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Motivational speaker will be at LCSC Nov. 7
Motivational speaker Matt Potratz will speak on the Lewis-Clark State College campus on Wednesday, November 7 at 7:00 p.m. in Sacajawea Hall, Room 115. Sponsored by the LCSC Warrior Entertainment Board, the event is free for all LCSC students, staff, and community.
Raised in the small town of Pierce, Idaho, Potratz was just like any other boy. He grew up with two brothers and they all shared a love for snowmobiling. It had always brought them together as a family. After he finished college, he began to push and refine himself as a snowmobiler. As the years went on, he gained nearly 509 invitations to be included in riding films. From there, he moved on to produce the movie "Vertical Ascent."
Continuing his happy career as a snowmobiler, his life suddenly took a turn on Sunday, March 1, 2009. He had been riding in McCall, Idaho and while filming, an avalanche carried him and his sled rapidly off the rocky mountain. It crushed him into a tree, and buried him in a badly injured and unconscious state. The snow settled and left Potratz fighting for his life. After being rescued, he was hospitalized with severe injuries and remained in a coma for over a month. After awakening from the coma, and eventually returning home, he had four additional in-patient hospital visits for two major surgeries. Now, after eight in-patient visits to five major hospitals in five different cities for five surgeries, 17 MRI's, four CT scans, and many other procedures, he is back on his feet, back on a snowmobile one-handed and, most importantly, “back to being a dad.” His left arm suffered severe nerve damage and is currently paralyzed, but he says there is hope for some function as the nerves regenerate from a nerve transplant surgery.
Potratz, who currently lives in Orofino, has written a book about his journey - Two Hands. He will discuss his experience during his talk on Nov. 7.
For more information contact the LCSC Warrior Entertainment Board: Entertainment@lcsc.edu or 208.792.2069.
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