A HealthBeat Special Series

Humans of Spectrum Health

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

Health Beat Special Series
Patient Story

Donating plasma: ‘A no-brainer‘

After recovering from COVID-19, a mother and daughter hope to help others.

Patient Story

Like father, like son—times two

Two doctors in the pediatric oncology-hematology fellowship are following in their dads' medical footsteps.

‘When life throws you lemons’

Health coach Angie Chandler overcame her pandemic doldrums to inspire herself and others with an outdoor neighborhood fitness squad.

Patient Story

A ‘simply jaw-dropping’ injury

Extensive surgery following a terrible crash has given nursing student Ryan Brown a unique perspective on the patient experience.

Patient Story

‘OK God, I see the rainbow’

A respiratory therapist battles back from crash injuries to treat her patients once again.

Patient Story

Cross-train for joint health

Patty Hager's road to fitness hit a speed bump when she twisted her knee. With surgery in the rearview, she's on the mend—and wiser for it.

Patient Story

From patient to nurse technician

Christopher Love forged an indomitable spirit in his teenage fight against a rare type of cancer. The experience changed his life—and it's now shaping his career.

‘I just fell in love with it’

Ludington nurses reflect on providing decades of compassionate care.

Patient Story

‘The place I needed to be’

When cancer claimed her husband, Courtney Appel found solace in becoming a patient advocate.

No pomp, all circumstance

Amid a global pandemic, a 50-year-old woman who has long dreamed of being Florence Nightingale earns a Bachelor of Science in nursing.

Patient Story

‘The greatest feeling ever’

Little Tinley never stops smiling—from adoption as a baby through months of leukemia treatments and, now, a happily ever after.

‘His true legacy’

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.