Amputees and Mary Free Bed Staff Team Up for Reeds Lake Triathlon
It was a summer of training for some Mary Free Bed staff and patients who teamed up for the fifth year to take on the Rhoades McKee Reeds Lake Triathlon. “This is the biggest group we’ve had, and honestly it’s what got me out here: having that teamwork, that team effort, that support,” said physical […]
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.” […]
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 […]
Following amputation, Art ‘picks himself up’ with help of Mary Free Bed at Covenant team
Art Bean was running new machinery during a normal day at work when a freak accident changed how the Fairgrove, MI man would do things the rest of his life. “(The machine) came down to rest on my foot between my steel toe and my ankle, and that crushed everything in between,” said Art, whose […]
The beat goes on for The Ghost Inside drummer seriously injured in 2015 crash
When Andrew Tkaczyk wrote a guest blog in 2016 about his recovery after a devastating traffic crash, the drummer for The Ghost Inside was very clear. “I have no doubt I’ll get back to doing what I love,” he wrote. “That’s still a while away, but I’m very confident it will happen. Very confident.” It’s […]
‘Limit’ not in amputee Nathan Wolford’s vocabulary
During one of his first physical therapy sessions as an inpatient at Mary Free Bed, Nathan Wolford was tossing a weighted ball back and forth with his physical therapist. “That’s the day I first realized it was going to be OK,” said Nathan, 20, whose legs were amputated above the knee after a car crashed […]
With new prosthesis and encouragement from her Mary Free Bed team, Dottie Kuklewski ‘just keeps going’
Dottie Kuklewski developed an infection that forced doctors to amputate her leg. She went to Mary Free Bed for rehabilitation and spent several weeks in the inpatient Amputee Program. Since then, Dottie used a wheelchair exclusively for mobility, hesitant to try a prosthesis. About two years later, Dottie needed a new shrinker for her residual limb. […]
Kalamazoo bus driver who lost leg in crash ‘grateful to still be here’
La Shon Diallo was working overtime at her long-time job as a Kalamazoo Metro Transit bus driver to earn extra money for a new roof on her home. She remembers the traffic light turning green. Then she remembers waking up in the hospital. La Shon, 47, was seriously injured when a suspected drunken driver traveling […]
East Michigan resident chooses Mary Free Bed for rehabilitation after double amputation
UPDATE: Since Ken graduated from the inpatient Amputee Program, he’s returned to Mary Free Bed for outpatient therapy. His rehabilitation includes recreational therapy, which caters to each patient’s interests to improve their physical, social and emotional well-being, and to get them back to doing what they love. In Ken’s case, that’s being outside. Rachel Morse, […]
Jodi (Mata) Scott tackles adversity with hope, determination
Loss is a word Jodi (Mata) Scott knows all too well. In the span of three years, she lost three people she loved dearly: her mother, boyfriend and best friend. During that time, Jodi also lost all of her fingers and thumbs in a 2013 fire that destroyed her childhood home in Harrison, Mich. “It’s […]
Ghost Inside drummer Andrew Tkaczyk reunites with bandmates for first time since crash at Alternative Press Music Awards
Andrew Tkaczyk is walking. He’s also driving and playing drums, things the 28-year-old could only hope for after being seriously injured in a crash eight months ago. Andrew, drummer for Los Angeles-based metalcore band The Ghost Inside, spent five weeks as an inpatient at Mary Free Bed after their tour bus was involved in a head-on […]
Iraqi boy injured in missile attack returns to Mary Free Bed for new prosthesis
On April 28, 2008, just before his fifth birthday, Hamzah Al-Daeni was playing in his yard in Baghdad, Iraq, when a U.S. missile struck nearby. He was hit by shrapnel and injured so severely that he lost part of his stomach and his right leg had to be amputated. Two years later, traveling with his […]
UPDATED: Mary Free Bed Alumna Pam Buschle, Queen of GRIT
UPDATE: Mary Free Bed alumna Pam Buschle has made great strides since she was an inpatient at Mary Free Bed. The East Grand Rapids resident, who recently served as grand marshal for the city’s annual Fourth of July Celebration (sponsored by the city and Mary Free Bed to mark their 125th anniversaries), appeared on WOOD-TV’s […]
The Ghost Inside drummer: ‘I have no doubt I’ll get back to doing what I love’
Guest blog: Andrew Tkaczyk is the drummer for Los Angeles-based metalcore band The Ghost Inside. He spent 5 weeks as an inpatient at Mary Free Bed following a November crash that killed two people and severely injured several others, including his bandmates. Andrew, 28, sustained head trauma and fractures to his spine, ribs and hip. […]
The Ghost Inside drummer, Andrew Tkaczyk, rocks his rehabilitation with ‘Dr. Drums’ Bloom
During the 5 weeks Andrew Tkaczyk was an inpatient at Mary Free Bed, he developed a bond of trust with his doctor, not only because of his medical care but through their mutual passion for drumming. And now “Dr. Beats” – Andrew’s nickname – and “Dr. Drums,” aka Dr. Stephen Bloom, are working together with […]
The Ghost Inside drummer develops bond with Dr. Bloom on rehabilitation journey
