From 10 Cents to Hope: A Visit to Mary Free Bed

The other day, I had the opportunity to visit “Mary Free Bed,” a local Grand Rapids rehabilitation hospital. It all began by hearing their truly remarkable origin story. Mary Free Bed began in 1891 when a group of women set out to help people who couldn’t afford healthcare. While seeking support from the Grand Rapids community, the women began passing around a small black purse, asking that anyone named “Mary” or knew of anyone named “Mary” could donate 10 cents. The name “Mary” was chosen because it was the most popular name back in the 1890s, and quickly, the ladies collected enough money to fund a bed at a local hospital. That bed became known as the first “Mary Free Bed .”As I walked down the “hall of history,” it reminded me that it doesn’t take much to change one life for the better; all that these women had were 10 cents, hearts full of love, and a dream. And here they are today, serving as one of the nation’s top 10 most comprehensive rehabilitation hospitals in the country!

Today, Mary Free Bed is a renowned facility offering specialized programs for a wide variety of conditions, from spinal cord injury to brain injury or amputation. Witnessing the dedication of the staff firsthand was truly inspiring. Their love and care for their patients were palpable, reflected in the hospital’s impressive 91% approval rating. It became clear: the heart of Mary Free Bed lies not in the building itself but in the remarkable people who work there.

Speaking of great people. I had the pleasure of meeting Mike, who is currently one of the staff members in the “Wheelchair Adaptive Sports” unit! Mike reffed boys hockey for a long time, but after a chance to volunteer at a local wheelchair sports competition, he was hooked; he loved it so much that now he works a full-time job here at Mary Free Bed in their “Wheelchair and Adaptive Sports program.” Seeing the joy on his patients’ faces as they rediscovered the thrill of competition brought tears of happiness to Mike’s eyes. This program, one of the largest of its kind in the United States, provides a vast array of recreational activities for people of all ages with disabilities, from wheelchair basketball, rugby, tennis, or lacrosse. I love their motto, if there is a sport a patient wants to learn and play, they will find a way to make that happen!

I instantly connected with Tom on the importance of sports. No one should ever be robbed of playing a sport; sports is a gift that should be freely accessible to all people who wants to experience the JOY and FUN that comes with it.
We were able to experience the joy of sport when we had the pleasure of meeting Thomas. Despite Thomas’ daily intensive rehabilitation schedule, he was full of joy when we got together for a couple rounds of “keep the beach ball off the ground!” After a record of 30 consecutive touches, we were all smiling and high-fiving! Sports has a way of building instant bridges and of creating lasting moments of joy; there’s really no other thing like it.

As we wrapped up our visit, I was overcome with immense gratitude. Witnessing the steadfast love from the staff and seeing the patients’ unwavering determination to regain their strength filled me with a newfound appreciation for life’s simple blessings- getting out of bed, going for a walk, and simply playing the sport I love. Visiting Mary Free Bed served as a powerful reminder for me to slow down, appreciate the little things, and never take my health for granted. I look forward to more opportunities to help and volunteer my time at Mary Free Bed in the future!