Dear Dr. Ferry, I am currently reading your book Faith in the Freshmen. I’m an 18 year old kid who has diabetes, just like your son Andrew. In the small town of Sussex, WI, all I have thought about since i was young was the game of basketball. Basketball has rewarded me in so many ways, including keeping me fit, which helps keeping my blood sugars in tact. Your story is moving and motivational to me. Being a freshmen in high school I made the JV team. Then my sophomore year I was placed on varsity because, like your son, I can shoot the lights out. Due to some unfortunate circumstances I had to quit right before my junior year. Not playing for my last two years of high school really upset me and I still practice daily and have a passion for the game. I was wondering if you could give me some advice of how to get my name out to college coaches. I miss the competitive nature of the game, Division I, Division II, Division III, JUCO, it doesn’t matter…the love I have for the game is amazing, and playing college basketball, no matter what level, has been a dream of mine. If you don’t have the time to lend me some advice that is completely fine. Once again thank you for the amazing story that has truly changed my life. Also thank you for reading this e-mail. Sincerely, Eric Moderski

Our efforts to help meet some of the health care needs of our community have brought recognitions mentioned in the links below.  While I am the individual being honored, the credit belongs to the terrific Concordia team of dedicated and consecrated servant leaders.  See the article about Health Care Heroes here.  See the Power Book listing here.

Award Sheet

Her ride began Saturday morning at 7 o’clock. Tammy was in the saddle for 7 1/2 hours in what she described as “sort of a surreal experience.” The magnicent, rugged beauty provided a scenic backdrop for the riders–about 175 courageous women and men who set out together to cross Death Valley and defeat diabetes. No worse for wear, Tammy is pondering the possibility of a return trip next year!

Tammy’s inspiration and motivation are her son’s, Andrew and Stephen. Both boys were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes while in in high school. There lives have been dramatically changed as each day they cope with the disease. Some of Andrew Ferry’s story is interwoven into “Faith in the Freshman: A Story of Hopes and Hoops.”

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by Anthony Witrado, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Originally published on January 28, 2008

Halftime is always a little different for Andrew Ferry.

When the Milwaukee Lutheran boys basketball players head to the locker room and take a seat, awaiting their mid-game speech, Ferry slips off to the side.

He takes out a hand-held machine and pushes a button.  A small needle shoots from the device and into Ferry’s finger and quickly retracts, drawing a tiny blood sample.  The machine then gives Ferry his blood-sugar level, and depending on the reading, he injects a certain amount of insulin into his body before returning to the team.

“When I play, I have adrenaline, which brings my level up,” Ferry said.  “The insulin brings it back down.”

Ferry is a senior guard for Lutheran and leads the team at 18.2 points per game after averaging fewer than 10 a season ago.  He is the team’s do-it-all player and leader.

Ferry is also a diabetic.

He was diagnosed with the disease Jan. 1, 2006.  He didn’t know how to react because he wasn’t sure exactly what diabetes was, but when he found out, his daily routine, diet, attention and purpose changed.

That small prick on his finger happens anywhere between 10 and 15 times a day, depending on how active he is.  The insulin shots follow if needed.  Ferry is always cognizant of his level, checking it before each time he eats, and sometimes adjusting his menu because of it.  He eats more vegetables now.

If blood sugar is too high or low, he can get dizzy, lethargic and light-headed.  “Sometimes it’s annoying,” he said.  “It’s not a big deal.  I just always have to be aware of it.”

It never really interferes with his basketball though.

“There are times when he might have to check his levels, but that’s it,” Lutheran coach Jason Moesch said.  “The kid is such a competitor, I think if he was feeling weird, he might not tell us because he’d have to come out.”

His teammates razz him occasionally, trash talk or call him names; one of the more memorable ones is “Sugar Boy.”  It is all playful and Ferry said it made dealing with things easier.  It is simple locker room high jinks, the same way a kid with a botched haircut might not hear the end of it until the hair grows out.

Except there is no waiting for diabetes to grow out.  It is with him forever.  There is no cure.

The disease has changed the way he attacks life and the game.  Ferry learned to better focus and pay attention in counting his carbohydrate or sugar intake daily.  It is a work ethic and discipline that translates to the gym.

“It helps with everything, basketball and school,” Ferry said.  “Everything I do now has to have a purpose, whether it is eating or making a move (on the court).”

Ferry stood 5 feet 2 inches and weighed 90 pounds as a freshman and was a three-point specialist.  But after last season, he had a ridiculous growth spurt, shooting up 4 inches to 5-11, although he likes to smile and call himself a 6-footer.

With body growth came skill development.  He improved his ball-handling, defense, and one-on-one game.

Now Ferry is an all-around player and earning college interest.  But, those around him say he is an all-around person, not just a ballplayer.

“If I had a son,” Moesch said, “he’d be the kind of son I’d want.  That’s just the person he is.”

One specific topic that I hope we can dialogue about is diabetes and its impact–especially type 1 diabetes (juvenile diabetes) and what young people like my sons, Andrew and Stephen, experience each day.  With that in mind, I was delighted to hear from Bruce even before the book went to press. He has been involved in our marketing effort, and as he became more familiar with the material Bruce found that he had something in common with me.  Thanks for writing, Bruce!

Hi Dr. Ferry,

As we have been working on the poster designs for your book, I have also been reading parts and pieces…very enjoyable.

As I have been playing noon time hoops at CUW for the last 4-5 years and have played a couple times with your sons but never knew that Andrew was Diabetic. I hope Andrew is doing well and keeping is diabetes under control. As the father of a diabetic son, I know all the in and outs of having a diabetic child. My son Ryan was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 3 and is now 24. He is doing great. He has been an athlete all his life and has done everything a non-diabetic kid would every want to do. He also knows how important it is to keep his diabetes in control in the short term and for the long haul. He is now out of college, working and off Mom and Dad’s payroll…hurray. My wife, and I have a lot of experience with diabetic kids and we are always ready to help other diabetic families and share our experiences. If you ever need any info regarding Andrew’s Diabetes please feel free to call at anytime night or day.  Ryan is also available if Andrew would like to talk to him direct.