Ellen B.'s Heroes Have Their Cake, and Eat it, Too!

Contributed by: Dina Santos, Rehab and Recovery Facilitator

For the last four and a half years, Ellen B., a Fellowship Health Resources Fall River Network (FRN) person served, has shown that the way to one’s heart is truly through their stomach. You see, Ellen is a baker. Moreover, the cakes she bakes are representative of the heroes in her life.

“My heroes are dignified people, someone I can respect,” says Ellen. “They are people I really love and can look up to, a role model. My heroes are those I wish I could be like.” In appreciation for all that her heroes are to her, she bakes them a very special cake, her “Hero Tree Cake.”

Making this special cake takes some time. First baking, then cooling, then frosting. “It’s the frosting part that takes so much time,” she says. “I call it the ‘Hero Tree Cake’ because I sculpt an actual tree on the cake out of frosting.” Ellen sees the tree as a symbol, much as she does her heroes. “A tree can withstand all types of weather; it is strong. I look up to trees in awe, just as I do my heroes.”

Creating these cakes keeps Ellen quite busy as she bakes them for her loved ones’ birthdays and other important occasions. Although it can be hard work, Ellen feels that it is all worth it. “The cake comes from my heart and soul,” she says. “It represents how important each person is to me.”