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Corey Chambers Real Estate Newsletter September 2026

Your referrals help the kids! Visit entar.com/kids

A few corrections in advance on this newsletter that is in a block mode that will not let me edit it much. Correct phone is 213-880-9910 and correct referral web page is entar.com/kids — Corey Chambers, Broker DRE#01889449 This is an old patient story that I was not able to update today. Will get you a new patient story for the October issue!

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐚 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞

What NOT To Do After Labor Day — Let’s Reflect

Redefining Labor Day  —  Labor Day has often been a day of rest, but given the current climate of stagflation, high-interest taxes, and union strikes, this year it serves as a call to reflection more than relaxation. You might be among those who are feeling the pinch and questioning what the future holds when it comes to homeownership or selling. I understand the complexity of the decision you’re facing, and it’s why I’m dedicating myself more than ever to guide you through these unpredictable times.

You’ve probably heard that you should not wear white after Labor Day.   Here’s the Top 10 List of what else NOT to do after Labor Day:

  1. Don’t Ignore Year-End Real Estate Trends: Avoid neglecting the fall real estate market. This is when many serious buyers and sellers enter the market. Waiting too long to list or invest could mean missing out on valuable opportunities.

  2. Don’t Overlook Tax-Advantageous Real Estate Moves: Failing to take advantage of 1031 exchanges or other tax-saving strategies before the end of the year can result in higher capital gains taxes on real estate investments.

  3. Don’t Neglect Season-Specific Real Estate Maintenance: For homeowners and investors in California, ignoring critical fall home maintenance tasks like roof repairs and gutter cleaning can lead to bigger problems in the rainy season.

  4. Don’t Delay Tech Upgrades for Your Business: Many companies offer post-Labor Day discounts on technology and software. Waiting too long could result in paying full price for upgrades to your systems, especially when preparing for holiday or year-end demands.

  5. Don’t Ignore California’s Drought Season Regulations: After Labor Day, some areas in California may enforce stricter water usage rules. Avoid non-compliance by staying up to date on local regulations affecting your property or real estate investments.

  6. Don’t Let Summer Vacation Mode Affect Your Investment Strategy: Keep focused on your year-end financial goals. Neglecting your investment portfolio after Labor Day could mean missing out on critical market movements, especially in sectors like technology and real estate.

  7. Don’t Wait to Prepare for Wildfire Season: If you own property in California, ensure you have defensible space around your home and that you’ve completed fireproofing measures as fall marks the height of wildfire danger.

  8. Don’t Forget to Invest in End-of-Year Technology Stocks: Certain technology sectors, such as cybersecurity or e-commerce, may see spikes in activity toward the end of the year. Avoid waiting until it’s too late to adjust your tech-related investment portfolio.

  9. Don’t Ignore Weather-Related Real Estate Trends: After Labor Day, California’s weather begins to shift. Ignoring this could be costly if you’re trying to sell a property in a market where weather significantly impacts buyer behavior.

  10. Don’t Miss Real Estate Conferences and Networking: Fall is often packed with important real estate and investment conferences. Missing these events can result in lost opportunities to network and gain insights into the latest trends.  Here’s a couple bonus items:

  11. Don’t Neglect End-of-Year Planning for Your Tech Business: For technology entrepreneurs, failing to plan ahead for end-of-year taxes, new product launches, or business expansion post-Labor Day can lead to missed opportunities or higher costs.

  12. Don’t Dismiss Seasonal Shifts in California Agriculture Investments: Agriculture investments in California often slow down post-Labor Day due to the changing growing seasons. Avoid over-investing in crops or sectors that may not perform as well during the fall and winter months.

These are strategies to help you stay ahead in real estate, technology, investment, and California-specific activities after Labor Day!

Life throws us into seasons—some of comfort, others of challenge. The one we’re in now can feel like an economic winter, but as we both know, seasons are temporary. What remains constant is our ability to navigate them, learn from them, and emerge more resilient. #CoreyChambers

This is where you come in…

For September, if you or anyone you know is considering making a move to a new home, we will GUARANTEE a minimum of $10,000 Savings for every $200,000 in sales price on the home purchase, or I will pay the difference*. You read it correctly – my labor saves you, and those you know considering making a move, a nice chunk of change. The reason why I can make such a special offer is simply that our long track record of selling homes and specialized knowledge allow us to negotiate the best deal on the best home for our best clients.  #realestate #newsletter

IN THIS ISSUE: 

  •  AFTER LABOR DAY
  •  How Your Referrals Help Kids
  • And Much More   #realestate #newsletter

Even if YOU are not moving, you can still benefit

Each month in my special California Home Newsletter, I ask, “Who do you know that may be considering a move?”

