As a kid, I was just your straightforward extreme picky eater, like only ate buttered noodles, hot dogs, etc.

This is my friend and former colleague Abigail Keel.

Abigail grew up in St. Louis with some very strict rules for what she would eat.

She'd have ketchup, but not mayo.

She didn't like crusts, and anything green was off the table.

Then in high school, her friends took her to a Mexican restaurant and ordered something that sort of woke up her culinary senses.

I had like guacamole for the first time.

Ooh, wow, you're really stepping out.

I know.

Then around college, I was like, oh, yeah, food is actually a really awesome thing.

This is when the Abigail I know began to emerge. She started eating mushrooms, Ioli, sushi.

Then she got into cooking shows. She started following celebrity chefs. By the time she was in her late 20s, living in New York City, Abigail was shopping at the farmer's market and throwing dinner parties.

It becomes like a real part of my life and a love of my life.

Eating is a pleasurable experience.

Yeah.

You know, there are people who eat to live and people who live to eat, and I became someone who lives to eat.

Then one day, a couple years ago, something very unexpected happened.

Abigail was at home, just standing in her kitchen.

All of a sudden, I just got this kind of weird headache

and felt super dizzy.

And needed to close my eyes.

Like, couldn't have them open.

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