Dr. Stephen Bloom visited Andrew Tkaczyk about 7 am every day for 5 weeks at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital. He reviewed reports with his patient, and they talked about the next steps on his road to recovery. Then they talked about drumming. “Andrew’s nickname is Dr. Beats, and he calls me Dr. Drums,” said Bloom, […]
Adaptive snowboarding gets Raphael back on the slopes
Raphael Correa, a patient of Mary Free Bed’s Orthotics & Prosthetics program, recently met a new, post-accident goal – snowboarding at Timber Ridge Ski Area in Gobles, Mich. After he spent a month in a wheelchair Correa got his walking leg in November 2014 and has been working and training ever since. Raphael’s goal is to get back to […]
Marty makes strides – and plenty of friends – at Mary Free Bed at Sparrow
It’s been a long road to recovery for Marty McDougall, who, for more than year, has been coping with the effects of a fall she sustained in May 2014. Every day, with help from her team at Mary Free Bed at Sparrow, Marty is improving her mobility and strength. She says she “clicked” immediately with her […]
Amputee Pam Buschle and her new $100,000 robotic hands
Sepsis survivor and Mary Free Bed alumna Pam Buschle received her new hands on Monday, October 27, 2014. The following are links to stories from local Grand Rapids media on the fitting and happiness that came from the day! Congratulations again go to Pam and the amazing strides she has made in the last year. […]
Amputee finds new love of life after rehabilitation at Mary Free Bed Hospital
Guest Blog by Rick McManus, Mary Free Bed alumni My name is Rick McManus and in the spring of 2012 I contracted a simple staff infection in my lower leg just above the ankle. What follows is the story of my incredible journey of resilience and recovery. After a brief trip to the hospital I was […]
Our congrats to Orrin Schroeder
Our congrats to Orrin Schroeder – way to go! A recent below–the–knee amputee, 67-year-old Orrin came to Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital to be fitted for a prosthetic leg and receive outpatient therapy. On May 19, a little more than a month after he received his prosthesis, Orrin shot a hole–in-one on hole 16 at […]
Prosthetic legs don’t deter Grand Rapids man
Due to complications from diabetes, Dan Feather’s left leg had to be amputated below the knee. He was 73 at the time and, after a couple weeks of rehabilitation at Mary Free Bed, was ready to return home to his wife, Wilma. Later, the same circulation problem took his left leg. That was two years […]
In spite of limb differences, Brooklyn is just like any other kid
Meet Brooklyn Brooklyn is just like any other girl. She hangs out with her friends, and loves the color pink. In fact, she is proud to share that almost every outfit she wears has pink in it. Brooklyn is very active, and tries everything at least once. She enjoys karate, tumbling dance class, and […]
A New Perspective on Life After Brain Injury
Jon is not the same person he was before the accident. According to his wife, he’s much milder and nicer. He appreciates his friends and family differently, and makes sure to say “I love you”. Many people who are told they weren’t expected to live tend to have at this new kind of perspective on […]
Sierra Miller Wins Gold at USCA National Event
by Stephanie Millis Sierra Miller won the gold medal in the kayak event at the United States Canoe Association (USCA) Nationals, held in Newaygo, on August 9. Sierra, 15, lost her leg in a lawn mower accident when she was 7 years old. Initially, doctors told Sierra’s parents that even though Sierra’s leg would be […]
Cancer survivor plays wheelchair tennis against able-bodied competitors
by Kate Snider Jess Sporte, 23, lost her leg to cancer when she was just 4 months old. Jess uses crutches for short distances and a wheelchair for longer distances. She received outpatient care from the Center for Limb Differences at Mary Free Bed until she was 21 years old. Growing up, Jess watched from the sidelines as […]
Patient helps other amputees by starting support group
by Kate Snider In July 2002, Dennis Vandereist’s car was struck by another vehicle, hit a fire hydrant and rolled. Dennis, who wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, was thrown from the vehicle, his left leg was pinned between the driver’s door and the ground. Dennis was taken to Holland Hospital, then flown to Spectrum Health where doctors tried […]
Struck by drunk driver, amputee prepares for Paralympics
by Kate Snider Melanie Johnson was riding her motorcycle to her nephew’s football game in September 2004 when she was struck by a drunk driver. The life-changing accident happened just 5 miles from home. “I knew it was really bad when I heard the helicopter,” Melanie said. “I remember thinking, if they had to call […]
Man with one hand builds airplanes
by Kate Snider In 1977, Dave Duperron was a 37-year-old firefighter in Taylor, Mich. He was married with 3 children and was a fire inspector at the time of his amputation. As a fire inspector, Dave would go help the firefighters when they needed an extra pair of hands. Dave went to help at a […]
Amputee patient now an Olympic hopeful
by Amanda Larsen A competitive athlete, Katie VanDam knows how to set goals and exceed them. When she stepped into a crosswalk on an October evening, she didn’t know how her life and her goals would change. A speeding SUV struck Katie and threw her into the middle of the road. Her friend, Jeremy, was […]