SIDNEY — A graduate of Piqua Catholic High School, John E. Ferman, will join the Lehman Catholic High School Alumni Association’s Lehman Hall of Fame. This year’s five inductees will be honored during Lehman Hall of Fame festivities, Aug. 6.
Ferman, a 1963 graduate of Piqua Catholic High School, is the president of Chronic Pain Partners, a nonprofit organization. He created this national EDS-awareness program in 2011 with his daughter, Deanna, who is on disability with hypermoble EDS. They help support, connect and educate those with a genetic disorder called Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) and their caregivers.
Ferman and his wife are active in their parish community at St. Susanna’s Catholic Church in Mason. Ferman has two children, Debirah Godwin and Deanna Hamm.
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a genetic, connective tissue disorder affecting collagen, which supports skin, bones, blood vessels and other organs. Defects in the collagen protein cause the multi-systemic signs and symptoms of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, which vary from mild to severely disabling, and sometimes life-threatening complications. Comorbidities may include: POTS/dysautonomia, gastroparesis, Chiari malformation, and more.
There are six major types of EDS: hypermobility, classical, vascular, kyphoscoliosis, arthrochalasia, and dermatosparaxis. The hypermobility type is the most common. Marfan syndrome is an example of a connective tissue disorder having symptoms similar to vascular EDS.
Prevalence estimates vary widely. EDS is often undiagnosed or misdiagnosed due to a lack of education about the disorder. EDS experts believe that the actual prevalence may be as high as 1 in 500 to 1 in 100 and extrapolate that only 5 percent of EDS cases is recognized.
Ferman developed and singly manages the EDS awareness website at www.edsawareness.com to provide a method to help form and support local EDS groups. He has set up a network of more than 100 local EDS support groups in the continental U.S. Seven groups are in Ohio, three in Australia, three in Canada, one in the United Kingdon and one in Anchorage, Alaska. He provides coaching and six web pages to promote their group. The program is free to users. Most members are on disability and have difficulty managing household and medical expenses.
Ferman and his daughter host live webinars typically twice monthly. EDS medical experts from the U.S., U.K., France and Italy span 18 specialties and address more than 50 topics affecting EDS patients.
Ferman is developing an online CME/CEU training program for doctors, nurses and physical therapists interested in learning more about treating connective tissue disorders like Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
Since beginning this tradition, the Hall of Fame committee has sought to honor not only alumni but outstanding faculty and supporters of Lehman Catholic. The Hall of Fame evening will begin with Mass at 5:15 p.m. in the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Chapel on campus. Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be served at 6 p.m. with dinner to follow at 6:30 p.m. in the Virgil Heitmeyer Gymnasium.
This year’s inductees also include a former educator, a lawyer and two Lehman staff members: John M. Garmhausen, Mike and Joyce Hughes and Kenneth H. Schlater.
For tickets to the Hall of Fame dinner, contact Shelley Vanskiver at 937-726-2510 or [email protected].
