Baker Spotlight: Meet Kim Cooper

Behind the Sugar: Blog Edition

Today we are excited to share our interview with the talented Kim Cooper of Creative Cake Concepts in Falls Church, Virginia who donated a cake for Claire who underwent treatment for Ewing Sarcoma on her clivus bone.

“When I read how a cake could brighten the day of a child, or sibling, dealing with a serious illness, I wanted in. I love the reaction when the guest of honor sees their cake. I also feel strongly about paying it forward, doing the right thing and giving back. This opportunity puts the two together,” Kim said when asked why she loves being an Icing Smiles Sugar Angel. She heard about our organization through our affiliation with American Cake Decorating.

Unfortunately Kim was diagnosed in early May 2016 with thyroid cancer and had her second surgery 9 days before her Icing Smiles cake was due for little Claire who was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma on her clivus bone in her head. It’s Sugar Angels like Kim who constantly amaze us and bring so much joy to our organization. She didn’t cancel due to her circumstance, but she pushed through her situation all to bring a smile to Claire’s face! “The opportunity to give a smile to a little girl who has dealt with something no one, let alone a child, should have to,” is what Claire enjoys the most about volunteering.

Claire’s family was posted overseas at the U.S. Embassy Colombo in Sri Lanka. She was medevacked to Singapore where they found the tumor and did a biopsy surgery. After finding out what it was, they flew to CHOP for treatment. There, Claire received 10 cycles of chemotherapy and 31 treatments of proton beam radiation. She finished her treatment at Children’s National with 4 cycles of chemo. When Claire’s final treatment scans came back clear in late May 2016 that was the greatest news her family had ever received! So much so, to celebrate they threw an “I Beat Cancer” party along with Claire’s 5^th birthday.

“Claire’s mom provided a list of what Claire hoped to have incorporated; Valentine’s Day theme, red, pink, purple, and glitter. She also had a few tag lines they used while Claire was undergoing chemo. Her flavor choices were strawberry and vanilla,” Kim said.

With Valentine’s Day as her theme and Claire as her motivation, Kim set out to deliver the best love filled dream cake that she could. The cake included topsy turvey heart tiers and alternating flavors of moist and delicious strawberry and french vanilla cake, strawberry preserves, and strawberry buttercream. The base was covered in red fondant with a lace wrap and a 3D golden arrow shooting through it. The middle tier was covered in pink and purple fondant with hearts, Claire’s name and age. It was adorned with purple Sixlets along the base and an edible image of Claire in a fondant frame. The top tier was covered in white fondant. The sides and top included purple glittery hearts and white daisies… everything a 5 year old little girl loves!

Claire’s mom said, “[Kim] did an amazing job and Claire was thrilled with it. The best part was that Kim came early to the party and spent almost 30 minutes with Claire. She got to help put on the finishing “touches” and loved every minute of it. It was a very special time and memory that I will remember from that day. Thanks to Icing Smiles and Creative Cake Concepts! I loved seeing the huge smile from my daughter when we saw the cake.”

Thank you Kim for bringing a BIG smile to Claire’s face! We are so excited to have you as a Sugar Angel and look forward to seeing more “smiles” from you in the future.