2 days Ago By Pat Ruff
ROCHESTER — Harold Nkwelle Mesumbe was recently diagnosed with a rare medical condition — congenital cervical spinal stenosis. Mesumbe, a Rochester John Marshall star senior linebacker, was told of it last week. Doctors made the discovery following an MRI of Mesumbe after he’d complained of weakness in his left arm.
CCSS is a congenital narrowing of the bony anatomy of the cervical spinal canal. Weakness, pain and cramps are among its symptoms. Paralysis can be the result if there is a collision.
ADVERTISEMENT It was the worst news imaginable for Mesumbe, who’d hoped for a breakout season, with college scholarship offers likely to follow for the explosive 5-foot-11, 190-pound senior. But there will likely be no football for Mesumbe this season or ever again, though he is holding out slim hope that a second opinion might render a different recommendation than the one he got from his Mayo Clinic doctor. The strong directive he is sitting with now is that he should never play football — or any collision sport — ever again, fearing paralysis.
It has made for an emotional week for Mesumbe, his JM coaches and teammates. But for Mesumbe especially, this has been heartbreaking. He’d sat out all of last season — per Minnesota State High School League rules — after transferring from Century to John Marshall as a junior.
He played in John Marshall’s opener two weeks ago and excelled. But now, it appears he’s made his final tackle. Mesumbe has leaned on his faith to come to terms with what’s in front of him.
“I’m taking this one day at a time, and looking for God’s guidance,” Mesumbe said. “Coach (head coach Kyle Riggott) texted me a verse that says that God is always at work in you and it is our job to obey his purpose. Reading that made me look at things with a different perspective, that this could open another door for me in the future, and that God always gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers.
” ADVERTISEMENT While leaning on his spirituality has kept Mesumbe afloat, there is no getting around how much football means to him. He spent this entire summer working out, getting much of his work done at ETS Performance. And when he wasn’t pumping iron and working on his speed and agility, Mesumbe could often be found diagnosing game film.
His devotion and infatuation with football was complete. “Harold leads our team in film watched hours per week,” Riggott said. “He is one of the few kids who will text me asking questions about an opponent.
He was always putting in the time. Football had changed his life. He’d really committed himself to the classroom with hopes of being a college player.
Everybody’s football journey ends at some point. But I couldn’t imagine having that journey end near the beginning rather than what (should be) the end. It’s a hobby that he has put so much into.
” Mesumbe’s eyes opened to football when he was in seventh grade and was promoted to the Kellogg Middle School eighth-grade team. Riggott was coaching that group. Not only did Mesumbe’s zest for football go up a notch, but it was the beginning of his huge appreciation for Riggott as a coach, a leader and a mentor.
That appreciation has never waned. ADVERTISEMENT “(Riggott) is why I love the game so much,” Mesumbe said. “He was a guy I could go and talk to about anything.
He was so devoted to the kids. He has been a blessing in my life, helping me grow up. And he has those four pillars that he goes by with us — control what you can control, positivity is contagious, love equals sacrifice and failing is growing.
The standard is the standard with him. He always says, ‘win the day before you win the week.’ He has kids doing the right things.
He’s had a great impact on John Marshall football. “He has changed me into a better person.” Mesumbe is a better person with a big challenge in front of him.
It is, as a high school senior, to now find purpose in life without his No. 1 hobby, football. Riggott communicates with Mesumbe often and wants him to do some pseudo coaching from the sidelines.
Mesumbe likes that idea, but also doesn’t want to be too close to the team right now, for fear that his downcast mood might rub off on his teammates. He wants this season to continue to be a special one for John Marshall. The Rockets are 2-0 and playing their best football in years.
“I still really care about that team,” he said. “I love those guys. I want to be a support for the team, but I’m just not there yet.
” Closest friend and JM teammate Chris Garcia-Lara says he keeps reaching out to Mesumbe, knowing how much he is hurting. ADVERTISEMENT “This has been hard on him,” Garcia-Lara said. “You can see it on him.
It’s impacted him a lot.” Still, Mesumbe is doing his utmost to hang in there and knows he will. Riggott sees him doing all the right things as he comes to terms with his plight.
“Harold has stuck to the principle that you can only control what you can control, and you can control positivity,” Riggott said. “Really, I’ve been surprised by how mature he’s been about things.” A strong soldier indeed.
.
