About Larry Lentz Jr.
,Larry was born near Pittsburgh, PA and at the age of 8 moved to Easley, South Carolina where he later graduated from high school. He was active in sports, mainly playing football and basketball. When he was 20 years old, Larry moved to Kissimmee, FL where he worked for Osceola County in the GIS department and later as a transportation planner. He always dreamed of being a pilot, so at the age of 35, he went back to school at the Delta Connection Academy. Through their program he received all his certifications to become a commercial pilot. He was in the process of searching for a job when his life changed forever.
On December 27, 2010 while on vacation with his family in Pittsburgh, Larry suffered a severe stroke caused by a ruptured brain aneurysm. He had stopped breathing but was revived and rushed by ambulance to Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh. Doctors told his family that he had less than a 50% chance of surviving the night. A drain was inserted into his skull to relieve the pressure on his swollen brain, and he was placed in the neurological ICU. In the morning, a neurosurgeon operated on Larry’s aneurysm, filling it with titanium coils to stop the bleeding. However, the swelling on Larry’s brain was too severe, so only hours later, surgeons had to remove a 4” x 6” portion of Larry’s skull. The section of skull was frozen, as surgeons planned to re-attach it in a few months after the swelling went down. Larry suffered a setback a week later when a hemorrhage occurred in the front of his brain. Surgeons operated to remove the portion of his brain damaged by the bleeding. Larry remained in the ICU where he battled daily challenges. During the insertion of a shunt to drain the fluids from his brain, Larry suffered a pulmonary embolism and was lucky to make it through the surgery. Doctors termed it a miracle that he survived, but after seven long weeks and the loss of 60 plus pounds, he was moved to a rehabilitation hospital.
When Larry arrived at Harmarville Rehab Hospital, they determined that he was paralyzed on his right side and suffered from global Aphasia, Apraxia and Alexia. Aphasia is the inability to use spoken language, but it does not affect intelligence. Apraxia is the inability to perform a task or movement, even if the request is understood. Alexia is the inability to read or write. He could not sit up or speak and had a feeding tube, since he could not eat or drink by himself. Speech therapists worked with him, teaching him to swallow again and eventually to eat without the feeding tube. Occupational and physical therapists worked with him five days a week. After two months, Larry uttered his first word, shouting No, No, No. After 3 months in Harmarville, he was released to come home to Florida with his parents. Larry went to out-patient therapy at the Brain Injury Rehab Center in Orlando three days a week for nine months. He learned to dress himself and to walk short distances with a leg brace and a cane. He began to repeat words and seemed to be able to recognize some familiar words and objects. In January 2011, Larry attended the Aphasia House, an intensive six week speech program at the University of Central Florida. He has since gone back for five more sessions. Larry’s cognitive skills have increased tremendously, and he is able to consistently say certain familiar words and names. Larry has been participating in speech and physical therapy programs offered at the University of Central Florida, and has taken part in two speech research studies conducted by UCF graduate students. He also volunteers weekly at the Knights on the Go Cafe' in the Health Sciences building on the UCF campus. The cafe is equipped with a harness system which allows a disabled individual to move safely throughout the cafe'. Physical therapy students get the opportunity to work with a person with a disability and the disabled individual is able to interact with people in a work environment.
While Larry has made tremendous progress since his injury, he still has a long road ahead of him. Recovery from a stroke can continue for years. After everything that he has been through, Larry keeps a positive attitude and maintains hope for further progress in the future. It is our goal that someday he can communicate again and tell everyone how much their love, prayers and support have helped him through this difficult journey. The proceeds from the golf tournament have allowed Larry to participate in therapies, such as the Aphasia House, which are not covered by his insurance. Also, the purchase of a customized trike has given him the opportunity to exercise more and set daily goals to bike more. While the proceeds of the golf tournament aid in the medical expenses for Larry’s recovery, the golf tournament is an uplifting event for him. Larry gets to see and hear from his friends and loved ones. This combination of emotional and monetary support, serves as continuous motivation to keep trying all year long. Whether you’re a golfer or not, Larry looks forward to seeing you at the golf tournament this year!
On December 27, 2010 while on vacation with his family in Pittsburgh, Larry suffered a severe stroke caused by a ruptured brain aneurysm. He had stopped breathing but was revived and rushed by ambulance to Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh. Doctors told his family that he had less than a 50% chance of surviving the night. A drain was inserted into his skull to relieve the pressure on his swollen brain, and he was placed in the neurological ICU. In the morning, a neurosurgeon operated on Larry’s aneurysm, filling it with titanium coils to stop the bleeding. However, the swelling on Larry’s brain was too severe, so only hours later, surgeons had to remove a 4” x 6” portion of Larry’s skull. The section of skull was frozen, as surgeons planned to re-attach it in a few months after the swelling went down. Larry suffered a setback a week later when a hemorrhage occurred in the front of his brain. Surgeons operated to remove the portion of his brain damaged by the bleeding. Larry remained in the ICU where he battled daily challenges. During the insertion of a shunt to drain the fluids from his brain, Larry suffered a pulmonary embolism and was lucky to make it through the surgery. Doctors termed it a miracle that he survived, but after seven long weeks and the loss of 60 plus pounds, he was moved to a rehabilitation hospital.
When Larry arrived at Harmarville Rehab Hospital, they determined that he was paralyzed on his right side and suffered from global Aphasia, Apraxia and Alexia. Aphasia is the inability to use spoken language, but it does not affect intelligence. Apraxia is the inability to perform a task or movement, even if the request is understood. Alexia is the inability to read or write. He could not sit up or speak and had a feeding tube, since he could not eat or drink by himself. Speech therapists worked with him, teaching him to swallow again and eventually to eat without the feeding tube. Occupational and physical therapists worked with him five days a week. After two months, Larry uttered his first word, shouting No, No, No. After 3 months in Harmarville, he was released to come home to Florida with his parents. Larry went to out-patient therapy at the Brain Injury Rehab Center in Orlando three days a week for nine months. He learned to dress himself and to walk short distances with a leg brace and a cane. He began to repeat words and seemed to be able to recognize some familiar words and objects. In January 2011, Larry attended the Aphasia House, an intensive six week speech program at the University of Central Florida. He has since gone back for five more sessions. Larry’s cognitive skills have increased tremendously, and he is able to consistently say certain familiar words and names. Larry has been participating in speech and physical therapy programs offered at the University of Central Florida, and has taken part in two speech research studies conducted by UCF graduate students. He also volunteers weekly at the Knights on the Go Cafe' in the Health Sciences building on the UCF campus. The cafe is equipped with a harness system which allows a disabled individual to move safely throughout the cafe'. Physical therapy students get the opportunity to work with a person with a disability and the disabled individual is able to interact with people in a work environment.
While Larry has made tremendous progress since his injury, he still has a long road ahead of him. Recovery from a stroke can continue for years. After everything that he has been through, Larry keeps a positive attitude and maintains hope for further progress in the future. It is our goal that someday he can communicate again and tell everyone how much their love, prayers and support have helped him through this difficult journey. The proceeds from the golf tournament have allowed Larry to participate in therapies, such as the Aphasia House, which are not covered by his insurance. Also, the purchase of a customized trike has given him the opportunity to exercise more and set daily goals to bike more. While the proceeds of the golf tournament aid in the medical expenses for Larry’s recovery, the golf tournament is an uplifting event for him. Larry gets to see and hear from his friends and loved ones. This combination of emotional and monetary support, serves as continuous motivation to keep trying all year long. Whether you’re a golfer or not, Larry looks forward to seeing you at the golf tournament this year!