Physicians open small cereal business in support of sons, others with autism

CHICAGO — As physicians, Dr Berlinda Torres and Dr Edwin Santa have always lived life with a purpose, to help others and bring them back to health. And when they became parents of two boys with autism, they were determined to find a way to make sure Gabriel and Daniel will also live a life with purpose despite their limitations. That led them to open a business where they hope to give a better future to other people with disabilities.

Twenty years ago, they their married life by leaving Puerto Rico to pursue their medical residency in Chicago; Edwin at Rush Hospital and Berlinda at University of Chicago.

Three years later they decided to start a family.

First came Gabriel and only 15 months later Daniel was born.

It was during that second maternity leave that Belinda noticed something off with Gabriel, her oldest child.

“Motor wise he was healthy,” she said. “I notice that Gabriel had poor social skills. He was not looking at his brother.”

At 16-months-old Gabriel was diagnosed with autism. Then his younger brother Daniel received his own diagnosis when he was 2-years-old.

“I’m first a mother before a doctor of course and it was shocking. What am i going to do now?” Berlinda said.

The Torres Santa family scratched their plans to move back to Puerto Rico understanding the resources for their children were much better in Chicago.

Today, 15-year-old Gabriel goes to Oak Park River Forest High School and Daniel goes to a school in Naperville for children with autism. And at this point the boys are thriving but mom and dad can’t help but worry about the future.

“Whenever, I see an 80-year-old, 90-year-old parent (I think) that’s going to be us,” Edwin said.

Berlinda’s concerns are more immediate: What happens to Gabriel and Daniel when they finish high school and age out of the education system as adults?

“Right now more than 80 percent of people with disabilities can’t find a decent job and I would like to create employment for them,” she said.

That’s how Gabriel and Daniel Oatmeal was born, a line of healthy instant hot cereals.

“Oatmeal because when we switched to healthier food options, (like) gluten free, organic, we noticed the difference right away,” Berlinda said.

Berlinda created the recipes and with the advice from her brother in Puerto Rico who owns his own oatmeal company, she launched a small factory in the West Side of Chicago.

Right now they do everything themselves with the support of their incredible family.

That support plus their budding business make Berlinda and Edwin a little less worried about Gabriel and Daniel’s future as well as the future of other children  like their boys.

“We want them to grow up and have that feeling of purpose of going to a job and have a purpose. That would be great,” Edwin said.

You can find more information about the organic, gluten free, healthy microwavable hot cereals on ther website at gabrielanddaniel.com

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.