Southland Pediatric Patient Creates IHOP's New Fall Pancake

SOUTHLAND, CA — An 8-year-old Orange County youngster battling a rare autoimmune disorder, Rayaan, won this year's nationwide IHOP pancake contest — with his Caramel Apple a la Mode pancakes — as part of the Kid Chef 2021 competition with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

Rayaan's creamy, carmely, ice creamy creation is on IHOP menus nationwide through Oct. 31 — a winning dish that melded his mom's beloved apple pie with his therapy that re-trained him to eat and swallow.

“My mom makes really good apple pie, and I wondered if there could be an apple pie pancake,” Rayaan said about his winning recipe, according to CHOC Foundation.

Rayaan's pancake innovation, a seasonal entree with cinnamon-spiced apples, caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream, is among the restaurant chain's fall menu options offered through Oct. 31.

As a bonus, one dollar from every Caramel Apple pancake stack or combo ordered for dine-in benefits Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, IHOP said.

Diagnosed at 16 months with acute disseminated encephalitis, a rare autoimmune disorder, Rayaan has endured a coma and life-support medical treatment, and, during recovery, relearned how to eat and swallow— with pancakes playing a vital role in his therapy.

From that, Rayaan and his mom, Hina, worked together to create the winner pancake recipe.

With "the unexpected tool of soft, fluffy, syrup-filled pancakes, Rayaan was able to relearn how to chew, eat and swallow," Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals said. "Therefore, pancakes were a big reason for his recovery, and Rayaan is a great fit to be selected as this year’s Kid Chef!"

For more than 15 years, IHOP has partnered with children’s charities, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to create pancake recipes of patients' dreams. Since 2006, the IHOP promotion has raised more than $30 million for its charity partners, according to the company.

See Rayaan's video below as he describes his prize-winning creation.

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