LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – The Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health is one of downtown Las Vegas’ more unique buildings – though few know the story behind it.
“So unique for the world the purpose was to bring attention to what we are doing in Las Vegas,” Larry Ruvo, the center’s founder told FOX5.
Larry named the center after his father Lou, who died from Alzheimer’s disease.
“No family should go through what we went through, a year of misdiagnosed a year of watching all these terrible tests,” Larry said.
However, it was what his mom Angie Ruvo went through as his father’s caregiver that pushed Larry to make a difference.
“My mom didn’t know about caregiving she didn’t know the proper way to pick them up so now I bury my dad and now I have to take my mom in for orthopedic surgery on her back and knee,” he said.
After witnessing what his mom went through, Larry dedicated the center to providing resources to not only patients but also their caregivers.
“We see the patient and we tell the caregiver, wear the mask just like on the airplane, take care of yourself and everybody lives,” he said.
At no cost, caregivers are also trained at the center, which is why fundraising is so important.
“We need to keep the doors open,” Larry said.
On Friday night the center hosted its annual Power of Love Gala raising $3 million. Larry tells FOX5 he hopes it is one step closer to a breakthrough in a cure for Alzheimer’s and helps everyone who it affects.
“Because before the cure there is a caregiver, Larry said.
Studies show Alzheimer’s affects nearly 11 million women in the U.S. who are either living with the disease or caring for someone with it.
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