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Going the Distance for Baby Rowan

Last August, at nearly 27 weeks gestation, the Bouman twins were born in Marquette, Michigan. Baby Rowan weighed just 1 pound 13 ounces. Her brother Noah, although bigger and deemed healthier, died unexpectedly from sepsis when he was only 8 days old. During her early time in the hospital, little Rowan experienced severe bleeding on […]

Governor Announces a Health Care First for Michigan Children

Governor Gretchen Whitmer today announced plans to build the state’s first children’s rehabilitation hospital. Through a joint operating agreement, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital and Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital are partnering to bring a shared vision to life in the thriving health care landscape of Grand Rapids. The new hospital will be built […]

Tournament Brings Wheelchair Tennis Athletes to Grand Rapids

Wheelchair tennis athletes are competing in Grand Rapids at the 2022 Midwest Wheelchair Tennis Championship, presented by Mary Free Bed Wheelchair and Adaptive Sports. This highly competitive, local tournament hosts athletes with inspiring stories and all levels of experience – from beginners to professionals. New this year, the tournament has added standing adaptive divisions for […]

Breathing Easier: Hannah Blumka Makes a Remarkable COVID-19 Recovery

Last December, 17-year-old Hannah Blumka arrived at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital fighting for her life. Before contracting COVID-19, Hannah was a healthy, lively teenage girl. The infection quickly and unexpectedly took a toll on every system in her body. Within a day of arrival at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, she was placed on life-support – […]

Wheelchair Softball Action was Back with a Tournament in Grand Rapids

America’s favorite pastime is in full swing, and last weekend’s tournament was a home run for everyone. After a four-year hiatus, the Mary Free Bed Wheelchair Softball Tournament had a full lineup and knocked it out of the park. The tournament was hosted at the Mary Free Bed YMCA and played on their outdoor wheelchair […]

Like Father, Like Son: Drs. VandenBerg Celebrate Seven Generations of Care

After more than three decades of caring for patients at Mary Free Bed, Dr. Chris VandenBerg will be hanging up his white coat. Dr. VandenBerg specializes in cancer rehabilitation, traumatic and non-traumatic neurological impairments (spinal cord injury, brain injury, stroke and multiple sclerosis) and spasticity/dystonia – and in his time here, he’s touched countless lives. […]

New Mary Free Bed PM+R Residency Program Graduates

The next generation of physicians is ready to help rebuild patient’s lives after graduating from Mary Free Bed’s Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Residency. This month, three physicians will finish their post-graduate training at Mary Free Bed’s advanced PM+R Residency Program. Mary Free Bed’s residency includes clinical, educational and research opportunities in all areas of physical […]

Local Golfers Hit the Fairway FORE! a Great Cause

The 2022 Mary Fee Bed Open was another enjoyable and successful day the course! Despite a few sprinkles and the chance of rain throughout the day, the golfing community showed up. The Mary Free Bed Open sells out annually, and this year was no exception.  We welcomed 220 community members representing 50 area businesses and […]

Local Paralympian Honored at Mary Free Bed Golf Outing

During a break in play at the annual Mary Free Bed Open golf outing, long-time coach and athlete Lee Montgomery was surprised and honored with the announcement of a sponsorship fund in his name. The Lee Montgomery Athlete Assistance Fund was established thanks to the generosity of The Meijer Foundation. Montgomery is a former employee […]

She Said Yes! Patient Proposed to at Mary Free Bed While Awaiting Transplant

Her journey involves seven different hospitals, weeks in the ICU on ECMO, and now rehabilitation while waiting for a double lung transplant – but Kaitlyn Sterling is still all smiles. And she has a big reason to smile. Stan, her boyfriend of 5 years, just proposed. And Kaitlin said, “Yes!”  Click through to see photos […]

Wheelchair & Handcycles Pumped and Ready for 45th Amway River Bank Run

After two years, the 45th Amway River Bank Run is back in May, and the wheelchair and handcycle athletes couldn’t be more excited and ready to compete. Over 35 wheelchair and handcycle athletes from across the United States, Canada and Spain will travel to Grand Rapids to race on Saturday. The largest road race in […]

Rising Sled Hockey Star Moves Towards His Paralympic Dreams

Taggart VanderMolen is on the move. He was a toddler when he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP) and began working with specialists at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital. Today the Fruitport, Michigan, native is 19. And he’s on the cusp of realizing his dream to play sled hockey for Team USA. A RISING STAR […]

Mary Free Bed Kids Celebrate Diversity Month in the Kitchen

In recognition of Diversity Month, patients at Mary Free Bed Kids celebrated with a culinary twist! All month long, six teenagers who are patients at Mary Free Bed’s pediatric inpatient program in Grand Rapids along with their parents and staff, celebrated different heritages in the Mary Free Bed therapy kitchen. Each week, the creative team […]

Power Soccer Chair Challenge Kicks into ‘Overdrive’ with Lori’s Voice

Mary Free Bed’s power soccer team needs your help! The Overdrive power soccer team is raising money to replace its aging power chairs with new ones. Overdrive travels and competes nationally, and new chairs will keep the growing team competitive. Power soccer is played by people who use power chairs for daily mobility; it’s one […]

