“I started baking when I was very little,” says Maddie Feder. “On library days in school, others would check out stories or novels … I’d check out cookbooks.”
Her passion for baking would continue to grow over the years, and today, she says the kitchen can also serve as a distraction. “From pain, from illness, from stress … from life.”
Maddie, who graduated from Loveland High School in 2017, has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. The condition affects her connective tissue and joints, which in turn impacts her mobility and ability to move swiftly about, especially in the kitchen.
But that hasn’t stopped her from crafting culinary treats and irresistible confections.
“I’ve had to learn to do things from a sitting position,” she explains, regarding her need to better position appliances. “Everything that was so automatic to me in the past has had to be relearned. I’ve had to figure out how to do things in a different way … I’m constantly learning new or more efficient ways to do tasks.”
The result? Maddie’s skills in the kitchen haven’t gone unnoticed. She already happily accepts orders from friends, and has enjoyed participating in craft shows as her health allows. “I mostly used my baking in the beginning for fundraising out of my driveway,” she smiles. “All the money I raise or earn either goes toward uncovered medical costs or my service dog, Daisy.”
Then there’s the Loveland community itself, Maddie continues, which has been “amazing and supportive” in championing her work.
Brian Garry, vice president of the Loveland Legacy Foundation, reflects on how this local organization got involved. The nonprofit was able to help Maddie with a grant for training Daisy, but Brian didn’t stop there. “It felt like there was more we could do,” he says. “The more I interacted with her and her family, the more I knew there were some things that would just make life a little easier. Maddie’s parents are like all of us—they just want the best for their kids.”
After visiting the family at home, it was clear to Brian that the house’s current layout and flooring weren't ideal for Maddie and her wheelchair.
“Kevin Egan and I pulled together a few guys with big hearts and tool belts, and spent a weekend ripping up carpet, laying a new wood laminate flooring, widening doorways, painting, and cleaning up some trees from their backyard,” he reports. “All with generous financial support from both LLF and several local businesses.”
“The Loveland Legacy Foundation has gone above and beyond to make our house more accessible and the floors easier for me to maneuver on,” Maddie explains. “They even initiated a card, letter and art drive to bring sunshine to my darker days.”
Maddie also credits Eric and Yvonne Boltz from BoltzStrong with providing the support and motivation she needed. “They encouraged me to keep baking, despite my disability.” The couple introduced her to their own fully handicap-accessible kitchen at their Boltz to Nutz Farm, which Maddie describes as having moving cabinets, a roll-under oven and stove, and adapted cooking utensils. Maddie plans to continue as a volunteer there, and possibly even teach a baking class or two in the future.
Because for Maddie, it’s about giving back to the community with the talents she has.
“Baking is a way for me to use my love of art and bring a smile to others. I’m always surprised by what I’ll be asked to make, so it’s a fun challenge ... it keeps things new and interesting.”
Her advice for anyone apprehensive of taking on new kitchen projects?
“Just have fun knowing that you’ll bring a smile to someone you love,” she says with a smile of her own.
“I often hear people say, ‘I can’t bake,’ and then I find out it’s because something was estimated, or skipped, or replaced,” she explains. “When cooking, it can be a lot easier to make up recipes and amounts as you go, or to simply replace things, and it turns out just fine sometimes.”
But baking, she says, is a science. “Exact measurements are very important, and I suggest reading through a recipe before you even start.”
“Patience is key!” Which includes watching Maddie’s Facebook page for the occasional pop-up sale or open online ordering for her confectionary creations.
Most important, she explains, is to understand that kitchen perfection isn’t an all-important end-goal. “It’s okay if it’s not perfect … it’s the thought that counts,” she says. “My joy comes from the happiness or satisfaction of others.”
“BoltzStrong encouraged me to keep baking, despite my disability.”
“Baking is a way for me to use my love of art and bring a smile to others.”