Paramedics carry a lot on every shift.

Abbas Alibhai also carries cheesecake.

The York Region paramedic, known as ‘Cake Medic’ on social media, has spent more than a decade building a reputation for two things: helping people through emergencies and creating cheesecakes that have become legendary among his colleagues.

It all started when his mother dared him to make a cheesecake that she thought would be ‘too hard’ for him.

Six years later, the cheesecakes are still coming out of his kitchen, but the role they play in his life has evolved.

“The business has kind of just grown since then,” Alibhai said.

Today, many of his customers are fellow paramedics. He says roughly 90 per cent of his orders come from within the paramedic community that has supported him from the beginning.

That support is something he never takes for granted.

During Paramedic Services Week, Alibhai made cheesecake bites for stations across southern York Region. Throughout the year, he often brings cakes to celebrate birthdays, recognize achievements or simply brighten someone’s day after a difficult shift.

“I kind of use this to just give back to the paramedics every now and again,” he said.

The appreciation extends beyond front-line crews. Alibhai has also delivered cakes to emergency dispatchers during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week as a way of recognizing the often unseen work they do behind the scenes.

For someone whose day job involves making critical decisions under pressure, baking provides something very different.

“With paramedics, it’s always thinking on, making quick decisions, and there’s a lot of stuff thrown at you at once,” he said.

In contrast, baking has become almost second nature.

He knows his cheesecake recipe by heart. The process is familiar, methodical and calming. Once the basics are in place, the fun comes from bringing customers’ ideas to life.

One request that stands out was a Cinnamon Toast Crunch cheesecake.

“They’re like, ‘Can you do that?’ I was like, ‘Sure. Why not? Let’s try it out.'”

As different as it may seem, Alibhai sees surprising similarities between baking and paramedicine. Both require precision, consistency and following a process.

“Baking is pretty much a science,” he said. “Your measurements and stuff have to be exact.”

Just as paramedics rely on protocols to make sure nothing is missed during a call, baking requires following each step carefully.

“You can’t skip a step and try to make up for it later.” These days, another ingredient has been added to the mix: family.

When Alibhai was featured in the original article, he and his wife, Fatema, were raising an infant. Today, their children are two and five years old and have become enthusiastic helpers in the kitchen.

“My kids think that baking cakes is completely normal,” he said with a laugh.

They eagerly wait for decorating time, especially when whipped cream is involved.

“Their favorite part is when I have to do the decorations with the whipped cream,” he said. “They call it ice cream.” When the decorating is finished, they know there is usually a little extra waiting for them.

The growth of Cake Medic would not have been possible without Fatema’s support, Alibhai said.

“I would not be able to do this without the support of my wife.”

Balancing shift work, family life and a busy baking schedule is not always easy, but she has supported the hobby every step of the way.

“Her support is monumental.”

Despite receiving constant praise for his creations, Alibhai remains his own toughest critic.

He still studies new techniques, experiments with decorations and looks for ways to improve. His latest interest is learning more advanced chocolate molding techniques to take his cakes to the next level.

For someone who started with a single cheesecake challenge from his mother, it’s a reminder that he’s never stopped learning.

And while Cake Medic has become a recognizable name among York Region paramedics, Alibhai says the reason he continues has remained remarkably simple.

“To me it’s such a small thing, and if that helps them improve their day, improve their set, get over a call, things like that, that’s what brings joy to me.”