ABOUT THE CHEF!
Life Throws a Curveball...
When Jimmy Komninos and his wife Melanie realized that their second child, Zoey, was going to have a different kind of life than most kids, they didn’t spend much time grieving. They were too busy. First of all, they were too busy loving Zoey – and one another. A close second ran the 24/7 care that Zoey needed. She couldn’t speak and didn’t have use of her arms or legs – and she needed to be fed by a GI tube. All of this added up to far more than the Komninos family could create with two working parents. So they made a big shift in their household. Jimmy and Melanie sold their second car, scaled back to the bare minimum on almost everything, and Jimmy left his successful career in the food business to stay home and begin his new career: care provider.
Super Hero without a Cape...
Super Dad might be a better title. For a long time, taking care of all three kids and the home, and being Zoey’s main care provider left
little time for anything else. One of the few creative outlets Jimmy was able to hold onto, though, was cooking. With a lifelong history in the food business (like many Greeks, Jimmy was literally raised in diners), Jim grew up to be the District Manager and Culinary Captain at the Longhorn Steakhouse chain. Even after leaving his role at Longhorn to take care of Zoey, Jimmy found one of his few ways to R&R was to cook and create after the kids went to sleep…
Let's Add a Little POW to That...
Many nights one could peek into the windows at the Komninos household and find Jimmy standing at the stove, cooking up another batch of creativity and love. For the most part, this came in the way of a spice rub. Yes, no kidding. Life wasn’t spicy enough for the Komninos family, they had to go out and create their own copyrighted recipe for an amazing, succulent, delicious spice rub. And that is where the story turns interesting …
Zoey Means Life...
Who knew when they named Zoey, that Jimmy and his wife Melanie would pick the perfect word, because one thing they are very, very clear about is the value of Zoey’s life. Her life is just as meaningful and valuable as anyone else’s. Zoey Komninos was born on June 14, 2005. Like all beautiful little girls, she has a smile that lights up a room and the giggles of an angel. She does not speak, walk or sit up, her primary nutrition is through a feeding tube, and she receives several medications every day. Zoey has a supportive family including a big sister and little brother who truly love and admire her. Zoey's extended family includes four nurses that take the very best care of her, and she even has an Arizona Fan Club with members from six states that have sent miles of prayers every day of her life. From day one, the Komninos family used those prayers to fuel their work, as parents, and began a quest to find anything and everything that would fulfill Zoey and add to her wonderful life. One of the key ingredients to that recipe has been Zoey’s school: The Children's Therapy Center (CTC).
A Place to Grow...
The care for special needs children at CTC is like pure sunshine. They tailor their programs to each individual child and their abilities and goals, something that simply cannot be found in any public school system for kids with this severe level of disabilities. They also provide families and siblings with much needed support, and their efforts are truly heartfelt. The Komninos family knew that they had found a safe, caring and therapeutic environment for Zoey – where she and her classmates would be given every opportunity to shine and grow, despite their challenges – and to socialize and form friendships. CTC currently assists families with special needs children from ages 2 through 12. It is the dream of the Komninos Family to give back to CTC and to support their pursuit to provide services to children, including Zoey, after they turn age 12. Remaining in a loving, familiar environment can mean all the difference to these kids.
A Recipe for Success...
Zoey's nurse, Marina, has become not only part of the Komninos family, but also a big part of their philanthropic goals. Together, Jimmy and Marina created Kreative Twist LLC. 10% of sales for every bottle of Jimmy’s spice rub sold go directly to CTC. Please help spread the word and encourage everyone to visit our website at www.kreativetwist.com and try the Spice Blend Rubs... add a little or a lot to enhance your creative abilities.