A Happy Life

April 2017

EDISON - Following a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, an Edison teacher is living a life of inspiration .

Township resident Michael Joseph Fernandez, 36, a health and physical education teacher for 13 years at his alma mater, James Monroe Elementary School, has incorporated rigorous exercise routines and healthy living tips into his classroom instructions. He has created exercise videos, three books and a fitness guide for children. He also has authored two cookbooks for adults.

"If you can pull a silver lining out of this, it definitely focused me," he said. "If you can keep your body in the best shape possible, no matter what happens to you, your body will recover faster — whether it's a common cold, a broken bone or MS. That's the main reason why I want to teach health, fitness and wellness, just so everybody can live a happy life and add years to their lives, but also life to their years."

Fernandez, along with members of his team, Michael's Strength, will participate in a Walk MS on April 30 at Veterans Park in North Brunswick. Other Walk MS events will be held next weekend around the state.

Fernandez has received various awards for his efforts, including receiving Edison's Hidden Hero award this year and being named the 2012 MS Society Most Inspirational Walker and the James Monroe 2012- 2013 Teacher of the Year.

After he was named Edison's Hidden Hero, Principal Lynda Zapoticzny wrote in the school newsletter that the Hidden Hero award highlights those staff members who best exemplify what the Edison School District represents.

She spoke about Fernandez and said he "takes advantage of each new day because he knows he will be teaching valuable lessons as well as learning them himself."

"Michael believes it is important to get up and keep moving, and states that he would be here every day even if it meant crawling in order to work with the children of this school community," she said.

"Congratulations, Mr. Fernandez, on this well-deserved honor," she wrote in the newsletter.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society website. The cause of MS is still unknown — scientists believe the disease is triggered by as-yet-unidentified environmental factor in a person who is genetically predisposed to respond, the website said. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted, the website said.

In college, Fernandez was overweight. He realized he had to make a change. As a result of his newly adopted healthy living attitude, he decided to switch career paths and focus his studies on becoming a health and physical education teacher.

"I wanted to grab kids when they were young," he said.

In 2006, Fernandez became ill.

"I fell asleep, woke up the next day and saw two of everything," he said.

He was eventually diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

"I never really heard much about it at the time," he said. "The guy that told me was sitting across from me saying matter-of-factly, 'you're going to be all right for a little while, then you're going to have to use a cane and in about 10 years you're going to be in a wheelchair.'

"I was 25. I was so mad, not really because he was telling me this, but because he tells everybody that goes to that office the same thing — there is no hope. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Because I see 500 kids every day, I realized that I have to step up my game, so hopefully they can avoid or prolong meeting a doctor like this."

Fernandez said he was told he had to start medication. He opted for once-a-week injections, which left him with severe headaches, overheated and lethargic.

"After seven years, my liver became inflamed and I was told to stop the medication," he said.

After reviewing a study that said "there could be a possible link that these peoplegot better being on a plant-based diet and taking care of themselves," Fernandez said he made "an educated decision" to change his diet. He also hasn't taken medication in four years.

"It's been working for me," he said. "God forbid something happens later on, I really do believe it will be less severe and hopefully I can recover faster."

Fernandez's girlfriend and biggest supporter, Kristi Drude, a second-grade teacher at James Madison Primary School, joined him in his quest to live a healthier lifestyle after having a hypoglycemic incident when she consumed one sugary drink, Fernandez said. She also was diagnosed with a thyroid issue.

Author and illustrator 

Fernandez then decided to take his healthy living initiatives to the next level.

"One day, while adding peppers and onions into a saute pan, I realized I wanted to do more," he said. "I imagined a super hero flying by and getting buried down in all this debris and thought how can he get out."

That was the premise behind his first book, "Nando the Healthy Hero vs. the Quesadilla Crooks," in which Nando, while helping his mom in the kitchen, imagines a whole new world where the food comes to life.

"Every time they add ingredients, something else happens in Nando's Imagination," he said.

The book is designed to promote healthy eating habits, quality family time and using one's imagination, he said.

He authored and illustrated two other books in the series — "Nando the Healthy Hero vs. the Pizza Pirates" and "Nando the Hero vs. the Pasta Predators."

Using artwork from his books, he made videos. He also made fitness cards, which come separately or enlarged in his book, "50 Fitness Cards."

And for adults, he authored the "Game Day Pizza" cookbook and "Eat Healthy, Live Well."

He was assisted in the creation of two of his books by Drude.

And Fernandez still wanted to do more.

The school used to offer physical education class three days a week, but it has been cut to only two days a week, he said.

"Now I'm trying to fill in that gap and let those kids know we can get out there and have fun," he said. "Video games have their place and TV has its place, but first and foremost we want to move, we want to play and we want to be active. The sooner they are exposed to exercise and a healthy diet, the better."

During a recent visit to his fourth-grade class, students spent the first 14 minutes of class engaged in rigorous exercises, such as the crab walk, jogging and curl-ups, as one of Fernandez's videos played overhead on a big screen.

Derek Dudek, 9, said the workout was pretty hard, but he enjoyed it.

"When I get done, I feel better," he said. "I like working out. It keeps you in good shape and gets you healthier."

Mia Manana, 9, thought the workout was "pretty good."

"If you get a lot of exercise, you get stronger," she said, adding, "If you're not healthy, you may have health problems earlier."

Fernandez and Drude also host lectures. "Eat Healthy to Live Well" will be presented at 7 p.m. May 22 at the Woodbury Public Library, 33 Delaware St., Woodbury.

Fernandez also is hoping to spread his message of hope to others with MS.

"I want them to have some sort of hope that if you eat healthier, maybe it will be less severe or you'll have fewer attacks," he said. "It's a personal decision, but I just want them to have the information. It's a devastating, devastating disease."

He said he and Drude are starting a nonfiction book for adults on walking and healthy eating.

"I think I can probably turn it into something like that for kids," he said. "If we can get the parents and the kids onboard, then maybe they can help each other."

For additional information, visit nandothehealthyhero.com. For additional information on Multiple Sclerosis, visit nationalmssociety.org.

Staff Writer Susan Loyer: 732-565-7243; sloyer@gannettnj.com