Andrea's Allergen-Friendly Baking Wish
Like chocolate and caramel, 8-year-old Andrea pairs with celebrity chef, Anna Polyviou to bake a delicious wish
Recipe for a Wish
Take a child with a considerate nature, mix in their aspirations to become a pastry chef, plus a sprinkle of hope, a dash of joy, and a teaspoon of inspiration, and you get 8-year-old Andrea!
Andrea has had a passion for baking and decorating since before the days of COVID-19. But being dairy-free and allergic to nuts, she knows all too well about not being able to enjoy cake or other yummy goods at birthday parties and celebrations.
Being the thoughtful person that she is, she wished “To learn how to bake allergen friendly sweets and desserts for my family and friends”. Andrea wants to share her knowledge with others through her Instagram account where she shares content of what she creates in the kitchen. All so that no one feels left out and they can enjoy special treats in their tummies too!
Rising Above her Medical Journey
Andrea was born with a condition called biliary atresia and was diagnosed at around six weeks of age. Three weeks later, she had her first surgery, which sadly, was not as successful as Andrea's family and her medical team had hoped for. This resulted in a life-saving liver transplant.
Her recovery was slow and steady, but Andrea's mum, Paola said, "This was really hard as a family, but throughout her recovery, Andrea always had a smile on her face, and this gave us all so much hope!"
Six months following the transplant, Andrea required emergency surgery, where her medical team discovered a cancerous tumour in her intestines - she was diagnosed with post-transplant lymphoma, which required treatment and chemotherapy.
"As a parent, seeing your child going through so much is just heartbreaking. Andrea was so little, but so brave!" said Paola.
We are so happy to announce that Andrea is now cancer-free!
Not only did Andrea's wish bring her so much joy, but it made her feel like she could be an inspiration; that what she went through made her stronger and she can bring hope to others.
Paola Andrea's mum
A Jelly Good Time
To tart off her wish, Andrea and her family were invited to the ‘glass brasserie and wine bar’ at the Hilton Hotel in Central Sydney. Here Andrea was greeted (with a big hug!) by award-winning pastry chef and known personality, Anna Polyviou for an afternoon of baking in a professional kitchen!
Anna loves to “make sweet dreams come alive”, and what butter way to do so, then by helping to make Andrea’s wish come true?
Together the pair had a jelly good time, making ‘Rock n’ Roll Sausage Rolls’, donuts, and other yummy treats, which were then shared with the family for afternoon tea. The icing on top was an overnight stay at the hotel for Andrea’s whole family.
