U-M to "Draft" Player With Special Needs During Bye Week

Submitted by BursleyHall82 on

I love stories like this. During our bye week, Harbaugh will hold a press conference and "sign" a kid from Howell named Larry Prout Jr. who has special needs.

From the story:

U-M announced it will hold a "draft" press conference for Larry Prout Jr. of Howell, allowing him to join the team and he will be welcomed by coach Jim Harbaugh and a few players following their practice.

Prout, 15, was born with spina bifida, choacal extrophy, massive omphalocele, short gut syndrome and several other illnesses. He has had more than 90 surgeries and many extended hospital stays.

Story here.

Hello: Larry Prout Jr.!

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Everyone Murders

October 7th, 2016 at 7:44 AM ^

In the meantime, the NCAA raises a jaundiced eye toward Ann Arbor.  Recruiting violation paperwork in their hands, they think better of it, and put the paperwork away in a drawer ... .  "Next time, Harbaugh.  Next time."

90 surgeries and ongoing burderns and the kid is still plugging along?  Good for him - no room for Freddy P. Soft on Larry Prout Jr.'s shoulder!

Joined: 12/14/2010

MGoPoints: 65552

ScruffyTheJanitor

October 7th, 2016 at 8:17 AM ^

Before I had a kid, I would have recognized how amazing this kids journey was, but I wouldn't have really connected with a story like this. I am an INTP for those of you who are into that sort of thing, but I was always kind of a robot when it comes to this stuff. 

Now? I just imagine having to be with this kid day in, day out, wanting nothing more that to let this kid have one fucking easy thing in his life, and damn, it brings a tear to my eye. This kid, his parents, his doctors... all amazing people, no question.

Joined: 02/03/2011

MGoPoints: 12197

michgoblue

October 7th, 2016 at 8:50 AM ^

What is an INTP? I expect that it is pretty obvious and I am just oblivious and missing it. Thanks.

Also, I second your comment. Pre-kids, this would have been a story that I read and said "hats off to Michigan for doing this" and moved on. Having two boys, as you said, this bring a tear to my eyes. No kid should have to endure this level of suffering and I am incredibly impressed with the kid and his family that they can even function while dealing with this.

Joined: 11/16/2009

MGoPoints: 32166

thatguycharlie

October 7th, 2016 at 9:39 AM ^

Link

Each letter is a piece of your personality profile. An INTP is Introversion iNtuition Thinking Perceiving (you can Google all of the types and there are a million websites giving you information). 

From the link:

Favorite world: Do you prefer to focus on the outer world or on your own inner world? This is called Extraversion (E) or Introversion (I).
 
Information: Do you prefer to focus on the basic information you take in or do you prefer to interpret and add meaning? This is called Sensing (S) or Intuition (N).
 
Decisions: When making decisions, do you prefer to first look at logic and consistency or first look at the people and special circumstances? This is called Thinking (T) or Feeling (F).
 
Structure: In dealing with the outside world, do you prefer to get things decided or do you prefer to stay open to new information and options? This is called Judging (J) or Perceiving (P).
 
Your Personality Type: When you decide on your preference in each category, you have your own personality type, which can be expressed as a code with four letters.

Joined: 04/22/2011

MGoPoints: 1732

UMProud

October 7th, 2016 at 8:08 AM ^

Thanks for posting this made my heart swell.  I really appreciate how people, in positions like Harbaugh, use their roles to inject sunshine into the lives of kids who were dealt a bad hand in life.  This will create happy memory that will stay with them forever.

Joined: 12/18/2014

MGoPoints: 2705

jabberwock

October 7th, 2016 at 8:26 AM ^

one of my kids has a friend with special needs (not at Larry's level) he & every one I meet is just a happy, caring, wonderful kid that just rolls with what life gives them.

I'm often grumbling about my hurt foot, ot bad traffic, or something insignificant when I run into him & every time it's just like "jabberwock, you don't know jack shit about adversity, step iinto this kids shoes"

Humbling & inspiring.

Go Blue Larry!

Joined: 07/04/2008

MGoPoints: 51146

skurnie

October 7th, 2016 at 9:16 AM ^

I have a sister with special needs and coached softball at the Special Olympics for several years...good for Larry and good for the program for doing things like this. 

Joined: 07/31/2013

MGoPoints: 20170

1VaBlue1

October 7th, 2016 at 9:21 AM ^

Nice!!!

This probably came out of the Make a Wish Foundation, which, for my money, is the best one going.  But whether it did, or not, these kinds of things are always special.  And like others have said, the stories never really registered until I had one of my own.  We learned early that the troubles we had with our newborn were minor, and weren't really worth worrying over.  The NICU had some teenies that shouldn't have made it, and VCU Children's Hospital was a depressing, and humbling visit, every week.  As was the Physical therapy center...  What a kid can handle is unreal.  What parents will willingly put themselves through is something you simply cannot fathom until you have your own.

I applaud the people in positions to help these kids and their families, and that actually do.  Because for every Harbaugh, there's a Kardashian.

Joined: 01/31/2016

MGoPoints: 126893