May is a month when we pause to recognize the impact trauma has on our communities. We celebrate Nurses, EMS, Police, and Fire personnel for the care and service they provide each day. On May 20, 2026, we took a moment to celebrate Trauma Survivors.

A trauma survivor is someone who has experienced a distressing or life-altering event and continues to cope with its emotional, psychological, or physical effects. Trauma affects not only the person who suffers the injury, but also the families, caregivers, healthcare workers, and communities who walk alongside them through recovery and healing.

Hospitals throughout Michigan celebrated Trauma Survivors in a variety of ways including Ice Cream Socials, Speaker Events, TV interviews and Resource Fairs. What did your community do to celebrate Trauma Survivors?

Covenant HealthCare Trauma Program and Mary Free Bed along with other community partners recognized and honored patients, families, caretakers, and healthcare professionals as they continue this journey with strength, compassion, and resilience by hosting an Ice Cream Social and resource table.  151 people attended the event.

Corewell Health West held and event at Frederick Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids Michigan on May 27. It was dinner with about 370 survivors, clinicians, and family celebrating survivorship. They highlighted their stories, shared stories on inspiriation and determination. Team members spoke along with a family member of a survivor and what she faced while her daughter recovered from a severe motorcycle crash.