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.
A year after a sudden cardiac arrest stopped his heart, Gordon Bose looks forward to celebrating his new "first birthday" this holiday.
The tiniest babies in the hospital get treasured holiday photos with Santa.
For Hope Gonyon, a 9-year-old who has spina bifida, surgery gives a boost in independence.
As Dr. Bob Connors steps down as president of Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children's Hospital, he looks back on a career dedicated to caring for children—as a pediatric surgeon, an administrator and a tireless advocate.
Kids take a break from hospital rooms and medical appointments to play, meet Santa and choose gifts.
Susan prayed every night for two years someone would come to her orphanage in Myanmar and offer the surgery she needed to speak clearly.
A 10-year-old’s craft project becomes a source of motivation for people receiving stem cell transplants.
A Michigan State Police trooper in need of a new liver gets a living donor transplant—from a friend on the force.
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.
This popular fall fruit delivers nutrients that boost your immune system, aid weight loss and improve the health of your brain and heart.
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