Sources: NJ101.5.com; DingbatzNJ.com
When the father of Kallista Flores learned that her idol, celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, would be in the area to film an episode of his TV show 24 Hours to Hell and Back at the Caneda’s White Rooster restaurant in Toms River, he utilized social media to get the to get his attention. Thirteen-year-old Kallista is living with B-ALL leukemia and has been receiving treatments at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.
Ramsay paid a visit to her school, Intermediate South in Beachwood, and caught Flores completely by surprise during music class.
“My mind just stopped. I know my dad said he would die trying (to arrange a meeting) but quite honestly I didn’t think it would really happen,” Kallista said. She added that said her teachers were like “suction cups to the windows” when they spotted Ramsay at the school with her father. He also posed for pictures for “everyone who wanted one” while he was there.
Ramsay gave Kallista an autographed cardboard cutout of himself. “He was so amazing. When he’s on his shows he acts all mean and tough but he is just the sweetest man,” Kallista said.
Ramsay also made a $10,000 donation to her GoFundMe page to help with her expenses. “My family and I were beyond words — it’s going to carry us a long way,” Kallista said. She said she’s “charged up” by the visit and ready to “power through” her final year of treatments.
