My name is Maleah Oddessa Parker. I was diagnosed with a stage 4 hernia. My organs had moved into my chest and started pressing into my heart. And rotating. Suffocating me from the inside out. But this wasn't my first rodeo. I was born this way. Had surgery when I was a baby because of this. I was born with a hernia, a closed lung, and the other one partially closed. I survived, beating the odds against me since I had a 12 percent chance. They said I wouldn't be able to walk. Eat. Speak. At all on my own. But my parents got me through that and I was good by three. But here we go again. We got through it again. But it still wasn't fun. But after surgery, I was better. But not completely. I couldn't enjoy spicy foods, acidic foods, or eat as fast as I used to. My esophagus was weak. My acid reflux was terrible. Making it hard for me to consume the foods I loved and wanted to eat. I couldn't go to cookouts and even missed a BBQ fair while I was in the hospital for a week. But this just encouraged me. I wanted to be a help to people who need help with their eating. So I want to be a Private Chef for Athletes. I'm currently 16. But I wanna skip my senior year to go to ICE (Culinary Institute of America) in Manhattan New York. I was inspired by my Mom, who's a boxer (Her name's Melissa Oddessa Parker). She has meal plans. And learning what foods can do for someone's body is fascinating. Learning all the little details I can and absorbing them. I've seen what a good meal can do for people. And as I'm getting stronger myself, I want others to grow as well. Maybe the next big athlete will be from my hometown, Spring Texas. Or someone who's Puerto Rican, Hispanic, or African American. I just want to be a help and do something I love. Cook healthy food. Keep people happy. Food is the way to the soul. Just because lif handed me lemons doesn't mean I just make lemonade. I can make a lemon chicken. Or use lemon zest for a garnish. There's so many ways to use just one lemon. Each one an opportunity. And if I could get my hands on that basket, there's over a million things I could, and would do.