Today we’d like to introduce you to Larry Prout Jr
Hi Larry, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My name is Larry Prout Jr. My family calls me Bear since I was a baby. I was born on June 11, 2001 at the University of Michigan’s Mott Children’s Hospital. I have endured 114 surgeries due to spina bifida, cloacal extropy, and a massive omphalocele, as well as many other complex medical diagnoses. With support from my family, friends and community, I have been able to live a productive and fulfilling life. I am involved with several non-profits by fundraising, public speaking, volunteering and as a board member. I have been a community volunteer working hard for many of our local nonprofits raising virtually thousands of dollars since I was 14.
I am honored to have received the Arc Livingston Arc Angel Award, the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Pete Schmidt Courage Award, the State of Michigan Livingston County United Way Young Person of Distinction Award, and the United States House of Representatives Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition– “in recognition of outstanding an invaluable service to the community” award. I was also nominated for the C.S. Mott Children’s and Von Voiglander Women’s Hospital – “Evan Newport Joy Award” and the Mott-Von Voigtlander Hospital – “Office of Patient Experience Outstanding Volunteer Recognition” Award.
I fight hard to keep a positive attitude. The best way is to help others, and to remember that we are all better together, we must all never give up and never lose hope, and every day is a gift. My family and I know the hardships of many hospital stays and recoveries at home, and the financial burden this can bring. Because of the help and support my family and I have received over the years, we wanted to give back by helping families with sick children and young adults. The Larry Prout Jr. (The Bear) Courage Fund has been created to aid C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital patients who have current and ongoing life-threatening health issues and are receiving care which affects the overall financial situation of their families. We help families with gas, food, utilities, clothes and many other basic necessities, that become hardships when a family is facing the medical crisis of a loved one. We put money in the pocket of these families as our family truly understands that there is never enough money to keep your family going when you have a loved one with chronic and life-threatening complex health needs.
Since the fall of 2022, because of our amazing and generous community, we have raised approximately $200,000 and have helped 160 families. Every year we hold a 5k/1-mile all-inclusive fun-run-day in Pinckney. (Where I went to school) This is our major fundraiser every year. We invite all of the community and also staff from Mott Hospital to attend. Last year, my two main surgeons who have cared for me since birth, Dr Ron Hirschl, pediatric surgeon and Dr John Park, Urology surgeon pushed my jogger at the start of the race. Approximately 50 Mott Hospital caregivers, mostly from 12E Mott attended. We had 300 runners!
Our non-profit board is made up of family and my best friends, JT Rogan, John O’Korn and Grant Newsome. I made these best friends when I was a part of the Michigan football team as an honorary member from 2016 through the 2018 season. I as matched to Michigan Football through a non-profit out of Boston called Team Impact. I am grateful that our community, many of Mott Hospital caregivers, and many of the friends I have made through being a part of the Michigan Football team donate, sponsor and participate in our RUN WITH THE BEAR fun-run-day. This year will be our third race!
Life is hard. I hurt every single day. I am in the hospital a lot. I have nearly died many, many times and am lucky to be alive thanks to my family and caregivers at Mott. I struggle with walking, weight gain, and tremendous pain. Somedays I am sad about all of this, and I get depressed. But I am grateful. And I remember all of the people who are just like me that are struggling too. I know that we are all better together. I have had so much love given to me by friends, family and even strangers I have never met, and I know that that is why I am still here today. Even though I don’t always feel good, my spirit feels good because I have been lifted up by so many. Life is a gift, and I love my life!
Love, your friend, Larry Prout Jr
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been smooth. Many of my struggles include being chased down the halls of Mott Hospital by surgeons with very sharp knives clenched between their teeth. Just kidding. But really, I have had literally had 114 surgeries and I know there will be more in my future. I spent most of this past summer at Mott having surgeries and fighting infections. I was born with no skin from my tib cage, all the way around my sides, down to my rectum. Nothing.
I looked like roadkill. I was in the NICU for the first 6 months of my life and then spent many months at a time in Mott Hospital, including Johns Hopkins and Boston Children’s. These surgeries keep me alive and improve my life. Because of all my medical issues it has been very hard to attend school and make friends. When I was younger, I had only been invited to 1 birthday party before I was 14. Kids liked me, but I don’t think they knew what to do with me. When I became a part of Michigan Football, that completely changed my life. Suddenly, these 6 feet 7, 370-pound dudes were telling me that I was brave and that I gave them courage. That I inspired them. I couldn’t understand this. I am very small. I weight 80 pounds on a good day. I can’t tackle anybody. But they told me this over and over and made me feel proud of who I am. Now I wear my scars like a badge of courage. Now I know that even though I am small, and have missed out on so much of life, I can make a difference. When you are down and depressed, the best way to feel better is to help others. It really works!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I started a non-profit with my family to support individuals and their families who are very sick with complex and continuous health issues at Mott Hospital. I am the founder and secretary of my non-profit. My non-profit is called The Larry Prout Jr (The Bear) Courage Fund. I am the youngest of 6 kids. I have spent most of my life in the hospital, or sick and recovering from surgeries and infections. My family and I know what it is like to not be able to have enough money for gas to get to the hospital. To buy Christmas gifts for all the kids. To get sports equipment for school sports. My dad was a special education teacher, and my mom took care of me full time because in our house, my area was like an ICU. There were many times I was discharged from the hospital ICU straight to my living room ICU. My family had to learn a lot on how to care for me at home. Now that my siblings are grown up and doing well, and it is just me and mom and dad at home, we are finally in a situation where we can give back. Because without the help of our community, we never would have made it. All of our profits, minus the costs for the 5K, go directly into the pockets of Mott families. Money for food, gas, hotel, car repairs, things we needed that we didn’t always have money for. You can have the best health insurance around, but still not have enough money for all the other things you need that are really, especially hard when you have a loved one in the hospital. I am proud that we are able to help families just like mine!
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
As far as my health, in can be a risk for me to go out into the community. Getting the flu or a cold can cause me to wind up in the hospital. Starting my nonprofit, with my family, was a big risk. We didn’t know if we could do it. Two friends of mine, Gwen Haggerty-Bearden and Mark Howell were very instrumental in helping me create my non-profit and to help teach me about fundraising. We do all the work in our home. My mom was nervous. We all wanted to make a difference and help, and fear of failure is real. Alot of nonprofits raise money for research or for building hospitals, but not many give money straight to those that apply for assistance. I was scared about donors really understanding our mission and the need for money to go into the pockets of these families.
Pricing:
- Donations – we take donations to our nonprofit in any amount direcrtly to our website. https://www.larryproutcouragefund.org/donate
- Sponsors – we always are seeking sponsors for our (3rd) annual 5 K to help families at Mott. (Registration opens March 1) https://runsignup.com/runforthebear
- We are always looking for donors and participant for our 3rd annual RUN WITH THE BEAR (registration begins March 1) https://runsignup.com/runforthebear
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.larryproutcouragefund.org/
- Instagram: coobles321_larry_jr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/larry.prout.5
- Twitter: https://x.com/coobles321
- Other: larryprout@larryproutcouragefund.org