This is because YOUR referrals help the kids…

Anyone you know considering making a move or wanting to buy or sell their home, please refer them to me without hesitation. They will receive the guarantee I detailed above, and you can rest assured your referrals will help the kids at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

With a guarantee like this, you, your friends, neighbors, work associates, and family members who may be considering a move can now do so and avoid the uncertainties in the marketplace.

If you missed last month’s California Home Newsletter, we are on a mission to raise $25,000 for the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Helping Hands Fund, so we are donating a good portion of our income from home sales to them. As you know, Children’s does a tremendous job of helping kids fight through and survive nasty life-threatening diseases like Cancers, Leukemia, and non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma: stuff that often robs young people’s lives.

Kids under their care are 300% more likely to enter into remission IF they can get into the recovery center. But the Recovery Center survives on Sponsorships and Donations. So YOUR REFERRALS REALLY DO HELP THE KIDS…

Who do you know considering buying or selling a home you could refer to my real estate sales team?

Not only will they benefit from our award-winning service, but we donate a substantial portion of our income on every home sale to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Helping Hands Fund.

Your Referrals Really Do Help the Kids…

I want to make it easy to refer your friends, neighbors, associates, or family members considering making a move.

You can go to www.ReferralsHelpKids.com and enter their contact info online or forward the link to who you know considering a move.

–

Corey
Supporting_CHLA_logo

Over the last two decades of helping thousands of families sell their homes and/or buy another, we have met some wonderful, loving, caring people. People like you! So your referrals, those you know considering a move, that we help – you can rest assured that not only will they get the award-winning service we are known for and the guarantee to back it up, but that a solid portion of the income we receive from the transaction will go toward a very worthy cause.

It’s easy to refer your friends, neighbors, associates, or family members considering making a move. Simply go to www.ReferralsHelpKids.com, or, of course, you can always call me directly at 213-880-9910.

I hope you and your family are well and this Independence Day brings you much joy and happiness. With all my appreciation.

Corey Chambers, Broker   888-240-2500

P.S. We love honoring our past clients like you. Read all about that at www.ReferralsHelpKids.com

–

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It’s easy to refer those you know considering buying or selling a home. You can go to www.ReferralsHelpKids.com and enter their contact info online or forward the link to who you know considering a move. You can also call me direct or pass my number on 213-880-9910.

Why I Support Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles

I grew up right here in Los Angeles. Born right nearby at St. Francis Hospital. I remember hearing about a young person close to our family suffering from a nasty disease and getting treated for that at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Then, I began to pay more immediate attention to their work at that hospital. Since then, I have learned that it is a collection of hard-working health care professionals, most making their homes right here in the Los Angeles area, all coming together for a common cause. That cause is to help young people overcome unfortunate health issues that life sometimes throws our way. Being a Los Angeles area, California native, I take pride in supporting in any way that I can the good work these people do at Children’s. My team rallies around our annual goal of raising money and donating portions of our income to help Children in their quest to heal young people when they need healing. My team and I are committed to providing outstanding results for buyers and sellers referred to us by our past clients. I have discovered that Children’s Hospital Los Angeles shares similar commitments to its patients. And since their services survive sponsorships and donations, we are happy to contribute and proud to support them.

Sincerely,

Corey Chambers 213-880-9910

Below is the story of a young patient whose life was turned around by Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

FIND OUT HOW MUCH YOUR HOME IS WORTH, FREE ONLINE AT HomeEvals.com

 

Upgraded Chemo Propels Luca’s Fight Against Rare Kidney Cancer

by Jeff Weinstock

Diagnosed with clear cell sarcoma, the toddler is now free of disease, with his odds of survival better than ever before. 

“Not even in a million years did I think this was going to be our story,” Jianine says, backing up to Sunday morning, Sept. 24, 2023, when Luca woke up with his usual heavy diaper. But this time it was soaked in dark red blood.

She was startled but not panicked. “He looked like the picture of health,” she says. “He wasn’t pale. He wasn’t sick. Not nauseous. I was thinking ‘Maybe he has a UTI.’”

Urgent care couldn’t accommodate her, so a pediatric nurse friend advised Jianine to take Luca to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. “Go to CHLA,” the friend said. “Whatever’s going on with him, they’ll know what to do.”

