Fernando Mendoza’s rise to college football stardom is rooted in a deeper pursuit. Athletes draw inspiration from many sources. Some are found in the locker room; others come from outside the stadium. For instance, loved ones with diseases like MS and how they combat it.
Fernando Mendoza’s Mother, Elsa, Battles MS as Son Fights Alongside Her
As Mendoza leads his team onto the field against Oregon, the hopes of the fan base rise. At the same time, the Heisman Trophy winner faces another ongoing challenge off the field. With his surname on the back of his jersey and eyes on the prize, the signal caller draws motivation from his mother, Elsa, who currently uses a wheelchair due to her long-term battle with multiple sclerosis.
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder that affects myelin, the protective covering surrounding nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. This disease interrupts the nervous system’s ability to relay signals to the rest of the body. Mrs. Mendoza received her diagnosis almost twenty years ago. Despite living with the diagnosis for these years, she has raised a family.
Recently, Fernando began using his growing platform to raise money to combat the disease affecting his mother. While the starting quarterback at California, he launched “Mendoza Burrito” in partnership with local Berkeley restaurant La Burrita.
Additionally, he began contributing a portion of his NIL money to the National MS Society. This connection between his mother’s fight and his own actions came into sharp focus when Mendoza, a redshirt junior, openly reflected on her battle.
“She battles it every single day, and she is my light and inspiration because no matter what, no matter how hard it gets, she always maintains this unwavering positivity and influence in our lives. She’s my example of always having that positivity and always having the optimistic approach.”
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As the months and years pass, multiple sclerosis, a progressive disease, grows more challenging. Yet, Mrs. Mendoza found strength to share their bond by penning a letter in “The Players Tribune” to articulate the connection with her son.
“Honestly, it will never be easy. But you’ve made it so much easier. And you’ve done that in the sweetest, strongest, most Fernando way possible, by making me feel the exact opposite of embarrassed. You’ve made me feel seen.”
Indiana finished No.1 on PFSN’s CFB Offense Impact rankings, which measure production and efficiency. During the COVID pandemic, Mrs. Mendoza’s condition worsened and further limited her daily life. Despite this setback in recent years, her words show the disease has not diminished her spirit.
Tomorrow, as Oregon serves as Indiana’s latest opponent, Mendoza faces challenges on the field. At the same time, nothing on the gridiron compares to the adversary his mother contends with in MS. Yet, through all of that, he uses her battle as motivation to overcome obstacles.
