The fight of her life

After successfully battling breast cancer and living with lymphedema, Pam Goodfellow now works to strengthen others engaged in the battle.

June 12, 2019

By: Zinta Aistars

Of grit and gratitude

The magical music of Matthew

General Health & Wellness

Feeling pressured? So does your pooch

Cortisol levels in dogs often mirror those of stressed-out pet owners.

By: Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
June 17, 2019
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Diet & Nutrition

Sweet or tart, cherries are the bomb

A dietitian shares 6 surprising health reasons why you should eat this magical fruit.

By: Alyssa Allen
June 16, 2019
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Diet & Nutrition

Go easy on the ice cream

It's a lovely summer treat on occasion. As a daily indulgence, it's the fast path to busting your diet.

By: Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
June 16, 2019
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General Health & Wellness

10 things to know about swimmer’s itch

Don't let parasites get under your skin this summer.

By: Bev Snyder
June 15, 2019
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Children's Health

Want smart kids? Give ’em sports

An hour of moderate-to-vigorous activity each day releases a protein beneficial to the development of young minds.

By: Len Canter, HealthDay
June 15, 2019
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Cardiovascular Care

Patient Story

‘This is not going to stop me’

When severe chest pain turned out to be an aortic dissection, Kim Lautner underwent a new procedure to repair the tear in her blood vessel.

By: Sue Thoms
June 14, 2019
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Diet & Nutrition

Bring the sequence to supper

Your chosen foods aren't the only determining factor in your health outcome. It might also depend on the order in which you eat them.

By: Serena Gordon, HealthDay
June 14, 2019
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Diet & Nutrition

Master the summer snack

Rather than heralding junk food and sodas, summertime should usher in fresh produce and healthy, on-the-go snacks.

By: Health Beat staff
June 13, 2019
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Children's Health

A battle plan for the information age

Your family can develop a detailed, written agreement on do's and don'ts to ensure you thrive in this topsy-turvy tech era.

By: Len Canter, HealthDay
June 13, 2019
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Photos

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‘A real pioneer’

Trent Ahlefeld lived with multiple heart defects all his life. His mother, Megan Thompson, agreed to a groundbreaking procedure to reconstruct Trent's heart. (Chris Clark | Spectrum Health Beat)

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‘We’re here to celebrate with you’

Jo Ann and Phil Britton lost their son, Nick, in 2016. Jo Ann was able to hug the transplant recipient of her son's heart, Tyler Jaenicke, when they met Friday. (Chris Clark | Spectrum Health Beat)

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Multiple myeloma and Motown memories

Chester Lowe passed away five days after his Health Beat interview. His final wish? To share his memories of how music touched and guided his life. (Chris Clark | Spectrum Health Beat)

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The power of ‘ghost poop’

Natalie's first symptoms of kidney disease emerged in February 2017, not long after she turned 3. That's when her fear of being poked began. (Chris Clark | Spectrum Health Beat)

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‘They are so blessed’

"It was a shock," Rena says. "But my general thinking is if she's not sad by it, then I'm not allowed to be. I try to be strong for her." (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)

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Rare and exceptional

Jacob Taylor was born with an extremely small lower jaw. Surgeons at Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children's Hospital recently implanted titanium jawbones on either side of his face. (Chris Clark | Spectrum Health Beat)

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‘A lot of candles on our cake’

The fourth Project Night Lights at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital held a special meaning Wednesday evening: It tied in with the celebration of the hospital's 25th birthday. (Chris Clark | Spectrum Health Beat)

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Videos

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The magical music of Matthew

Born blind, a 14-year-old boy has become a virtuoso who sees colors within the most intricate sounds of music.

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June 10, 2019

Special Series

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Life for Lilly

The special package, flown in express from Europe, is a ‘bag of life’ for Lilly who’s undergoing a bone marrow transplant thanks to a stranger’s heartfelt donation. In this special Health Beat series, Lilly takes us through her journey as a way of promoting the gift of life.

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Humans of Spectrum Health

Who are the people behind the lab coats, scrubs and name badges? What experiences have made them who they are today? This series shows the human side of the caregivers who are proud to call Spectrum Health their work home.

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