OUR STORY
Meet Kayla
Kayla is a 12 year old girl with a rare neurological and developmental disorder called Rett Syndrome. Kayla’s Dad, Emmett, was her full-time carer for eight years after she was diagnosed at two. In that time, through continuous research and working with nutritionists and dieticians at The National Children’s Hospital in Tallaght, he has learned the nutritional and functional benefits of a whole variety of foods.
Looking after a busy household with Kayla's mum Paula travelling for work, Emmett found batch cooking to be the simplest way to manage a young family along with a child of very special needs without compromising on taste or nutritional value. Soon after starting, Kayla’s Kitchen began providing delicious meals for friends and family.
Kayla’s uncle Karl, who recently passed away from Motor Neurone Disease, used the delivery service during the last year of his life. This gave him the independence he needed to stay in his own home until just before he passed. Kayla’s grandparents who are in their eighties eat from Kayla's Kitchen every day. They order every two weeks, taking away the stress and hassle of having to plan, shop and cook for themselves each evening. Now, more than ever, this service means they don’t have to leave the house as often, reducing the risk of becoming infected with COVID-19.
SHARING OUR VISION
We wanted to open up Kayla’s Kitchen to others who may benefit from ready-made meals of great quality food.
Kayla’s Kitchen is approved by Missy Kayla (she has a very discerning palette for a 12 year old) and by the Tallaght Hospital Diet Clinic, endorsed by her Consultant Paediatrician, Denise McDonald.
WHAT IS RETT SYNDROME?
Rett syndrome is a rare neurological and developmental disorder resulting in physical and intellectual disability. It affects girls almost exclusively – affecting one in ten thousand female births – and most of the girls affected suffer multiple and severe disabilities. It is characterised by normal early development followed by a period of regression where gross motor skills are lost along with any speech that has been developed. Food is a big part of their lives but they don't absorb the nutrients in the same way as others.
