What type of sandwich do you want?
Ooh, can I have tomato on it?
Sure
I'm Alyssa, I'm 19 years old, and I'm a culinary student
at Johnson and Wales University.
Cooking's a passion of mine and I've been doing it
since I can remember.
I've always watched Emeril and Bobby Flay.
They're really big inspirations of mine.
I like Emeril's style.
He's very bubbly and I like it when he says Bam.
Bam!
Yes!
Knowing that Emeril went to Johnson and Wales University,
it makes me excited for what great things are to come.
I started school in September and about three weeks later
my life changed.
I was in class.
I knew something wasn't right,
but I didn't know what exactly.
I was dizzy, I couldn't really see straight,
and I passed out.
Alyssa had not even been at school for a month
and I got the worst phone call
that any parent will ever receive.
Your child's in the hospital,
and you need to come up.
And we are five hours away.
I woke up in the hospital and I couldn't see very well.
I couldn't speak well.
I didn't feel right,
and I was confused as to what was going on.
It was a blood clot that formed in her heart,
traveled to her brain, and broke up in both hemispheres
of her brain.
She had multiple strokes
and that triggered multiple seizures.
It was scary because I was thinking things,
but I just couldn't repeat it to other people.
Seeing Alyssa for the first time
after her stroke was terrifying.
We walked in
and just wanted to remain calm and strong for her,
but inside we were just falling apart.
I found a lemon chicken salad
Ooh that looks yummy.
When the doctors sat me down with my parents,
they explained to me that it's best that I recover
for as long as it takes
and with that I'd have to leave school
and become on medical leave.
They felt pretty good that she would have a full recovery,
and she actually is just about there,
and that's some of the best news we've received this year.
My goal for the future
is to go back to school and to become a chef.
Give us the good news.
Are you getting back to school soon?
Yes, I'm going back to school next month.
How proud are you of her
and how far she's come so quickly!
It doesn't seem like a short time.
It's been a long road emotionally.
I'm so excited for her.
When she was in the hospital she said,
I want to go back to school mommy,
I want to go back to school,
and I said I will get you there.
I will get you back to school, and she's going!
And here it is!
she's going!
It's right around the corner.
All right.
What are you most excited about going back to school.
Do you know where you're going to dive in?
You gonna just start the whole thing over again or what?
So I'm going back and I'm having my academic classes,
and then next year in September
I'm going to have the culinary courses again.
The hands on
Yes
So I was told by our crack team of producers
that you love sauce bearnaise,
you want to make a steak bearnaise.
First of all, let me just say I tried very hard,
I know him very well.
I tried desperately to get Emeril
for you today since you really wanted to be cooking
with him, but Emeril is traveling,
I'm sure in the years that you are in school we will be able
to arrange that at some point.
Right, you're seeing our team nod and promise.
Am I okay?
Yes.
Am I okay?
Yes.
Okay, chef will you start by separating some eggs for us?
Sure.
Okay?
Let's see how she cracks an egg shall we?
(audience cheering)
Oh my God!
Hi Rach.
Emeril!
Of course he's here!
Of course he's here!
Everything since the day I started selling stuff,
a portion of the proceeds have gone to our foundation
and to our Yum-O! Organization.
Well on behalf of our Yum-O! Organization
and with the help of our partners
at the National Restaurant Association
Educational Foundation, they are our partners,
they help us facilitate this, we are going to give you
a 20 thousand dollars scholarship for culinary school.
Thank you!
Just to get her going again.
All right!
