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Tag: Cancer

Quarterly Workshop Aimed at Helping Cancer Patients Take Charge of Wellness

Cancer comes with many challenges to navigate. To help people manage symptoms and provide support, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital has been partnering with Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids to host Cancer Rehabilitation Education and Wellness (CREW) workshops throughout the year. This month’s workshop, on Thursday, October 2, will focus on cancer-related fatigue. Anyone with a […]

The Quiet Echoes of Survival

In the latest episode of The SumMARY Dr. Yunna Sinskey opens up to Dr. Doug Henry about her personal journey with stage 3 rectal cancer. She discusses her initial diagnosis and the tough reality of life after treatment, all while sharing honest insights on physical exhaustion and the mental toll of PTSD. Learn how her […]

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 • […]

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 […]

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 […]

Mary Free Bed Staff Lay Wreath at Presidential Ceremony

To commemorate President Gerald R. Ford’s 109th birthday, members of the Ford family and his Historical Legacy Trust conducted a wreath laying ceremony at his tomb on the grounds of the Ford Presidential Museum. The ceremony included presentation of wreaths on behalf of President Joe Biden, the Ford family and two clinicians from Mary Free […]

Kabel Sheehan pushes herself ‘one step further’ in rehabilitation

Guest blog: Kabel Sheehan, 29, is married to Ryan and mother of three children: Kyla, 5, Evan, 3, and Koda, 1. Kabel’s days were spent playing with her kids, coaching and playing volleyball as well as running her own graphic design company. The Grand Haven family’s world was turned upside down on March 25, when […]

Cancer + Wellness series: Episodes 16 & 17 – Yoga for cancer patients and survivors

Need to unwind and relax? Looking for ways to holistically cope with stress and tension? Interested in learning more about yoga for cancer patients and survivors? Michele Fife, an instructor with Mary Free Bed’s Cancer + Wellness program, offers this free, 60-minute yoga practice. You also may benefit from a refresher on breathing techniques, which Michele […]

Cancer + Wellness series: Episodes 12-15 – Healthy recipes

Mick Von Doxatater (aka Surfer Mick), an instructor for Mary Free Bed’s Cancer + Wellness program, believes good food can play a key role in a person’s health. On this page, you’ll find 7 healthy recipes that are packed with nutritional powerhouse foods. Some of the recipes are written below, others are presented in video form – all […]

Cancer + Wellness series: Episodes 10 & 11 – More plants, less sugar

Clean eating is beneficial for everyone, but it may be especially vital for those who have cancer or are in recovery from cancer and its treatment. The Cancer + Wellness Program at Mary Free Bed is focused on helping people work toward a healthier life after cancer. Cancer + Wellness nutrition instructor Wendy Borden encourages individuals to consider following […]

Cancer + Wellness series: Episodes 8 & 9 – Tips for better nutrition after cancer

cancer blog post

Maximizing patients’ health and nutrition after cancer is an integral part of the Cancer + Wellness Program at Mary Free Bed. Program instructor Mick Von Doxatater encourages people to consider the steps they take to prepare their food; from washing, to chopping, to the actual method of cooking. In episodes 8 and 9 of our ongoing video series based on the […]

Cancer + Wellness series: Episode 7 – Clean Eating Starts Here

cancer blog post

Mick Von Doxatater offers guidance in how to support a more healthy diet after cancer. In the seventh episode of our video series, inspired by the Cancer + Wellness Program, “Surfer Mick” emphasizes the importance of (literally) eating clean. In this brief segment, he provides tips on how to properly clean fruits and vegetables before preparing them […]

Cancer + Wellness series: Episode 6 – Tips for Healthy Eating

In the sixth episode of our video series, inspired by the Cancer + Wellness Program, Wendy Borden offers tips on healthy eating after cancer and treatment. She encourages people to take a simple approach and emphasize “whole, fresh, local, seasonal” ingredients as much as possible. “(Eat) clean, organic foods that are really going to nourish […]

Cancer + Wellness series: Episode 5 – Eating by Color

In the fifth episode of our video series, inspired by the Cancer + Wellness Program, Mick Von Doxatater offers advice on how to eat a more colorful diet and why it matters: “Your immune system and your body will thank you.” Mick says “variety is the key word here. Between 5 and 10 colors is what […]

Cancer + Wellness series: Episode 4 – Meet Michele Fife

Ayurvedic yoga therapist and nutritionist Michele Fife is an instructor with the Mary Free Bed Cancer + Wellness Program. She was drawn to the innovative program because of her passion for positively impacting people’s lives. “I’m very much a fixer person, a helper person,” Michele says. “I love to help people. I like to be of use. I like […]

Cancer + Wellness series: Episode 3 – Meet Brooke DeBeck

Registered dietitian Brooke DeBeck serves as an instructor with the Mary Free Bed Cancer + Wellness Program, which provides holistic education for people at all stages of their cancer journey; newly diagnosed, in treatment and post treatment. Brooke encourages people to learn more about the relationship between diet and cancer, and other health concerns. “It’s not really one […]

Cancer + Wellness series: Episode 2 – Meet Wendy Borden

Wendy Borden, Executive Director of the Revive and Thrive Project, serves as an instructor with the Mary Free Bed Cancer + Wellness Program. Through the program, Wendy provides holistic education for people at all stages of their cancer journey; newly diagnosed, in treatment and post treatment. “I have a unique perspective on the program, because I […]

Cancer + Wellness series: Episode 1 – Meet Surfer Mick

Mick Von Doxatater, aka “Surfer Mick,” is a surfer, chef and world traveler with a holistic approach to food and its healing potential. “The same foods that build you up and keep you strong are the same foods that will restore you when you get hit with a life-threatening illness, or when you’re coming back […]

Tom and Andrea Yared honor their son’s memory

Research conducted by Mary Free Bed physical therapists Kirk Randall and Jennifer McWain has led to a groundbreaking discovery—and helped solidify a substantial donation from Tom and Andrea Yared in memory of their son, John. John Yared, a patient with brain cancer, worked with Kirk and Jenn on balance issues caused by chemotherapy-induced numbness in his […]

Cancer Rehabilitation Program Helping Patient Gain Physical and Mental Strength

Ever since she was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer in late 2011, Kathy Bacon’s life has been a blur of surgeries, radiation, chemotherapy and other medical procedures. Her strength and stamina were zapped by medications and treatments. At one point, her weight slipped to 86 pounds. Early this year, a therapist suggested she take […]

Three generations of Ford women behind cancer rehabilitation program

Historians say cancer can be divided into two categories: before Betty and after Betty. She was the first prominent woman to speak openly about breast cancer. Because of Betty Ford’s courage, women visited their physicians. Countless lives were saved. Our campaign is aimed at getting the word out about cancer rehabilitation. It’s a new sub-specialty in the […]

A Mary Free Bed Cancer Thriver’s Grand Journey

Ask Randy Herlein of Twin Lake, Michigan to describe his perfect day and rest-assured the answer would involve the outdoors. From caribou hunting near the Arctic Circle, to mountain climbs, canyon hikes, fishing trips and triathlons, Randy is always ready for his next adventure. He is a loving husband and devoted father. Randy is also […]