Cerebral Palsy: A Recipe for Success

Last Fall, Chef Jeff Henderson invited culinary students across the country to submit an essay response to win a culinary scholarship. Chef Henderson ran this contest through his Food Network Show, The Chef Jeff Project, and saw approximately 13,000 students submit an essay. The winner of the contest, though a worthy chef, has overcome obstacles tougher than any obstacle faced in the kitchen.

Mical Tachel Terry has a passion for cooking tracing back to watching her mother cook for her family when she was a young child. She was chosen by Chef Henderson as the contest winner and will attend The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Atlanta in hopes of receiving a degree in culinary arts management.

Mical has faced a very serious challenge in becoming a chef and spending her time in a kitchen. When she was only 14 months, Mical was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Mical had to undergo five surgeries along with countless years of exercise and physical therapy necessary in helping her walk unaided.

Upon receiving the announcement of her winning the contest, she said, "Getting a degree in culinary arts will give me a sense of pride and completion, knowing all the struggles my family went through were not in vain, knowing dreams can come true despite my cerebral palsy."

Chef Henderson remarked about Mical, "I chose Mical Terry because of her will to beat the odds, despite her medical setbacks. It was her mission in life to never give up and pursue a dream to one day earn a culinary degree and open a restaurant. So I've selected Mical as the top candidate for The Chef Jeff Project Scholarship."

Mical is another example of a cerebral palsy triumph who has overcome her obstacles to succeed in a desired field of work. Though cerebral palsy is a difficult and non-curable disease, Mical shows how once can overcome these obstacles on the path to success.