Mary Free Bed Expands Outpatient Rehabilitation Access with New East Beltline Northeast Location
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation is expanding access to expert outpatient care in West Michigan with the opening of Mary Free Bed – East Beltline Northeast, its fifth outpatient location in the region. Beginning in May 2026, the new location will bring comprehensive rehabilitation services closer to home for individuals and families […]
From Hospital to Home: Preparing for Life After a Stroke
Returning home after a stroke is an important milestone in the stroke recovery journey. Understanding what to expect after stroke rehabilitation can help you and your family feel more prepared, confident and supported during the transition home. A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted, which can affect movement, speech and cognitive […]
The Toughest Workout: Personal Trainer’s Recovery Following a Traumatic Brain Injury
Forest Hills Northern and Davenport University hockey alum is inspiring others through his determination and recovery following a traumatic brain injury. After an accident on his one-wheeler, Marc Anderson, a personal trainer at MVP Athletic Club, was fighting for his life. The 29-year-old sustained a severe traumatic brain injury in September 2024. Anderson underwent multiple […]
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 outpatient locations open for rehabilitation care
We’re making it safe and easy to get the care you need at several convenient locations. Would you rather receive virtual services from home? We can do that, too! In-Person Visits You can feel confident coming to see us. We’re following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and State of Michigan guidelines for disinfecting, distancing […]
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 […]
Silas helps inspire ‘SO Awesome’ gift
UPDATED January 19, 2016: Silas Camp, a former patient treated about 4 years ago for plagiocephaly and torticollis, visited Mary Free Bed’s Outpatient Pediatric Therapy team with a special gift for other young patients. During the holiday season, his family’s business, SO Awesome, gives back to the West Michigan community through its “One for One” […]
Fall prevention should be a year-round concern
Falls are a significant public safety concern, no matter the season. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, millions of Americans 65 years and older fall each year. Head injuries and hip fractures are among the most common types of injuries sustained in a fall. Here at Mary Free Bed, fall prevention is […]
Hunting safety tips for an injury-free season
This weekend marks the beginning of Michigan’s regular firearm season for deer (Nov. 15-30, 2015). Hunting is an important tradition for many Michigan families. With proper safety precautions in place, hunting can be a safe and rewarding recreational activity. Hunting safety is a topic of great concern at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital. Each fall and winter, […]
Augmentative Communication provides options for speech
Augmentative and alternative communication can literally help to give a voice to individuals with diagnoses or conditions that can include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), autism, stroke, cerebral palsy, Rett syndrome, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury and Down syndrome. In Mary Free Bed’s Augmentative Communication Program, a speech-language pathologist and occupational therapist work with […]
Scoliosis treatment uses teamwork and technology
Scoliosis, a sideways curvature of the spine, affects an estimated 7 million Americans. The spinal condition typically is diagnosed in childhood or adolescence, often discovered during back-to-school “well child” checkups. Mary Free Bed’s Orthotics & Prosthetics (O&P) professionals are well-versed in helping to fit patients of all ages with custom scoliosis braces. These specialized orthotic devices are […]
Bissell’s Howl-O-Ween boosts pediatric & pet therapy programs
Sometimes, a wagging tail is just the motivation a patient needs to push through an intensive therapy session. That’s where “pet recreation professionals” like Walter and Charlie come into play. The two friendly (and hard-working) dogs are part of the animal-assisted therapy program at Mary Free Bed. Penny Richards, an occupational therapist at Mary Free […]
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 […]
Teens raise money for limb difference program
Recent Hudsonville High School graduate Bailey Gulch was all smiles when she handed a white envelope to Mary Free Bed Annual Fund Director Jocelyn Dettloff. It contained checks totaling $1,000, all made payable to Mary Free Bed. During her last semester of high school, 17-year-old Bailey spearheaded a fundraiser to help with the cost of […]
Growing network improves access across state
The Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Network extends the reach of Mary Free Bed’s services and expertise far beyond Grand Rapids. The recent expansion of Mary Free Bed at Sparrow in Lansing is just one example of how Mary Free Bed’s reputation and name are growing statewide. Learn more about the Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Network by […]
Have fun in the sun with these summer safety tips
Summer means the long-awaited return of time-honored activities, like weekend trips to the lake, family bike rides and other outdoor adventures. Unfortunately, the end of the school year also signals the start of trauma season, a period when medical facilities and physicians see a rise in serious and fatal unintentional injuries involving everything from motorcycle and lawn mowers to swimming […]
ZeroG gait & balance training technology at Mary Free Bed [Video]
Learn more about ZeroG at Mary Free Bed by reading the story — published May 10, 2015, in the Grand Rapids Press — below. [Click the image for a larger view.]
Told he’d never walk again, Bob is back on his feet
For the second time that winter, Bob Dykstra and his friends jumped on their snowmobiles and shot into the woods. Always a fan of snow sports, Bob was eager to tear up the powder. They approached a hill that they’d gone over hundreds of times before. Bob flew over the pinnacle and instead of landing […]
Couple Stays Positive Through Life-Changing Events
It has been a rough journey for Hernan and Susan Murillo since moving to Grand Rapids in fall 2010. But their bright smiles and positive attitude would make you think otherwise. Shorty after their arrival to Michigan, Susan suffered a transient ischemic attack (TIA), also known as a mini-stroke. She was paralyzed for two weeks […]
Motivation during therapy: Returning to life without chronic pain
Research shows nearly everyone at some point in their lives will experience back pain that interferes with work, daily activities or recreation. In fact, back pain is the second most common reason people visit their doctor, and Americans spend $50 billion each year on this ailment. Carol Doubblestein experienced chronic back pain for more than […]
Baby Sayla needed helmet for flat spot on head
“When I took Sayla to our physician for her four-month checkup, I questioned her head tilt and she had a bump on her forehead,” said Shanda Bender, Sayla’s mom. “My doctor said the bump was because of the flat spot on her head, and suggested I try repositioning techniques. At that point, we met with […]
11-year-old runner felt like she was breathing through a straw
by Kate Snider Last summer, Kaysey participated with Girls on the Run, but found it hard to keep breathing during her workout. As she was running, her throat felt like it was closing up. “It felt like I was breathing through a straw,” explained 11-year-old Kaysey Sterk. “I thought maybe it was asthma. I didn’t […]