Like most kids, it's been a rough year for 10-year-old Bradford girl Inaya Sohail, being stuck inside, not being able to see friends.
"It hit her the hardest," says mother Sana, who also has a 16-year-old and 14-year-old.
Inaya has been doing online school since the start of the pandemic and was becoming increasingly bored throughout lockdown. That's when she started taking an interest in the kitchen and food preparation where Sana would let Inaya join her in chopping and cutting fruits and vegetables.
One day Inaya had an idea to make dipped dessert strawberries for the family. Their stamp of approval gave her an idea to start her own dessert business.
With Sana's help, she opened 'Sweets n Treats by Inaya'.
Inaya started off by making chocolate-covered dates, stuffed with almonds as well as dipped strawberries, and has since expanded to include include marshmallow sticks, candy apples, candy kabobs.
The marshmallows used are Halal, "which was a big hit," said Sana. "Ramadan and Eid just passed and she did those for a couple of people."
While having a business is important and special to Inaya, she has also found a way to give back.
Inaya has epilepsy and puts 10 percent of her sales towards epilepsy awareness.
"Can we donate for epilepsy because a lot of people don't know what it is and it would be good for awareness?" Inaya asked her mother.
Inaya was diagnosed with the disorder just four years ago after having a seizure overnight.
The night it happened, Inaya had asked her mother to sleep with her.
Sana remembers not wanting to at first, as she was exhausted and wanted to sleep in her own bed, but after checking on her kids at around 1.a.m, decided to snuggle into bed with Inaya.
"She was sleeping so peacefully and I thought 'You know what she asked me to sleep with her, it's okay I will just go sneak in with her'," she remembers.
At around 5 a.m., Sana remembers wakening up to a repetitive sound.
"I opened my eyes and she was having a seizure, her head was tilting to the side," described Sana, "I froze. The phone was next to me but I couldn't grab the phone, I was just screaming."
Sana's older daughter rushed to the room and immediately called 9-1-1.
"She was in a seizure for about four and a half minutes," explained Sana.
Less than a month later, Inaya had another seizure. It was then when she was officially diagnosed with epilepsy and was prescribed medication.
"Life has been a little bit different after that," said Sana.
Since then, Inaya has only had two other episodes and is on medication.
"But the good news," says Sana, is that just recently, Inaya had some positive test results which allowed her to ease off her medication.
She has been off her medication for three weeks now and will be monitored for the next six to 12 months.
"We hope that within this year she has no seizure without medication," explained Sana.
If she remains seizure-free for the year, then her diagnosis may change to 'childhood epilepsy'. If she does have a seizure again, then she will resume her medications.
Sana said as Inaya gets older it bothers her that she can't be as independent as perhaps other kids her age are.
"It was hard for the whole family," explained Sana about the diagnosis, adding that they are always keeping a close eye on Inaya. "She's not allowed in the pool by herself, she's not allowed to bike ride by herself."
This is why Sana is so happy Inaya has found a passion that keeps her busy and happy.
"It's great for her," said Sana. "She loves it."
"It is fun and since quarantine started there's not much to do and it keeps me company," said Inaya.
But while she loves working with food, Inaya says one day she wants to become a pediatrician.
Inaya's clients are mostly from Bradford but come from as far as Barrie and Mississauga. Some of her teachers at Chris Hadfield Public School have even placed orders.
"She's been really happy about that," said Sana.
To learn more visit her Instagram page @sweetsntreats_by_inaya
Free delivery for orders placed in Bradford.
.png;w=120;h=80;mode=crop)