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids: Tips from an Audiologist

Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids: Tips from an Audiologist

Are the new over-the-counter hearing aids right for you? Read on for some helpful answers to today’s commonly asked questions. The FDA recently made some types of hearing aids available for purchase over the counter (OTC). That’s great news for millions of Americans with mild to moderate hearing loss. Now they can buy hearing aids […]

Timmy Fanco Defies the Odds Following Car Crash

To say the Fancos are fighters is an understatement. On June 10, 2022, Liz Fanco of Alto, MI, received a phone call. Her children, Anna and Timmy, had just been in a broadside collision. Anna, 17, was driving and suffered a collapsed lung, broken leg and several broken ribs. Her younger brother, Timmy, 11 at […]