Allrecipes Cook to Follow: Avery Ella

We teamed up with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital® to mark this holiday season with inspiring stories from St. Jude patients who love to cook. Say hello to Avery Ella!

About me: I am Avery Ella, I am 12 years old and I got cancer when I was 6. I went to treatment at St. Jude for more than 2 and a half years. I'll go back to Memphis this November for my check up.

My cooking story: During treatment I had always loved watching Food Network. My Mom and I would talk about the recipes we liked and all the restaurants we wanted to visit. When I was younger, I would go over to my Nana's, and I loved to watch her cook. Our whole family loves cooking…and eating!

My favorite foods: Chicken and dumplings, stir fry, sushi, bacon wrapped meatloaf.

Describe a typical dinner with your family: We normally grab our food and sit down at the table, then we say prayers, and then eat. While eating we normally talk about our day, and we compliment my mom about how good the food is. 😂

My favorite things to do: Draw, paint, sew, cook (when I get the chance!). I also love baking as well.

What I love most about the holidays: I love seeing my family and friends!

Best holiday memory: On Easter, baby ducks hatched! They were so cute!

What I want to do when I grow up: I honestly don't really know. Most likely something that would fit with what I like to do.

If I could have a superpower: It would be the ability to pause time, it would be so helpful.

My closest thing to an actual superpower: Making things/people that don't exist through art.

My favorite food from St. Jude: The mac and cheese.

If I had to describe St. Jude in one word: Amazing.

My advice for kids going through what I did: Everything looks scary at first, but you just have to keep going.

Best advice I ever got: The best thing to do if someone is being mean is to ignore them.

Best advice I ever gave: Respect others so they respect you.

Allrecipes is thrilled to be teaming up with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital® in support of its lifesaving mission: Finding cures. Saving children.® We hope you will Join Allrecipes in Supporting St. Jude, giving generously, to help kids like Avery Ella and Dakota. Read their inspiring stories—and then give what you can by simply clicking the donate button.