At CHLA’s Emergency Department, a urine sample led to a kidney ultrasound, and then a retreat to a patient room to await the results. This turned out to be the last pause before “the moment that our universe was cracked open,” Jianine says, which would take Luca and family on a journey through multiple CHLA specialists providing the highest level of pediatric care available.

When two doctors entered to deliver the results, Jianine felt a flash of dread. That’s not what tipped her off, but rather the presence of a third person—a Child Life specialist who offered to occupy Jianine’s 7-year-old daughter, Livia, while the doctors and the family talked. “I’m like, ‘Oh no, this is not good,’” Jianine says.

She and her husband, Clark, were told that Luca had a mass on his right kidney the size of a grapefruit.

“I looked at my husband,” Jianine says, “and this was the last time he and I made eye contact for about eight days because every time we looked at each other, we would just cry.”

The doctors returned in the morning with word that a CT scan revealed the mass was malignant.

“One of them asked me, ‘What do you know about cancer?’” Jianine recalls. “I said, ‘Death.’ She goes, ‘OK, you know the TV movie version of it. I’m going to explain to you what it is here.’”

The doctor proceeded to describe the differences between pediatric and adult cancer, the resilience of children, and their greater success rate.

A surprise finding

Imaging done on the mass showed it was cancerous, and the initial expectation was that it was a Wilms tumor, the most common pediatric kidney cancer.

“About 95% of kidney cancers in kids Luca’s age are Wilms tumors,” says Rebecca Parker, MD, the CHLA oncologist who took on Luca’s case. “So that’s why it comes to our mind first.”

Dr. Parker sent Luca for a biopsy to single out the nature of the cancer, and the results produced a surprise. Molecular testing performed by CHLA’s Center for Personalized Medicine identified the tumor as a clear cell sarcoma, a much rarer renal cancer.

Scans revealed the tumor ran beyond the kidney and into the veins that connect the organ to the vena cava, a valve that sends blood from the abdomen back to the heart. Importantly, though, the portion that extended outside the kidney was not a separate tumor, which would have indicated spread. It was all one mass. Tests found no tumors elsewhere.

“We looked at his bones, at his brain, where clear cell sarcoma likes to hide,” Dr. Parker says. “We looked at his lungs. All of that was clear.”

The finding kept the cancer’s designation at Stage 3 rather than Stage 4, allowing for a much brighter prognosis. In retrospect, the friend who urged Jianine to take Luca to the Emergency Department at CHLA, where he could be hustled right into treatment, may have given her lifesaving advice.

“The family took him to the ER at the exact right time,” Dr. Parker says. “In the grand scheme of things, we caught his tumor pretty early.”

From less likely to likely

The extra piece of tumor that grew into the vena cava presented a problem, however, as it would complicate the job of the surgeon who had to excise it, James Stein, MD, MSc, FACS, FAAP, CHLA’s Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer.

“Any time we have to open the vena cava, it makes the surgery more challenging,” Dr. Stein says. “You have to control all the blood vessels entering the vessel from below and from above.”

Dr. Parker and Dr. Stein agreed on giving Luca 12 weeks of chemotherapy in hopes of shrinking the tumor down so it all resided within the margins of the kidney, before going in to remove it. The chemo regimen was enhanced by two additional medications, doxorubicin and

cyclophosphamide. Over the past three decades, Dr. Parker says pediatric oncologists have learned that treating clear cell sarcoma with this more aggressive protocol has caused the disease’s five-year survival rate, formerly less than 2 in 5, to rise to 4 in 5—meaning, from less likely to likely.

The effort to kill off the excess segment of the tumor that reached past the kidney was partially successful. The chemo vanquished some, but not all of it.

“It shrunk back down lower in the vena cava, making the extent of the tumor significantly less,” Dr. Stein says. “It made the surgery more straightforward. Originally, it had extended well up the vena cava toward the heart.”

During the operation, performed in January, Dr. Stein removed Luca’s entire right kidney, which was consumed by cancer, along with the small portion of the mass that fell outside it.

Dr. Parker assured the family that Luca could make do with one kidney—and even less. “You need one half of one kidney, and you can still live a normal life,” she said.

After the procedure, Luca’s chemotherapy resumed. Jianine found comfort in a study on clear cell sarcoma that she arrived at via Google—despite Dr. Parker’s request that she not search the internet, but instead to come to her with any questions. Jianine kept to the resolution for several months but finally weakened and “got led astray,” she says.

