Brothers’ bond stronger than ever a year after sledding accident
On a beautiful winter’s day a year ago, Jaden and Jurian Shaffer were excited by the new fallen snow, eager to go sledding with friends. But a tragic twist of fate changed their lives forever. The boys were being pulled behind a snowmobile when their sled struck a tree. Jurian, 13 at the time, broke […]
Young plane crash survivor shares her rehabilitation journey
Laney Perdue, the sole survivor of a plane crash in northern Michigan last year, is telling her emotional story to a national audience. On Nov. 13, the 11-year-old and her father, Mike, were flying to Beaver Island – her family’s favorite vacation spot – when the commuter plane crashed, killing everyone on board except, miraculously, […]
Mary Free Bed awarded grant from National Endowment for the Arts for music therapy
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Music therapy strikes a chord with patients, and it’s a key part of patient care at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital. Thanks to a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, Mary Free Bed can help even more patients recover from serious injuries and illnesses through the magic of […]
Wheelchair basketball tournament returns to Grand Rapids after nearly two years
About 70 athletes from across the country will compete this weekend in the Mary Free Bed Invitational Wheelchair Basketball Tournament. For many of the teams, the event marks the first return to tournament play since the COVID-19 pandemic forced cancellations almost two years ago. Seven teams from two competitive divisions are scheduled to compete, including […]
Mom loses 115 pounds with help from Sports Performance, runs NYC Marathon
Liz Fanco wasn’t a runner for the first 38 years of her life, and she’s been considered obese or morbidly obese since high school. Inspired by her eight kids, Liz decided to try running with her family to support World Vision and raise funds to help people access clean water. For three years she tried […]
‘Alexa, open Mary Free Bed’: Five simple words provide access to rehabilitation expertise
Grand Rapids, Mich. – With the first-ever Alexa Skill developed by a rehabilitative health care organization, people across the country can get help from Mary Free Bed experts with a simple voice command. Would you like a list and description of outpatient services? Say “Services.” Concerned about an injury or pain in a specific area […]
Ribbon cut for $41 million rehabilitation hospital serving Great Lakes Bay Region
Saginaw, Mich. – In a virtual ceremony, leaders from Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation at Covenant HealthCare dedicated a new hospital today. The three-story building, located on the main Covenant HealthCare campus, is specially designed for rehabilitation. It houses 60 private inpatient rooms, outpatient therapy spaces, offices for six board-certified rehabilitation physicians as well as treatment […]
Healthy holiday eating: Apple and Butternut Squash Soup
From our experts: Jessi Holden is a registered dietitian/nutritionist at Mary Free Bed. Have you ever pulled out a recipe for a holiday but felt like you shouldn’t make it because it’s “not healthy?” Well, I’ve got some tips for enjoying your favorite holiday foods without the worry or guilt! Remember that our health is […]
Mary Free Bed prosthetists restore hope and freedom globally
Thanks to a donation from the Mary Free Bed Guild, hope and freedom has been restored in another part of the globe. Three members of Mary Free Bed’s Orthotics & Prosthetics + Bionics team traveled to Zacapa, Guatemala to help people with amputations and limb differences maximize their mobility. Benjamin Hogan, Maria Lesniak and Jim […]
Peggy and her Mary Free Bed team take rehabilitation aboard USS Silversides: ‘They gave me hope’
As executive director of the USS Silversides Submarine Museum in Muskegon, Peggy Maniates is passionate about honoring U.S. veterans through education and preservation of the World War II vessel. “Our guests have the opportunity to step back in time and look at history through the eyes of those who lived it,” Peggy said. “The submarine […]
Wheelchair, handcycle racers return for Amway River Bank Run
Grand Rapids, Mich. – After cancellation of the in-person race in 2020 and postponement of the 2021 event from May to October, racers are excited and ready for the 44th Amway River Bank Run. Over two dozen wheelchair and handcycle athletes from across the United States will compete on Saturday. The River Bank Run is […]
Rec Therapy, Wheelchair & Adaptive Sports manager Maria Besta honored with Community Service Award
Disability advocate Maria Besta’s efforts to strengthen opportunities for people with disabilities have been recognized with the 2021 Community Service Award by the Grand Rapids Chapter of American Business Clubs. Besta, who manages Mary Free Bed’s Recreational Therapy department and Wheelchair and Adaptive Sports Program, accepted the award this week in front of her family, […]
Three Mary Free Bed team members honored as ‘40 under 40’ West Michigan business leaders
The Grand Rapids Business Journal has announced its “40 under 40” list, and three members of the Mary Free Bed family are included: Emily Babson, Terry Rostic and Cameron Young. The annual awards celebrate 40 people making a difference in the West Michigan community from hundreds nominated. As director of Organizational Development and Leadership Training […]
Well-known athlete, motivational speaker Johnny Agar giving back to Mary Free Bed
Grand Rapids, Mich. – Johnny Agar has cerebral palsy, but he’s never let it define him. The 27-year-old Rockford man is an Ironman athlete admired by Olympians and professional athletes, a brand ambassador, motivational speaker and, now, an author. He’s also a Mary Free Bed graduate. In his new book “The Impossible Mile,” which he […]
Spectrum Health and Mary Free Bed announce enhanced pediatric care collaboration
Grand Rapids, Mich., September 29, 2021 – Spectrum Health and Mary Free Bed leaders today announced an enhanced collaboration aimed at increasing access to excellent pediatric acute inpatient rehabilitation. Through a Joint Operating Agreement, Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital and Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital will operate an acute pediatric inpatient rehabilitation unit at […]
