When Creed Kolasa was featured in a recent article in Up & Coming Weekly that told the story of his battle with a rare ailment called Duchenne’s disease, he wanted to share it with a friend of his.

That friend is Duke University basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski, and last Monday Creed and his family were given the perfect chance to do just that.

Creed, his parents, Jessica and Doren, and brother and sister, Jaren and McKinley, were invited to attend a closed basketball practice at Duke’s Cameron Indoor Stadium.

The audience at practice included other families from Duke Children’s where Creed is being treated, along with boosters who had paid to attend.

Creed’s mother, Jessica, was asked to speak to the group about Creed’s treatment and the work Duke Children’s had done on his behalf.

Creed and his family toured the Duke Hall of Fame in Cameron and stayed for almost the full three hours of the practice.

The children were allowed to go on the court to shoot baskets and talk with the Duke players.

Later, everyone attended a dinner with Krzyzewski where he spoke, took pictures and signed autographs.

McKinley, Creed’s sister, got to sit and talk with Krzyzewski’s wife, Mickie.

McKinley loves softball and learned that Mickie Krzyzewski played softball growing up and in college.

McKinley came away with a signed softball.

Creed returned the favor to Coach Krzyzewski, giving him a signed copy of the Up & Coming Weekly article about Creed that included a picture of him and the coach.

Creed Kolasa, bottom, with brother Jaren, sister McKinley. They are showing the note from Coach Mike Krzyzewski’s daughter, Debbie Savarino, excusing them from school Monday to attend a Duke basketball practice.