UCF Elementary Education Alum Turns Chronic Illness into Platform for Education, Community

Highlights

• Mondeson Mondesir '17 has navigated several challenges in his personal life - the death of a parent, extreme weight loss to better his health and a chronic illness diagnosis that derailed his chosen profession - but they've all led him to his path today.

• The elementary education grad started his podcast, The Chronic Brew, to explore topics of chronic illness with patients, caregivers and medical professionals to deepen public understanding and build community among those affected.

• July is Chronic Disease Awareness Month. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, three in four American adults have at least one chronic condition, and over half have more than two.

Few people lose the career that defines them and manage to rebuild it in an entirely new arena. For Mondeson "Moe" Mondesir '17, that reinvention began with a life-altering diagnosis and grew into a global platform for education and advocacy.

After the elementary education grad's chronic kidney disease diagnosis prevented him from teaching in his fourth-grade classroom, Mondesir redirected his passion and expertise into a podcast that helps connect people affected by chronic illness across the globe.

"If you're living with a chronic illness, your life can become a masterpiece - as long as you keep painting."

"If you're living with a chronic illness, your life can become a masterpiece - as long as you keep painting," he says.

Identity Shifts

Mondesir was a criminal justice administration major at UCF when he discovered his was instead meant for a life in education while working at a summer camp in Belize. He found a mentor in senior lecturer Lee-Anne Trimble Spalding '94 '98MEd '12EdD, for whom he once interned at Red Bug Elementary.

"Right before my final exam, I lost my mom," Mondesir says. "Lee-Anne Spalding was the coach I needed to get me through that. She has been the catalyst to my success as a teacher and a major inspiration for my outlook on life."

After graduating with his bachelor's degree, Mondesir worked as a fourth-grade mathematics and science teacher at Seminole County and Lake County Public Schools.

Just a few years into his career, Mondesir's life took another major turn.

While the COVID-19 pandemic was challenging enough to navigate for classroom teachers, Mondesir faced the added hurdle of recurring pneumonia, which prompted his doctor to recommend weight loss in hopes of mitigating his symptoms. After losing over 100 pounds through diet and exercise, Mondesir became ill again and went to the hospital. There, he got bad news.

"The doctor told me my kidneys were filtering at only 24%, which is stage 4 chronic kidney disease," Mondesir says. "I also had malignant hypertension, when you have high blood pressure without feeling any symptoms. When I was working out, my high blood pressure had been damaging the tissue in both kidneys, and I'd had no idea."

"I taught fourth grade for seven years. When that was stripped away, I had to look in the mirror and ask, 'Who am I anymore?'"

Mondesir's condition worsened when his left kidney atrophied and his right one suffered further damage. A renal stent and a partial nephrectomy stabilized his health, but a kidney transplant remained his long-term goal.

During this time, he faced the painful realization that he could no longer work as a schoolteacher.

"When my doctor told me I couldn't keep taking the demands of the classroom, my grief was astronomical," Mondesir says. "I taught fourth grade for seven years. When that was stripped away, I had to look in the mirror and ask, 'Who am I anymore?'"

After earning certification as a kidney health coach, Mondeson Mondesir now teaches CKD-focused classes at a local community center.

Figuring Out a Way Forward

Inspired by his wife, who encouraged him to share his story with others, Mondesir made an account on Instagram under the name Mr. Cool Beans (a reference to the kidneys' shape) and introduced himself as a CKD patient.

Combining his newfound interest with his teaching skills, Mondesir began to research and publish informative posts about kidney health while relaying his personal experiences. Before long, his channel drew the attention of fellow CKD patients eager to connect. His platform has since expanded to be inclusive of anyone living with chronic illnesses - and there are a lot of them.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, three in four American adults have at least one chronic condition and over half have more than two.

In February 2025, Mondesir started his podcast, The Chronic Brew, to explore topics of chronic illness and invite people to share their own perspectives. He's welcomed patients, caregivers and medical professionals, reaching audiences as far away as Ireland, the Netherlands, Vietnam and Hong Kong.

By fostering conversations about chronic illness, Mondesir seeks to deepen public understanding and build community among those affected. He says he also hopes to ease people's anxiety by helping them navigate complex medical information.

"If I can help break down complex terms and concepts, listeners will be more confident walking into any medical situation," he says.

Always an Educator

Eager to expand his work beyond digital spaces, Mondesir earned a kidney health coach certification through the American Kidney Fund as well as a health and wellness coaching credential from the American Fitness Professionals and Associates. Equipped with these qualifications, he began teaching CKD-focused classes at a local community center.

His efforts drew the attention of the Marion County Kidney Foundation, leading to broader community involvement.

Nearly 10 years since Mondesir first interned in her classroom, Spalding says he is just as much an inspiration to her for his tenacity and continued dedication to educating others.

"Moe's kind disposition is infectious," she says.

As Mondesir now waits to qualify for a kidney transplant, he continues to reflect on how living with chronic illness has reshaped his sense of identity and purpose. His motto centers on embracing the good and the bad equally because both lead to growth.

"In a lot of ways, a chronic illness refines us," Mondesir says. "While it takes some things away from you, it also brings you closer to the center of who you are. In that center, you find your strength, your passion and a renewal of your purpose."

More Topics

UCF Alumni College of Community Innovation and Education

New UCF Study Links Microgravity, Space Radiation to Accelerated Aging

UCF Alum Finds Calling in Giving Voice to Heroes of Public Service

UCF Foundation Board Announces New Appointments for 2026-27

UCF Alum Helps Siemens Energy Power What Comes Next

UCF Grads Score Jobs with FIFA World Cup 2026

UCF Scientist Leads Research to Break Through Harmful Bacterial "Fortresses"

Successful Entrepreneur Turns to UCF to Amplify His Impact

UCF Alumnus Makes Epic Mark in the World of Themed Entertainment