My Story

"Watch Him" – Frankie’s Story

Hello everyone,

My name is Frankie, and I want to thank you for giving me the chance to share my story with you today.

I was born on June 16, 1994. But my journey didn’t start like most. At birth, I was deprived of oxygen. By the time I was just seven months old, doctors and my parents knew something wasn’t right neurologically. At nine months, I had surgery to place a shunt in my brain to drain excess fluid.

Some doctors told my parents I might never walk or talk. But my dad—he looked them straight in the eye and said, “Watch him.”

And they did.

I didn’t walk until I was around three years old. It took years of Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy, and Occupational Therapy. But I walked. I talked. I grew. I learned. I defied the odds.

Today, I’ve been working with both the special needs community and neurotypical individuals for over 10 years—and I love every minute of it. I do this work because I want to give back. Because without the teachers and therapists who believed in me—who saw me—I wouldn’t be standing here today. I remember every single one of them.

When I was eight years old, my younger brother was born. He was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called Joubert Syndrome—a condition that affects the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls balance and coordination. That diagnosis led doctors to realize that I had Joubert Syndrome too. It took nearly nine years to put a name to what I had been living with all along.

But here’s the thing: a diagnosis doesn’t define you. Your determination does.

And my journey didn’t stop there.

I’m proud to say I’m a graduate of the Bauman Holistic Chef Program, where I specialized as a Pastry Chef. That experience opened up a whole new world for me. With the knowledge I gained at Bauman, and the incredible support from my mentors and the Career Services Advisor, I found a new way to express myself and serve others.

That’s how YaYa’s Sweets was born—my own creation, named in honor of my grandmother. It’s more than just a business. It’s a tribute. It’s love. It’s legacy.

People have doubted me my whole life—and they probably always will. But that’s okay. Because every time someone says I can’t, I hear my dad’s voice in my head saying, “Watch him.”

To my mentors—thank you. Your guidance, encouragement, and belief in me have shaped the person I am today. You didn’t just teach me skills—you helped me find my purpose.