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Tucked away in the countryside of Alamance County is Emily's Cookie Mix Shoppe.

Its light brown building, accented with murals of gingerbread men, lollipops and assorted goodies might make you think you are dreaming. It's the last thing you'd expect to see when traveling through a rural setting.

Craig and Debbra Malchow began Emily's Cookie Mix Shoppe as a tribute to their daughter, Emily, and the Hospice volunteers who helped care for her.

Emily was born in 1999 with Trisomy 18, also known as Edwards syndrome.

Most babies with Edwards syndrome die before they are born. Those who survive birth typically live only a few days, and fewer than 10 percent live a year. Emily lived for a little more than two years.

The Malchows really wanted to bring Emily home from the hospital.

"Our goal was to bring her home, enjoy and get to know her and do the best we could to make her as happy, comfortable and loved as possible in her short-lived life," Debbra Malchow remembered.

They researched options on how best to bring their baby home. Hospice Pediatrics, now known as Kid's Path, was willing to help them care for a terminally sick baby at home.

"We will never forget the joy we felt in our hearts the day we were able to bring our Emily home," the Malchows said on their Web site, which launched in 2000.

The combined effort of the team of doctors, nurses, clergy and volunteers made Emily's short life at home with her family possible.

The Malchows and Hospice formed a strong bond, with Hospice workers who came to the Malchows' home every week.

During these visits, Debbra Malchow would often make cookies, trying to perfect a chocolate chip recipe.

"I have always enjoyed baking and learned at an early age from my grandmother how to especially bake cookies," she said.

A Hospice volunteer asked Debbra Malchow if she could bag up some cookie mix as gifts for the volunteer's family. Debbra Malchow saw how well the cookie mix was received.

After Emily's death, the Malchows decided to offer the cookie mix on their Web site, with 25 percent of the proceeds going to Kid's Path.

This seemed an appropriate way to keep Emily's memory alive while supporting the organ-ization that helped them through their daughter's fragile life.

With the success of Internet sales, they opened a store on Huffman Mill Road in 2002.

In 2005, the Malchows relocated their store to its present home on Jeffries Cross Road. Debbra Malchow said the move was good for the family because the shop is just minutes from their home. The Malchows have three other children: Thomas, 24; Brandon, 18; and Chloe, 9.

At first, Debbra Malchow said she worried if she would have enough business at the new location.

Those concerns were short-lived. Regulars from the old location were willing to make the extra drive, and she gained new customers who loved that a cookie shop was now so close.

Emily's Cookie Mix Shoppe carries fresh-baked cookies, cookie bars, cakes, pies, muffins, breads, brownies, fudge, various gourmet chocolates and candies, baking supplies and, of course, the item that started it all: cookie mixes.

Among the selection, you can also find several sugar-free and low-fat items. The shop has seating areas inside and outside and offers Wi-Fi Internet services.

Since opening up on Jeffries Cross Road, Debbra Malchow has added dessert catering to her list of services. This also includes various specialty cakes, wedding cakes and dessert platters.

Plans include updating the Web site to make it more "cookie friendly" by offering the opportunity for people to order a dozen cookies at a time. Plans are in the works to list more specifics about catering and wedding menus. She does local deliveries for a small fee.

Through the whole experience, starting with the care of little Emily to the success of the cookie mix and the business that grew from it, Debbra Malchow remains focused. She hopes to see Kid's Path grow and give more families the opportunity to live as close to normal while caring for a terminally sick child.

Hospice gave the Malchows a priceless gift, which inspired them to give back in a tangible way. That is what I would call sweet success.

Linda Vestal is a wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend living in Gibsonville. Contact her at lindavestal@triad.rr.com.