Patient Stories

Share your story

Do you have a story you'd like to share about your experience as a patient at Spectrum Health?

Patient Story

‘I collapsed like Jell-O’

Paralyzed by Guillain-Barré syndrome, Rich Toole found his way back to mobility through intense physical therapy and unyielding positivity.

Patient Story

May the force be with you, kiddos

Project Night Lights, Star Wars edition, features hundreds of waving lightsabers inside and outside Helen DeVos Children's Hospital.

Patient Story

‘One last chance’

A rare, eleventh-hour cardiac ablation procedure saves a retired firefighter’s life.

Patient Story

Merritt’s mystery

Merritt Smith experienced seizures and missed developmental milestones. Genetic testing revealed the cause—a missing chunk of a chromosome.

Patient Story

Eager to breathe

An Ionia man becomes the first in Michigan to undergo an innovative new treatment for severe emphysema.

Patient Story

‘You’re never going to walk again’

A motorcycle crash left Tom Weaver paralyzed from the waist down. That hasn't stopped him from moving on in life—and fighting for greater wheelchair accessibility.

Patient Story

Aurora’s whirlwind start

A little fighter beats all the odds to overcome congenital heart disease shortly after her birth.

Patient Story

A bolder voice

Amid a second bout of breast cancer, Kathy Shoemaker's faith has become stronger than ever.

Patient Story

Back in the race

Ted Droski suffered the loss of a leg in a sudden car crash. He has since become a shining example of how the human spirit can emerge from adversity stronger than ever.

Patient Story

‘It’s a wonder I’m alive’

When Lester Cramer developed a blockage in his carotid artery, his surgeons used a new technique shown to reduce risk of strokes.

Patient Story

‘It’s been a grind’

For Diana and David Vos, life after stroke hasn’t been easy. But perseverance has brought the couple a long way—and they’re not giving up.

Patient Story

‘I would never go anywhere else’

A distance of 150 miles couldn't separate one expectant mom from regular appointments with the midwife who guided her through four pregnancies.