If you’ve religiously tuned in for Michigan games over the last decade, you must be well aware of Larry Prout Jr. The 24-year-old superfan is just as much a part of the Wolverines program as any other player on the roster. But this past weekend, the Michigan devotee found himself back in the emergency room with excruciating pain. Larry’s mother’s desperate calls highlighted the severity. He has faced over 115 surgeries and has been dealing with severe bowel and gut issues for quite some time now, caused by the complications of spina bifida, cloacal exstrophy, and a massive omphalocele he was born with in 2001.

The bond between the Wolverines and Larry goes way back. Born into the Maize and Blue, Mott Children’s Hospital, with a 20% chance of survival, Larry faced life-threatening odds from the very start. In 2016, through Team IMPACT, Michigan football officially drafted Larry as a member of their team. He has attended every home game, and after losses, he and his mom have baked “Cheer-Up” cookies for the team.

Then came Sunday night’s heartbreaking message from Larry’s mom on social media, posted through his account. “Please pray for Larry. I know we often ask for prayers for Larry and Elise. Here I am asking for more. He’s so sick, he has excruciating pain, he’s crying and moaning, and he’s trapped in this ER because there are no rooms. Please pray for a miracle for this pain and bowel and gut issues he’s been suffering from for so many months. My heart is breaking. Thank you. Larry’s mom.” The plea came a message earlier that day: “We’ve been up all night, back in the ER with excruciating abdominal pain again.” The Prout family, unfortunately, has been here a lot before. Larry has had over 1150 surgeries in his 24 years. But now, his bowel and gut issues have become more and more difficult to deal with.

Larry’s story has been about survival for the most part. But even through all of this, he has never stopped believing in himself and in the people around him. His outlook on life is what sets him apart. “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,” Larry has said. That philosophy led him to create the Larry Prout Jr. (The Bear) Courage Fund in 2015, a nonprofit that has now provided over $100,000 in grants to more than 189 families at Mott Hospital dealing with similar financial burdens.

And it’s not only the pain that has made Larry’s story more compelling. It’s the fact that he has turned that pain into fuel for helping others while never losing his own enthusiasm. Jim Harbaugh’s father, Jack Harbaugh, once said, “We have a thing in our family, and it goes back a long, long way: Attack each day with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind. Each and every time I see Larry, I think to myself, he epitomizes that more than anyone I have been around.” Now, as Larry fights through yet another health crisis, that enthusiasm is being tested like never before. The Michigan community, with its players, coaches, and fans, has been rallying once again with prayers and support for Larry.

Michigan family rallies around their Bear

After his mother’s plea, the support for Larry has been immediate and overwhelming, with fans flooding social media with prayers and well-wishes. One of the fans wrote, “Heavenly Father show your mighty power to Larry right now, lord Jesus. Touch his abdomin. Believing in full healing in Jesus name. By his stripes we are healed. Love you Larry, thinking about you. Keeping you in my prayers.” That faith-driven prayer makes sense for someone who’s already survived 115 surgeries against impossible odds. If anyone’s earned divine intervention, it’s the kid who was given a 20% chance of living past his first day.

Another supporter wrote, “Prayers. God Strength to The Bear, and the entire Prout family,” showing that this fight isn’t just Larry’s burden but one his whole family carries with him through every ER visit, every surgery, and every month of unrelenting pain.” A supporter wrote about the emotional toll of watching someone suffer, saying,”I can’t imagine what he’s going through, but I’m pausing to say a prayer for Larry.” Larry has been dealing with this agony for months. He also went through a brutal kidney drain tube surgery that was supposed to provide relief, but hasn’t. 

Another supporter wrote, “One of the strongest people i know 💪🏽🙏🏽.” Larry is indeed one of the strongest people. The Michigan community knows that Larry’s been through stretches like this before; the brutal 10-hour abdominal reconstruction in April 2024 that led to complications and a second emergency surgery comes to mind, but this current crisis feels particularly cruel because he’s been suffering for months without sustained relief. Every prayer, every emoji, and every comment represents the collective hope that this time, finally, Larry.