Sinai Chicago’s Schwab Rehabilitation and Mary Free Bed come together to improve access to care and expand services
CHICAGO, IL. – Leaders from Sinai Chicago/Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital and Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital based in Grand Rapids, Michigan have signed a professional services agreement with the goals of serving more patients and honing operations. “Sinai Chicago, Schwab and Mary Free Bed share a common mission and have earned respected reputations in the rehabilitation […]
Grant helps Mary Free Bed pediatric patients feel more at home
Grand Rapids, Mich. – Little things can make a big difference for hospitalized kids and their families. Mary Free Bed Kids, the rehabilitation hospital’s pediatric unit, is ensuring patients of color have what they need to feel supported and comfortable during their stay. Thanks to a grant from the Mary Free Bed Guild Foundation, participating […]
Motocrosser Todd DeHoop on road to recovery
Veteran motocross racer Todd DeHoop was rounding a corner during a practice session at the Daytona Amateur Supercross Championship when things took a devastating turn. In an instant, Todd went down hard, sustaining a serious spinal cord injury. Doctors at Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona determined Todd fractured his third and fourth cervical vertebrae […]
Team mindset helps Matthew overcome amputation, stroke and COVID-19
A few months ago, Matthew Stallman didn’t believe he’d be able to enjoy doing things he loved ever again. But with a little help and a lot of determination, Matthew set a goal to compete in a 5K and reached it far sooner than he thought possible. The 43-year-old Traverse City man developed a bone […]
Mary Free Bed once again named a top rehabilitation center by Newsweek
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – For the second straight year, Mary Free Bed has been recognized as one of America’s Best Physical Rehabilitation Centers by Newsweek health care analysts. The ratings are based on scores for quality of care, service, follow-up treatment and accommodations/amenities. Clinician recommendations also are included in the calculations. Newsweek looked at 25 […]
Ms. Wheelchair America competition kicks off
Grand Rapids, MI – It’s back! Ms. Wheelchair America resumes this week after the COVID-19 pandemic forced its cancellation in 2020. The competition celebrates the advocacy efforts, abilities and accomplishments of 30 women from across the country who use wheelchairs for mobility. The 50th annual event, which culminates Saturday, is presented by Mary Free Bed […]
Fireside chat features renowned disability rights activist Judy Heumann
Grand Rapids, Mich. – Internationally known disability rights advocate Judy Heumann is the featured guest for the upcoming Ms. Wheelchair America competition being presented by Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation. Heumann will discuss her life’s work during a live, virtual fireside chat with Mary Free Bed CEO Kent Riddle and current Ms. Wheelchair America Hilary Muehlberger. […]
Mary Free Bed welcomes new doctors beginning rehabilitation residency
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Four physicians focused on intensive rehabilitation for patients recovering from injuries and illnesses have begun post-graduate training in Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital’s Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Residency. They were selected from a pool of more than 300 applicants. The three-year program has 12 residents in various stages of training. Mary Free […]
Mary Free Bed rated among nation’s best
Grand Rapids, Mich. – U.S. News & World Report released its list of Best Hospitals for Rehabilitation, and Mary Free Bed is rated one of the nation’s top providers. Of the 1,083 rehabilitation organizations evaluated by U.S. News health care analysts, Mary Free Bed is #17 in the United States and out-scored rehabilitation providers in […]
Junior Wheelchair Sports Camp is back in action
ALLENDALE, Mich. – After a year off due to COVID-19, campers are back and ready to play. Over 40 kids with disabilities are attending Mary Free Bed’s Junior Wheelchair Sports Camp. All week, participants from the ages of 7 – 18 will try sports such as lacrosse, kayaking and sled hockey and will make friends […]
Ms. Wheelchair America makes a comeback
Grand Rapids, MI – Thirty contestants from across the country are grateful to participate in this year’s 50th Annual Ms. Wheelchair America competition. Last year, the COVID-19 pandemic forced its cancellation, and it seemed history might repeat itself again. Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital leaders couldn’t let that happen. The two organizations combined forces to […]
COVID-19: Protecting our patients, staff and community
Updated: July 17, 2021 Mary Free Bed’s priority is the safety of our patients, staff and community. Our experts are working diligently to protect everyone’s health through enhanced protocols and added resources. These measures follow national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and State of Michigan mandates due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Mary Free […]
Wheelchair Tennis Tournament Returns to Grand Rapids
Over 40 wheelchair tennis athletes are competing in Grand Rapids at the 2021 Midwest Wheelchair Tennis Championship. This tournament, presented by Mary Free Bed Wheelchair and Adaptive Sports, is highly competitive and features athletes with great stories of all levels of experience from Paralympians to hometown heroes. When: Tournament play begins at 9:00am Friday, July […]
Cousins encourage each other during recovery from strokes
Ruben Sauceda and his cousin, Heriberto (Joe), are both in their early 60s and have spent much of their lives together in the Holland area. “Joe and I grew up together. We went to school together. We did a lot of things together,” Ruben said. “Then, we had strokes together.” Ruben was at his job […]
Kevin celebrates son’s graduation after his own from rehabilitation
Kevin Grubbs survived COVID-19, an aortic aneurysm and three strokes, and with the help of rehabilitation at Mary Free Bed, Father’s Day was a special one for the Kalamazoo father of five. Last spring, the 52-year-old truck driver developed a cough that led to a COVID-19 diagnosis. During a chest x-ray, medical staff discovered Kevin […]