Fit for a princess
Ava Gioe admires her cake with her parents Michael and Giannina, and brother Joseph, at her 5th birthday party, which was held at Giovanni's in Scranton.
It was a party fit for a princess, thanks in part to Candy Repsher Knappenberger, a professional area baker and sugar artist.
After pairing up with Icing Smiles, an organization that matches chronically and critically ill children with volunteers who bake and donate unique birthday cakes, Knappenberger helped turn an already special day, into a memorable and wondrous event.
"There's nothing better in the world than to see a child's face light up when they see their cake," Knappenberger said, which is why she was going to deliver the magical Princess-themed cake to Ava Gioe, personally.
"Making someone happy, especially a child" Knappenberger said, "makes my day."
Because the match is made logistically, a child and baker must be within an hour and a half of one another. Knappenberger, who lives in Lehighton, waited six months to be matched to Ava, who lives in Scranton, and was excited about being part of the little girl's birthday, a catered gala planned by her parents, Michael and Giannina Gioe.
As the big day neared, Knappenberger, along with many other volunteers, found themselves anxiously scoping out Ava's Facebook page (A Miracle for Ava), waiting for the news that Ava was released from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and home again.
Ava suffers from Difuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), a type of untreatable brain-stem cancer that affects children between the ages of 2 and 6. Her latest setback launched another hospital stay just five days before the big event.
After 33 radiation treatments, chemotherapy and numerous visits to CHOP since her diagnosis in July 2010, Ava's parents are familiar with the halls of a hospital.
But this most recent stay added another layer of stress, because this visit threatened to rob Ava of attending her 5th birthday party.
Ava returned home at 2 a.m. only two days before her birthday, and Knappenberger, who was simultaneously nearing the completion of a 5-foot-tall wedding cake, found herself having to beat the clock to ensure that Ava's birthday cake for 70 guests would be so wondrous it would give Ava that special moment of happiness that Icing Smiles and Knappenberger were hoping for.
Knappenberger worked watching every minute on the clock. As time ticked by, she painstakingly built the three-tier cake, adding princess detail to each layer. The cake was decorated with all of Ava's favorite colors, and the final touch a sparkling princess tiara.
Despite the short window that Knappenberger had to work, there was never a thought to not finish Ava's cake.
"I will bust my back to make sure this happens," Knappenberger said as she added even more details to an already fabulous cake.
The birthday party, that included a horse-driven carriage and Knappenberger's fabulous Princess cake among the other special touches, truly provided a day of joy for Ava.
"We never doubted that (Ava) would be here for the event," said her mother Giannina, despite Ava's almost continual hospital stays at CHOP since her diagnosis.
Although she cannot speak, Ava showed through her actions that she loved her cake. Several times during the singing of 'Happy Birthday,' she reached out to touch the second tier a bright pink pillow.
Having the opportunity to make Ava's cake gave Knappenberger a real sense of gratification. She initially pursued the career of baker and sugar artist because she loves to bake.
She remembers regularly baking with her mother and Aunt Dort as she grew up, because her father, Paul Repsher, always wanted a piece of cake in his lunch box.
But, her main draw to the profession was the added benefit of making people happy especially children which is why she contacted Icing Smiles.
At Ava's party, Knappenberger met another child undergoing treatment for cancer, and offered to make a special birthday cake for her when she turns 5 next month.
Icing Smiles is the brainchild of Tracy Quisenberry, founder and executive director.
Through her own personal experience of having a child with health problems she found a way to "create cakes that transport kids to a sugary world of fantasy and imagination."
All cakes are donated by people who love to bake. Interested bakers can find more information on Facebook by searching Icing Smiles or visit http://www.icingsmiles.org.
