"Andy and the Beats" is a story of hope and encouragement in the face of adversity. The goal is to teach kids the importance of being patient and persistent in their journey to understand how to live with a chronic illness. I want kids to grapple and grow with empathy as they face new challenges through adolescence, whether physical, mental, or emotional.

Author, Andy Rogers is a physician assistant and founder of My Friend Andy LLC, a production company focused on health education and entertainment. Andy is a graduate of The University of Tennessee and Mercer College of Health Professions. Andy was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (The Beats!) in 2004 and his sister, Kelli, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1998. Andy is from Kingsport, TN and works at Performance Medicine, an integrative health clinic and family business. "Andy and the Beats" is based on the full-length musical of the same name.