SPRINGBORO, Ohio — Josh Ballard came home from work on Friday night and was working in his garage when he said he saw his neighbor running down the street.
“Screaming, call 911, I don’t have my phone, someone just fell off a ladder,” Ballard said.
He said he ran to his neighbors while on the phone with 911. “Still very vivid, sprinting over there.”
Ballard said he found Jamie Lentz, who owns a gutter cleaning business, on his back and not moving.
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“I saw him laying on the concrete patio, his ladder was fully extended and it was pretty evident that he was on the second story,” Ballard said.
Ballard was able to keep Lentz calm until medics arrived. “He was very confused, very frightened.”
Lentz was taken to a nearby hospital and then flown by Careflight to Miami Valley Hospital, where doctors found he had bleeding on the brain and a broken neck.
Ballard said, “I just had that feeling in my heard, knew I wanted to help him, wanted to do something. Something sacrificial to help him.”
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According to Ballard, he knew with the extent of his injuries, Lentz would be out of work for some time. So, he found a way to help him.
“I’m going to start at my house in Springboro, Ohio, and I’m going to run to Miami Valley Hospital, where he’s being cared for.”
Ballard ran 15 miles and offered words of encouragement to Lentz.
After three hours and 23 minutes, Ballard arrived at Miami Valley Hospital. During that run, hundreds of people donated to Lentz’ cause and shared their own memories. In all, more than $16,000 was raised.
Lentz is still being cared for at Miami Valley Hospital, where he’s already had several surgeries. While he still has a long road ahead of him, there’s a whole team of people cheering him on to recovery.
Cox Media Group
