How it all started

It all began with Laura, expecting baby number two, facing a high-risk pregnancy that was further complicated by the impending arrival of Hurricane Ian, a once-in-a-century storm that would soon bring devastation to their community. As the storm raged on, Laura's condition worsened, and she gave birth to their daughter weeks ahead of schedule. The newborn was whisked away to the NICU, where she lay hooked up to machines and wires, fighting for her life.

As Laura spent the next few days in the hospital, recovering from the traumatic birth and worrying about her baby's fragile health, the hospital itself was severely damaged by the hurricane, forcing an evacuation. The NICU was relocated to a hospital two hours away, and Laura's tiny daughter was airlifted to safety, leaving Laura and Oliver behind, anxious and helpless.

In the midst of this chaos, Oliver knew he had to do something to distract Laura from the overwhelming emotions and make her feel better. He remembered her pregnancy cravings, which had been forgotten in the chaos. Specifically, she had been dreaming of soft, chewy cookies with rich, creamy frostings that went beyond just sweetness.

Oliver's first attempt to take her mind off things was to buy cookies from nearby stores, hoping to bring a small smile to her face. Although the cookies put a smile on Laura's face, the reality was that by the time they arrived at the hospital, the frostings would be smeared, melted, or separated from the cookies, leaving them a bittersweet treat that was both a welcome distraction and a disappointment.

But seeing the small spark of joy that even those imperfect cookies had brought to Laura's face in the midst of her struggles, Oliver was motivated to take his efforts to the next level. He realized that with a little creativity, he might be able to create something truly special that could put a bigger smile on her face and make her tough days a little brighter. And so, a secret baking project began.

Late-night kitchen experiments ensued, with the goal of creating the perfect cookies. Whenever Oliver visited her in the hospital, he would also bring a few extra jars for the nurses who were taking such great care of her.

They were thrilled by the creations and soon asked if they could have some too. As word spread throughout the hospital, more and more nurses and even doctors started requesting Oliver's cookies.

Even after Laura and baby girl were discharged, the requests continued to pour in from the hospital staff, who had become like friends. This sparked an idea in Oliver: Why not make these cookie jars available to everyone through shipping? Months of tireless effort followed, researching, experimenting, and working with professional bakers to perfect the recipe.

The hard work paid off. The cookie jars with decadent frostings and indulgent toppings exceeded Laura's wildest dreams and wowed all family and friends who tried them.

And just shy of two years after their little family grew with the arrival of their baby girl, Chunky Crumbs was finally born!