Let our purpose here be cherished by all who work here, visit here, and most of all, who temporarily reside here.
Let the good that we do fill our hearts and propel us forward. Our mission is pure, let it resonate with all of us.
Bradley, MFB Support Services
Judy
After a sledding accident, these brothers grew closer than ever. Watch their story to learn more.
This rising sled hockey star moved closer to his Paralympic dreams.
An All-State swimmer from Spring Lake High School inspired us from day one, making massive strides after his spinal cord injury. Read more from ABC 13 on Your Side.
17-year-old
Hannah Blumka
Hannah made a breathtaking recovery and graduated from Buchanan High School in May!
“
You mean the absolute world to me. And whatever hardships and whatever good times are ahead of us, I’m fully committed to you.
(Psst…she said ‘yes!’ Click to read more.)
In February, 26-year-old Hayley suffered a stroke. She was rushed to Bronson Methodist Hospital and then spent five weeks recovering at Mary Free Bed. Her positivity and perseverance helped her achieve a milestone goal in June. Watch her remarkable story below.
A Big Rapids grandma made an ‘Unscheduled Landing’ and published an inspiring rehabilitation story. Click to learn more about the two-time MFB graduate’s adventures captured by Fox 17.
A motorcycle crash nearly took his life in September, but in just 30 days, Andy went from being listed as a quadriplegic to walking out of Mary Free Bed. Read more from Fox 17.
Josh Lohman
Travis Thatcher
Vern Vis
Tatiana Lamb Knighten
After a brain injury rocked their world, geologist Mike DeVasto, and his wife Dani, shared with us their silver linings on the rocky road to recovery.
After his amputation, Bryan became a mentor for fellow amputees. Tapping into his design skills, he started an uplifting initiative to help bring others new levels of hope.
The Paralympian and pro-triathlete visited Mary Free Bed for upgrades to her running, cycling and everyday legs. From her big wins to her big day, she inspired us all year ‘round.
When her kids asked her to run in a half marathon, she agreed. The problem? She had never run a mile. Liz came to Mary Free Bed, lost over 100lbs. and started crossing finish lines.
Listen to the story on our podcast. Read more on Today.com.
Later in June, two of Liz’s children, Anna and Timmy, were in a broadside collision. Her son, Timmy, was pronounced dead at the scene. He survived with a traumatic brain injury, and Liz Asked For Mary.
Watch them cross finish lines as a family.
Rowan’s got spunk (and the best bows)! The Boumans visited from the U.P. and filled our hearts in the Early Childhood Development program.
Tom’s ethos is that tomorrow is not guaranteed –you burn the fuel, you make the most of what you have, and you take care of those you love.- Jamie Schumaker
After his accident on the job, the experts at Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital put R.J. back together. He transferred to Mary Free Bed and immediately got to work on his strong recovery in our Sub-Acute Rehabilitation program.
What she went through isn’t a story you keep bottled up, it’s something you tell the world.
Watch Consuelo’s inspiring fight to get home.
- Rosa Magallan, Consuelo’s Sister
Sam, a student at West Ottawa High School, was airlifted to Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital after a crash so violent it broke his car in two. He spent 100 days at Mary Free Bed. See how far he’s come.
Click to read more from mLive.
During her time at Mary Free Bed at Covenant HealthCare, this Wonder Woman lifted us up with fearless positivity and the heart of a warrior.
It took three years of absolute grit to cross the finish line. “
Christie never gave up hope that she'd return to competing in triathlons. With help from her physical therapy team at Mary Free Bed at Munson Healthcare, she showed us who’s (iron) boss.
Mary Free Bed’s PM&R Residency Program celebrated three new gradulates
Nicholas Gut, MD | Clayton Luyk, MD | Temilola Abdul, MD
Mary Free Bed was awarded a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts!
Ottawa Hills head basketball coach, Derrick King, and Mary Free Bed’s Terry Rostic teamed up to gift new suits to the graduating seniors. Reminding us there’s power in who we are.
Watch more from Fox 17.
Photo credit: Fox 17
In 2022 we welcomed Dr. Tom Fowler to the outpatient Spine Center team, adding another element to Mary Free Bed’s holistic approach to care. He’s the only doctor of chiropractic in Michigan who’s board certified in rehabilitation.
Over 50 children and adults with disabilities were introduced to adaptive bicycling.
Our Pediatric Inpatient team shared creative, meaningful ways to honor our differences – helping our staff and patients to celebrate diversity and inclusion all year long.
We launched a new podcast, setting out to discover what it really takes to recover.
This year, our Wheelchair and Adaptive Sports program celebrated 10 years of bringing sports to people with limited mobility. We hit the slopes - and more – with the 2022 adaptive clinics! From sailing to skiing, and even pickleball in between, our WAS program kept people of all abilities finding their rush and exploring something new.
The Wheelchair and Adaptive Sports program hosted its 38th year of camp! We welcomed 50 campers from Michigan, Indiana and Ohio.
(All of them silver and gold.)
We made new friends (and kept the old).
a special announcement & visit from Governor Whitmer in July
Active service men and women hoisted the spirits of our Veteran staff and patients. The Navy sailors from the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier visited Grand Rapids to learn more about the life and hometown of their ship’s namesake. Read more from mLive.
In August, the national competition was back and in person in Grand Rapids. Inspiring women from across the United States contended for the crown and title of Ms. Wheelchair America.
O&P+B visited Guatemala with ROMP Teaming up to restore hope and freedom…globally
Halloween festivities were an eerie-sistable success!
Since 2012, the Foundation has been keeping Mary Free Bed moving forward with the generous support of many foundations, donors and MFB employees. Together, their efforts have powered significant advances in charitable care, clinical programs and capital projects.
Congratulations to the Foundation on an outstanding first decade!
Mary Free Bed Foundation celebrated 10 years.
Was the cat’s meow! The bee’s knees! A roaring good time.
In 2022, we expanded our levels of cancer rehabilitation care for patients. The program includes inpatient and outpatient physician-led treatment and specialized offerings for lymphedema care, interventional services, virtual visits and more.
Being in the hospital during the holiday season is difficult, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to create unexpected surprises and see the wonder in our patients’ eyes.
- Alicia Haas, recreational therapist
In December, our new hospital in Saginaw celebrated its first year of restoring hope and freedom in the Great Lakes Bay Region.
For the third straight year, Mary Free Bed was recognized as one of America’s Best Physical Rehabilitation Centers by Newsweek health care analysts. Mary Free Bed ranked 1st among Michigan rehabilitation facilities and 11th nationally.
U.S. News & World Report released its annual list of Best Hospitals for Rehabilitation, and Mary Free Bed was again rated one of the nation’s top providers. Of the 799 rehabilitation organizations evaluated by U.S. News health care analysts, Mary Free Bed is #17 in the United States.
For the fifth straight year, Mary Free Bed Sub-Acute Rehabilitation has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report for Best Short-Term Rehabilitation.
In 2023, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital was proud to receive a three-year CARF accreditation. This prestigious accreditation acknowledges the outstanding services and abilities we bring to our patients – thanks to the ongoing hard work and dedication of our staff.
at Mary Free Bed deliver outstanding care to our patients. This level of recognition is possible thanks to their dedication to our mission, each other and the communities we serve.
- Kent Riddle, CEO
Here’s to another 365 days filled with Mary-aculous possibilities.