I saw this on Oprah today and it touched me, unlike most maudlin human interest stories.
It seems a little boy named Aaron lost his beloved twin brother named Eric at age 9, when he died of a brain tumor.
Aaron was inconsolable over the loss of his twin, so rather than just dope him up with antidepressants, his pediatrician asked him what he liked to do and the kid said cooking.
So the doctor gave him $20 to buy cooking supplies and asked for a business plan.
The kid lit up on the way home and his mom took him shopping for cookie supplies.
He named his new company DoughJangles and returned to his doctor the next week with an itemized list of how he spent the $20, and a tray filled with cookies he'd baked.
Aaron then decided to donate a portion of the profits to organizations that had helped his brother as he was dying.
Anyway, Aaron used one of Paula Deen's cookie recipes in his new business. She's his culinary idol and he watches all her shows.
Deen heard about it and appeared on Oprah with Aaron and his mother today to surprise the kid.
Then Paula Deen gave the kid a gift certificate to Lowe's for $10,000 so he could get a new stove, mixers and other gear to grow his cookie business.
She's also flying the kid to Tennessee to tour her studio, watch her live and learn more about her retail businesses.
I hope this kid has a very prosperous and happy life.
I just love sweet, considerate kids who turn tragedies in their lives into triumphs.
Nice story, huh?
