The Wilson Post
LEBANON WEATHER

Food for the soul




 

 

He gently carried the scared toddler down the hall to a room at the hospital because Kory was struggling to breathe and was scared of a “moving bed.”

He gently carried the scared toddler down the hall to a room at the hospital because Kory was struggling to breathe and was scared of a “moving bed.”

Three years ago Mt. Juliet Fire Chief Jamie Luffman met little Korey, then 3, under the usual “not the best of circumstances” as a veteran ER worker at TriStar Summit Medical Center.

Korey’s mom, Latrice Phipps, captured the poignant moment in the empty hallway on her cell phone camera, unbeknownst to Jamie until recently.

Jamie, now a fire chief, and Korey, now 6 years old, reunited Saturday when the little chef brought him homemade cupcakes at Fire Station 3. Latrice said her adopted son (she just calls him her son) is a full on “foodie” and needed an outlet to escape his struggle to read.

In addition to bringing cupcakes to the “neat man” that was so nice to him during his asthma attack years ago, Korey is just as much a fan of Food Network star Rachel Ray.

 

 

Adores the Food Network star

“It’s been a lifelong dream to be on Rachel Ray’s show since he was three,” said the mother also of 16-year-old Kayla and Keaton, 15. “I just found all my pots, pans cups and old fast food bags in Korey’s room. He told me he was playing restaurant with his brother. His brother happens to be non-verbal and autistic. Korey just treats him like everyone else.”

The youngster’s dream to be alongside bubbly Rachel Ray on her daytime cooking show got one step closer a few weeks ago when the food star’s team called Kory and Latrice and interviewed them for over an hour. They also emailed pictures Korey.

“Rachel is always asking people to let her know about want-to-be young chefs,” Latrice said. “Korey is definitely a want to be! So we contacted her. Now, Korey is 100-percent confident he’ll be invited on her show!”

They’ve even set up a “Get Korey on Rachel Ray” Facebook page that features Korey in small tutorial videos dishing cooking advice – like cooking bacon in the oven – and basically being charming and authentic, much more mature than most 6 year olds.

 

 

Korey started watching other cooking competitions for kids, but his heart is with Rachel. He said he was in the kitchen trying to cook and he made a discovery, “Mom! You don’t have any Rachael Ray stuff!,” he said. “I don’t see orange anywhere!”

Mom quickly ordered some official Rachael Ray utensils and told him he had a surprise at home.

“I told him to empty the dishwasher and he found his Rachael Ray gift. He was so happy,” said Latrice”‘Thank you, Rachel for sending me these!’ I had to tell him it was me.”

Latrice, who lives in Lebanon and works in engineering at the Beretta facility, is a busy mom and newlywed these days. She said Korey was just 2 years old when she found him on her kitchen floor with a 50-pound bag of dog food, vanilla pudding mix and an entire bottle of pancake mix – working diligently on a new recipe.

 

 

“Korey is a different and special little boy,” said his mom. “He has a hard time reading, and I wanted him to gain confidence and do something that would reach out to others.”

Korey began watching Rachel Ray at 3 years old at his babysitters.

“He’s worked by my side for years in the kitchen and helps me get dinner ready,” Latrice said quietly. “He just goes on and on about how he loves to help and serve people. I decided to expand his reach and encourage him and show him examples of what he could do for others. The world could use more good news days.”

Celebrate police, firemen and paramedics, too

She brought up the idea of making cupcakes for police officers. However, Korey wanted to augment that idea.

“He was adamant we take them to the crew of ambulance people and firemen, too,” Latrice said.

That morphed into planned contests on Korey’s Facebook page to encourage others to share their stories of good they’ve seen others do.

 

 

“I think we need to see the good in others’ hearts more,” she said.

The nice man who comforted and “fixed” Korey when he couldn’t breathe three years ago at Summit was Saturday’s recipient of cupcakes. Korey and his mom delivered the blue icing little cakes to Station 3 where Jamie waited. While he waited he remembered taking care of Korey during the asthma attack.

“A sweet 3 year old kid,” he recalled. “He has some challenges, plus asthma. You have to step up and focus on cases like his. With asthma, it can be a short trip south. Breathing is fundamental.”

Jamie made sure to visit Korey’s room the ensuing days at the hospital.

“I was just one person and one part of a great team there at Summit,” said Luffman, who has since stopped rotations there to be the full-time fire chief in Mt. Juliet.

When Korey delivered the blue cupcakes, Jamie said he had a huge smile on his face and laughed when teased the next delivery should be red icing to match the “big red fire truck.”

 

 

Kory got to dress up as a fireman, climbed into that red fire truck and even got a salute from the chief.

“This is the kind of stuff it’s all about,” Luffman said. “We gave him the full treatment and a care package. It touched my heart, especially when he looked up and saluted me. It’s not all about numbers and statistics. It’s about sharing and potential. The sparkle in Korey’s eyes put a special shine on that red truck. This is why we do it.”

And while it was a big college football day Saturday, Luffman shrugged it off with a laugh.

“Saturday was way more important than a ball game. A ball game pales in comparison.”

Mother embodies compassion

What doesn’t pale now and in the future is Latrice’s family’s outreach. Her daughter loves taking care of others in the Dominican Republic during mission trips.

Latrice three years ago donated a kidney to childhood friend Melanie Moore, also from Lebanon.

 

 

“I don’t want this to be about being ‘cool’ or something,” she said. “We want to simply encourage others to share good news and show love to others.”

There are so many ways to spread encouragement, she added.

They just try to cover it all, from donating a kidney to simply making cupcakes.

Oh, and when Rachel Ray calls, Corey will certainly “put a shine” on her set as well.

Writer Laurie Everett can be reached at laurieeverett1@gmail.com.

 

 

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