Navy’s Ferguson Nearly Died from Childhood Illness
By BILL WAGNER, Staff Writer
That Chris Ferguson has earned a starting spot in the Navy secondary midway through his freshman season is impressive. That Ferguson is even playing football at the Naval Academy is downright remarkable. Some might even call it a miracle.
That’s because Ferguson came close to dying when he was 8 years old. The North Carolina native contracted an illness that came within two days of killing him.
“I remind my son every day that he has a book to write. It is an incredible story and I would think readers would find it very inspirational,” Keith Ferguson said. “God gave Chris a second chance, and he has made the most of it.”
Chris Ferguson went from a normal second grader to an extended stay hospital patient literally overnight. Keith Ferguson tried to wake his son for school and was stunned when the youngster could not stand up.
“Chris kept trying to get up and kept falling down. At first, I thought he was playing because it was a Monday morning and I figured he didn’t want to go to school,” the elder Ferguson said. “I got him off the floor and onto his feet and he collapsed again. That’s when Chris said: ‘Dad, there is something wrong. I can’t stand up on my own.'”
Ferguson was rushed to a hospital in Raleigh, but doctors could find nothing wrong. He was actually sent home for a day, but the symptoms got even worse. This time, Ferguson was admitted to the North Carolina Children’s Hospital in Chapel Hill, where an army of doctors performed a battery of tests and still could not diagnose the condition.
Meanwhile, the former straight A student was withering away. In the span of 10 days, Ferguson dropped from 90 pounds to 45. Keith and Savita Ferguson grew more frightened with each passing day as their son’s skin turned more pale and his eyes became more glazed.
“My son was dying right before our eyes and there was nothing anyone could do about it. Heck, the doctors couldn’t even figure what was wrong with him,” Keith said.
Then came the miracle. One of the North Carolina doctors contacted a friend in New York who was a neurologist. That specialist flew immediately to Chapel Hill and within minutes of examining Chris knew what was wrong.
Ferguson had, for unknown reasons, contracted a rare neurological disorder known as Guillain-Barre Syndrome. That condition, which affects one in 100,000 people and is rarely found in children, causes the body’s immune system to attack the central nervous system. The Ferguson family would learn that Guillain-Barre Syndrome starts at the bottom of the feet and steadily works its way up the body. By the time young Chris was diagnosed, the ailment had reached the rib cage.
“I thank God every day that doctor took the time to fly down from New York because he saved my son’s life,” Keith Ferguson said. “I remember asking him how much longer Chris had, and he said 48 hours. Apparently, once it reaches the respiratory system it’s too late. There’s nothing they can do.”
Chris Ferguson underwent multiple plasma injections and the new blood calmed the immune system. While out of danger of dying, the youngster faced an arduous recovery that proved more challenging than anyone could imagine.
“By the time they finally got Chris stabilized, a lot of damage had been done,” Keith said. “He was like an infant again. He was 8 years old and wearing a diaper. At first, we had to pick him up and put him in a wheelchair.”
Chris Ferguson had lost almost all of his memory and had to relearn how to walk and talk. Just like a baby, Ferguson started by crawling before slowly graduating to a walker, then crutches then leg braces.
“We had to teach him all the basic skills all over again – how to eat, how to talk, how to go to the bathroom,” Keith said. “It was a long, difficult process, but fortunately there were a lot of family and friends who provided help and support along the way.”
Ferguson’s mental and physical recovery took two years. He remembers going to rehabilitation every day and will never forget the moment in fifth grade when he ran for the first time in three years.
“I remember being in the hospital for a long time then the rehabilitation center. I remember having to learn how to walk, learn how to do just about everything, all over again. At first, I didn’t even know my parent’s names, didn’t know the difference between an apple and an orange,” Ferguson said. “Looking back now, I think about how blessed I am just to be able to run. You tend to take the little things like that for granted. That experience, I wouldn’t want anybody to go through it, but I definitely matured a lot from it.”
Keith Ferguson pushed his son to start playing football in the seventh grade, just so he could experience athletics and be part of a team. Chris Ferguson hated football at first because he struggled to perform even the most basic skills.
However, a steady transformation took place and by the time Ferguson was a sophomore at West Johnston High (Angier, N.C.), he was one of the best players on the varsity. Ferguson was the starting quarterback at West Johnston as a junior and senior and was recruited by the likes of East Carolina, North Carolina Central and North Carolina A&T.
Ferguson was more intrigued by the offer to play football at the Naval Academy, which was extended by defensive coordinator Buddy Green. He was swayed by the guaranteed career after graduation.
After spending a year at the Naval Academy Prep School, Ferguson arrived in Annapolis and immediately began to impress. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound safety was physical and aggressive during August camp, earning a spot on several special teams. Green saw enough through five games to insert Ferguson into the starting lineup at free safety against Rutgers last Saturday.
Ferguson was nothing short of sensational in his first career start, forcing a fumble at the goal line to thwart a Rutgers scoring opportunity then later making an interception and returning it 16 yards for a touchdown. He also was credited with four tackles.
“Chris did a lot of good things on Saturday. He showed a lot of poise and made a lot of plays,” Green said. “What impressed me the most was the intelligence and instincts he displayed. He recognized different formations and made all the right calls, all the right adjustments.”
Green only recently learned what Ferguson went through as a child and was stunned to discover how close he came to dying.
“It really is an unbelievable story. The determination and drive Chris had to learn how to walk, then run, then play sports again,” Green said. “That takes a lot of mental toughness and helps explain why he carries himself with a tremendous amount of confidence.”
Ferguson does not remember too much about the entire experience, but agrees the ordeal has instilled a certain attitude. “With my life being on the line back then, now when I’m out on the field I feel like I have nothing to lose. That’s why I put it all on the line and I don’t have any fear,” he said.
Courtesy of HometownAnnapolis.com
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