Sue Thoms is a writer and storyteller who joined Health Beat after a 30-year career at The Grand Rapids Press. She loves writing stories that shine a light on the resilience and beauty of the human spirit. In addition to medical features, she writes fiction and has published six picture books for children. Michigan born and raised, Sue enjoys exploring the state with her family―especially the lakes, sand dunes and ski hills. Contact her at susan.thoms@spectrumhealth.org.
When knee pain meant she had to give up walking her beloved dog, Elizabeth Winstanley realized the time had come for surgery.
Festivities at the children's hospital give kids a chance to be superheroes on Halloween.
A first-in-the-U.S. biopsy that combined three leading-edge technologies identifies stage 1 lung cancer, which makes all the difference for 81-year-old Mac Brown.
A lung transplant saved his life. Now, he is determined to make the most of his second chance.
With wireless technology, an epilepsy monitoring unit gives a girl more freedom to play and move about during her hospital stay.
When a pizza-loving 10-year-old boy could no longer eat food without getting sick, his parents struggled to find out why.
When Susie developed an odd lump on the back of her wrist, hand surgeon Peter Jebson, MD, made a house call to the zoo.
As he prepares for college, a teen takes time out for an innovative surgery that gives him a new jaw.
Until the first hard frost, avoiding mosquito bites will reduce the risk of exposure to Eastern equine encephalitis.
At 96, Helen Sharp fulfills her lifelong wish of riding a motorcycle.
A party for young patients and their siblings delivers photo ops, fun activities and backpacks filled with supplies.
A one-of-a-kind device transforms the life of a teen with an ailing heart.