Mary Free Bed Receives 2022 Outstanding Community Partner Award from CMU

Mary Free Bed is honored to be a recipient of Central Michigan University’s 2022 Outstanding Partner Community Award. The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow College of Health Professions Community Partnership Awards are presented annually to faculty, staff, students and community partners in recognition and support of reciprocal and sustainable collaborations that align with the […]

‘Bikes for the Rest Us’ Gives Freedom on Wheels

bikes for the rest of us

Last weekend, over 50 children and adults with disabilities were introduced to adaptive bicycling. Thanks to Mary Free Bed’s “Bikes for the Rest of Us” event, participants were given a new lease on freedom and mobility. At the event, pre-registered participants were paired with therapists who assisted in matching their physical needs to the most […]

Mary Free Bed’s Sled Hockey Teams Headed to National Tournament

The Grand Rapids Sled Wings are bound for Nationals! The Junior and Adult teams are packing up their gear and competing in the USA Sled Hockey National Championship this weekend. The Junior Sled Wings, young athletes ages 13-18, have had recent success in tournaments, winning their home tournament, the Griff’s Sled Hockey Classic, in March. […]

Nurse chooses chiropractic to relieve pain, fuel her health

A typical workday for Keren Nobel is logging 15,000 steps – the equivalent of nearly seven miles. As a registered nurse at Mercy Health St. Mary’s Hospital, she’s on her feet for 12.5-hour shifts four days a week – longer and more often during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Keren’s also an athlete who […]

Mary Free Bed expands services to offer chiropractic care to patients

Patients have yet another choice of treatment with the innovative addition of chiropractic to rehabilitation at Mary Free Bed. This holistic, whole-body approach to care provides patients with ways to manage and prevent pain without medications or surgery. Joining Mary Free Bed’s outpatient Spine Center team is Dr. Tom Fowler, the only doctor of chiropractic […]

Hope by design: Fellow amputees get creative and find friendship in the process

Bryan Donihue and Matt Schwab are friends who share an unwavering sense of hope and optimism. It’s a feeling that stems deeply from a condition they both know well.   Bryan, a 50-year-old father of six, lives in Grand Rapids – among his many passions is game design. That is, he explained, “old school, around-the-table experiences.” […]

Applications are open for Mary Free Bed’s new Neurologic Occupational Therapy Fellowship

occupational therapy fellowship

Occupational therapists can get advanced clinical training and further their expertise with Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation’s new Neurologic Occupational Therapy Fellowship. It’s the first of its kind for the hospital and one of only a few nationwide, focused on therapy for patients who’ve experienced brain injuries, stroke, spinal cord injuries and other neurological conditions. Applications […]

Fifth-ranked Mary Free Bed Pacers to play for national championship

The Mary Free Bed Pacers wheelchair basketball team is ranked fifth in the country and is heading to Wichita, Kansas to compete for the national championship. The Junior Pacers also will compete on the national stage, which means 20 athletes from West Michigan will make the trip. Both teams had their last practice this week […]

Chronic Pain Program helps Selena – and kids like her – find relief

Selena Jacinto is looking forward to graduating from high school this spring and gearing up for college in the fall. A few months ago, the 17-year-old’s life goals seemed out of reach. Plagued by disabling headaches and body pain for years, Selena found it difficult to attend school, exercise or enjoy hobbies. Chronic pain was […]

Mary Free Bed to launch patient-focused podcast: ‘Rehabilitationships’

The connections that fuel recovery from serious injuries and illnesses will be featured in Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation’s new podcast: “Rehabilitationships.” The first-of-its-kind podcast launches March 24. What’s a “rehabilitationship”? Simply put, it’s where rehabilitation and relationships meet. “We set out to discover and share what it really takes to recover from life-altering injuries and […]

Griff’s Sled Hockey Classic draws 200+ athletes with disabilities to Grand Rapids

Twenty-two teams from seven states will hit the ice this weekend for Griff’s Sled Hockey Classic, the region’s largest tournament of its kind. Hosted by Mary Free Bed Wheelchair and Adaptive Sports and the Grand Rapids Griffins Youth Foundation, the tournament also serves as the league championship. When: Friday, March 18 through Sunday, March 20 […]

‘Thrive’ gala to benefit Cancer Rehabilitation Program

Thrive gala to support cancer rehab

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Mary Free Bed Foundation’s annual fundraising gala, “Thrive,” is back and in person. After going virtual in 2020 and a postponement in 2021, the eighth annual event will be held March 12 at the JW Marriott in downtown Grand Rapids. This year, proceeds will benefit Mary Free Bed’s Betty Bloomer […]

Try out a World of Flavors this National Nutrition Month

From our experts: Jessi Holden is a registered dietitian/nutritionist at Mary Free Bed. Happy National Nutrition Month 2022! Every year, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics chooses a theme to spread the word about the benefits of living a healthy, nutritious and balanced life. The theme for 2022 is “Celebrate a World of Flavors.” Enjoying […]