Dear Pat -

Just finished reading “Faith and the Freshman” – Sarah is reading it now.  Thank you so much for providing the “signed” copy.  A thoroughly delightful and inspirational read.  Plus a lot of nostalgia – I spent 6 years at Concordia, Milwaukee, sixth man on the basketball teams, arrived as a freshman, high school at 4’10″ and 95 lbs., homesick also since we could not go home until Christmas, and Oh so cold — shot hundreds of shots every night when home in the driveway — By the way, my grandmother’s maiden name was Neitzel — And in the 80′s I did seminars at Bob Zehnder’s church in Denver — was impressed with his flower bed in the church courtyard. — always connections in the LCMS. 

As you have a moment, a quick email on Andrew — and I too am diabetic.

God bless,

Mark and Sarah Behring

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

Along with telling some stories and selling a few books, I have had the opportunity to help others get better acquainted with Concordia University.  I also have engaged audiences on the subject of Type 1 diabetes and have asked for their prayers and support in the quest for a cure.

Below is a brief note from a Rotarian whose club I addressed last week.  He is a Cornell alumnus and was excited to learn of Andrew’s plans. 

Hi Dr. Ferry and Andrew, – What a pleasure it was to have you both visit our Rotary of Milwaukee/North Shore meeting last Monday.  As President/Elect for the coming year 2010-2011, and on behalf of all our members, I want to thank you for visiting us and telling us such a marvelous story of faith, as it relates to basketball, family, and life.  It certainly could be theme for any fine sermon as there are many stories connected to this, evident in your book, which I’m reading with great interest.  We hope you had a useful and informative dinner with the new basketball coach at Cornell.  And for Andy, I have alerted my fraternity brothers (Sigma Phi) of Andy’s move to Cornell next year and know that your experience there will be a highlight of your life as you enjoy the people, the team, Ithaca, and in general, all that Cornell will be offering to you.  Thanks again, Dr. Ferry, for your inspiring talk at our meeting and continued success at Concordia as you lead your fine school into the future.  God Bless you and Andy – Owen Perry.

Also below is the list of presentations that have been a part of my recent routine.  Summer’s schedule is filling fast!

• April 7 – New Berlin Noon Rotary
• April 14 – Port Washington/Saukville Basketball Banquet
• April 15 – Barnes & Noble Book Signing at Bay Shore Town Square
• April 16 – Book table at the Women’s Leadership Institute National Conference
• April 17 – Rite -Hite YMCA
• April 21 – Alexian Village Book Club
• April 25 – Christian Athletic Scholarship Banquet
• April 27 – West Bend Sunrise Rotary
• May 11 – Thiensville – Mequon Noon Rotary
• May 19 – Mitchell Field Noon Rotary
• May 24 – Northshore Milwaukee Noon Rotary
• May 27 – Cedarburg/Grafton Noon Rotary
• June 18 -20 – St. John’s College Alumni Reunion
• July 26 – Waukesha Rotary
• October 18-20 – Mid-South District LCMS Professional Church Workers Conference

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

Here’s what Andrew Ferry has to look forward to this year—and potentially the three years that follow.  Long, grueling practices.  Endless weight-lifting sessions and diet restrictions.  Countless hours on a bus.  Curfews, a cramped social life, lost weekends.  And a $30,000 bill to pay.

‘It’s just kind of my dream,’ he said.

Ah, the life of a walk-on.  This is the path Ferry—a 6 foot, 155-pound guard out of Milwaukee—chose when he took Homer Drew up on his invitation to be a walk-on at Valparaiso.

Ferry, a 3-point specialist who set school records from beyond the arc and averaged more than 18 points per game as a senior, had offers from Division II and Division III schools—but he wanted to play Division I basketball.  Always has.  And his only option was to pay his own way, and hopefully earn his way into a scholarship.

‘I think I can do it,’ Ferry said.  ‘I wouldn’t have come if I didn’t think I could.  I think I’m a really hard-working person and I like challenges.  I’m up to it.’

But Ferry’s no dummy—you can’t get into a school such as VU if you are, especially when you’re just a regular run-of-the-mill student, not a high-profile student-athlete on scholarship.  He knows the odds are incredibly stacked against him.  Not everyone—in fact, hardly anyone—can pull off what Dwayne Toatley did eight years ago and earn a scholarship in the middle of his college career.

And Drew, while he didn’t outright puncture Ferry’s dream made sure the freshman realized this fact.  ‘He was more realistic about it,’ Ferry said.  ‘He told me it would be tough, and that he hasn’t had too many guys who had been successful with it.  He didn’t want to discourage me, but he kept it real….’

Maybe sometime down the road, Ferry will face the difficult decision (to transfer).  But for now, he’s ecstatic to be at VU—he first visited as a seventh-grader in a national Lutheran grade school tournament—and playing whatever role he’s asked.

And it is a big role.  An important role.  Just not a high-profile role.  And not a very cost-effective one either.  For now, though, Ferry’s fine with all that.  He knows his role.  ‘My job right now is to help every day and push people to get better,’ he said.  ‘This year’s not going to be my year, and maybe next year won’t, either.  But, my goal is to contribute.’

He will.  The only question is how.

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.”