Author:

Sue Thoms

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 seven 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.

Sue Thoms

Posts from Sue Thoms

Pregnancy & Childbirth
Patient Story

Sweet babies, sweet names

Four newcomers crack the top-10 baby name lists this year.

  • Sue Thoms
  • By: Sue Thoms
  • December 30, 2018
  • 0
Cancer Care
Patient Story

A Christmas Eve post-chemo surprise

Bagpipe music heralds a big milestone for a woman completing her second-last infusion of her breast cancer treatment.

  • Sue Thoms
  • By: Sue Thoms
  • December 24, 2018
  • 4
General Health & Wellness Read a book, meditate, pray—or some other form of stress relief—every day.

Resolve to de-stress

Here are ways to get a grip on stress today and into the new year.

  • Sue Thoms
  • By: Sue Thoms
  • December 22, 2018
  • 4
Children's Health
Patient Story

A closer look at a complex heart

Pediatric cardiologists use 3D viewing technology to plan how to re-route and replace a teenager’s blood vessel.

  • Sue Thoms
  • By: Sue Thoms
  • December 9, 2018
  • 3
Pregnancy & Childbirth
Patient Story

‘Nothing short of a miracle’

Medical teams from two hospitals work through the night to save the lives of a mother and her newborn child.

  • Sue Thoms
  • By: Sue Thoms
  • December 3, 2018
  • 8
Pregnancy & Childbirth
Patient Story

‘It’s a mystery’

Little Kaleb Rietema is full of surprises. It began on day 1, when he defied the best-laid plans for his birth.

  • Sue Thoms
  • By: Sue Thoms
  • November 19, 2018
  • 1
Cancer Care
Patient Story

‘Will you marry me?’

Told she doesn’t have much time to live, Rhonda White sees two wishes fulfilled in a tearful, joyful double wedding ceremony.

  • Sue Thoms
  • By: Sue Thoms
  • November 16, 2018
  • 5
Children's Health
Patient Story

The power of ‘ghost poop’

A brave 4-year-old girl gets a little help from her friends as she overcomes her fear of injections.

  • Sue Thoms
  • By: Sue Thoms
  • November 12, 2018
  • 3
Orthopedics
Patient Story

‘In God’s hands’

A deer collided into his motorcycle, throwing Ken Pierce to the pavement and breaking his ribs. An innovative 'rib plating' surgery offered a quicker recovery with less pain.

  • Sue Thoms
  • By: Sue Thoms
  • November 5, 2018
  • 5
General Health & Wellness
Patient Story

‘A walking, living, breathing miracle’

Candus Jones comes from 'a long line of cast-iron skillet women.' That toughness came in handy as she faced a rare and debilitating condition.

  • Sue Thoms
  • By: Sue Thoms
  • November 2, 2018
  • 7
Children's Health
Patient Story

Superheroes arrive in style

A quartet of caped crusaders rappel down the side of the children's hospital to kick off the Halloween party.

  • Sue Thoms
  • By: Sue Thoms
  • October 31, 2018
  • 0
Pregnancy & Childbirth
Patient Story

The little fighter

Ollie Lott beats the odds against a life-threatening condition with help from a surgery performed while he was still in the womb.

  • Sue Thoms
  • By: Sue Thoms
  • October 22, 2018
  • 4

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