16-year-old girl with a rare muscle disorder starts a cooking page, gets invited on the Rachael Ray Show

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. –– “When the quarantine hit I started to cook a lot more and I fell in love with it,” said Gabriella (Gabby) DiSalvo, who recently created a food Instagram account @cooking.on.wheels.

Like many, she began to explore her passion for cooking when the coronavirus pandemic hit and decided to share the journey with others.

However, her cooking isn’t the only remarkable thing about her.

Gabby, 16, was born with a rare genetic muscular disorder called Myofibrillar Myopathy (MFM) and the Tottenville resident must use a wheelchair for mobility.

When she was born, there were only three recorded cases of MFM in children, but she has not let the rare disability stop her from pursuing her dreams.

After attending virtual cooking classes with the New York City Wine and Food Festival, she was asked to be a virtual guest on Rachael Ray’s 2500th episode special.

“It has been a dream come true,’' said DiSalvo. “I cannot imagine something like this, not in my wildest dreams.”

Her achievements thus far speak for themselves.

Aside from creating her cooking page and connecting with food enthusiasts around the world, she was awarded the Rising Star Award from the Global Genes Foundation in 2018 for raising over $25,000 for the non-profit advocacy organization for individuals and families fighting rare and genetic diseases.

Today, Gabby is making strides at Xaverian High School, in her vocation and in the kitchen.

She hopes to inspire others to pursue their passions. And she’d like to one day have a cooking show of her own.

Watch the video above to learn more about Gabby and her journey.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.