Fortunately, this was an instance of productive Googling. The report noted the dramatic rise in the survival rate of clear cell sarcoma patients since the introduction of the upgraded chemo regimen that Dr. Parker had implemented with Luca.

A hopeful Jianine brought the article to the doctor, prefaced by an apology: “I went to her immediately and said, ‘I made a big mistake and I’ll never do it again, but I went on Google.’”

Dr. Parker confirmed the information was right: The five-year survival rate of kids with clear cell sarcoma had risen from 30% to roughly 80%.

Once Luca gets to five years out from treatment with no relapse, the risk of the disease returning drops substantially.

“I wouldn’t say it’s zero,” Dr. Parker says, “but it’s very, very low.”

Shifting perspectives

When his treatment ended, Luca had two of the traditional bell-ringing ceremonies—one on April 26, his last day of chemo, and then another on May 20, after scans of his brain, bones and abdomen showed no indication of disease.

“We looked all over his body to make sure there wasn’t any cancer left hiding anywhere,” Dr. Parker says.

The bell ringing isn’t a permanent trumpeting of all clear. It’s an expression of joyful triumph that marks an end to the darkest phase of treatment. Luca’s care will continue. Now 2 years old, he will be scanned regularly for five years forward, and with each clean report the probability of a recurrence decreases.

Meanwhile, Jianine is again managing a shift in her outlook. When she first heard the diagnosis and told the doctor that she equated cancer with death, she would try fiercely to shut out the thought.

“Of course, you go there in your head,” she says. “You don’t want to say it out loud. You’re like, ‘No, we’re going to stay positive.’”

For Luca’s sake, she had to quickly get over her despair, realizing it wasn’t serving her son any.

“For three days, I was like, ‘This is not happening. I am not built for this. I can’t do this.’ Then by the fourth day, I thought, ‘You know what? There’s no mom that goes, “I’m strong. My kid gets cancer—I got it.”’ This happens to you and you realize you have no choice. You are their advocate. You have to get them through this thing. Why are we going to get through it? Because we have no choice. We will because we have to.”

Now Jianine is navigating another transition, from ferocious mother determined to save her son, to responsible mother mindful of not smothering him with her fears.

“I was hesitant signing him up for school in August,” she says. “I wanted to plan a trip for us to go to San Diego, to SeaWorld. But I thought maybe I shouldn’t because the next scan is in August. Then I thought, ‘Why am I doing that? Why am I holding him back from life?’

“I emailed the school and told them to send over the enrollment forms. I want to have great memories and photos from a trip to Sea World. I switched gears. Let’s live life and move on.”

Learn more about the Cancer and Blood Disease Institute at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

—  Story and photos courtesy Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

How you can help:

Refer your friends, neighbors, associates or family members who are considering making a move:

www.ReferralsHelpKids.com or call Corey at 213-880-9910

Copyright © This free information provided courtesy L.A. Loft Blog with information provided by Corey Chambers, Broker DRE 01889449. We are not associated with the seller, homeowner’s association or developer. For more information, contact 213-880-9910 or visit LALoftBlog.com Licensed in California. All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Text and photos created or modified by artificial intelligence. Properties subject to prior sale or rental. This is not a solicitation if buyer or seller is already under contract with another broker.

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Corey Chambers Real Estate Newsletter August 2026

The California Home
The California Home
*Seller and Corey must agree on price and time of possession. — WeSellCal.com

Brother… it’s Hot & Not Just Outside!

RED HOT Opportunities!

You don’t have to be the weather service to predict the weather this time. We all know… it’s the hottest time of the year. But that’s not all that’s hot. This is the season to buy and sell homes.

This is GOOD for most reading this, but there will be some exceptions. There always are. An example could be selling a house and making it out great, meaning a buyer pays a bit more than they would have not too long ago. And in some areas, the opposite happens. The Seller does not make out that great, but the buyer does. Most homeowners who do not have to know this will hold back on buying or selling. That will, of course, impact supply and demand. Results right now?

How does this impact you? Well, it is a HOT time to invest in real estate. Single-family, multi-family, even lofts. If you didn’t get the memo, here is a particular clause from our Buyer and Seller Agreements of our VIP Client Program, enabling past clients to create additional wealth through real estate. 

VIP CLIENT PROGRAM: Seller _ does OR _ does not wish to participate in Broker’s VIP Client Real Estate Investor Program (REIP), whereby Seller will receive notices of free real estate investor training and notices of real estate investment opportunities by mail, email or phone at times when investment opportunities arise. The Seller may opt out of The REIP at any time. The Seller is never obligated to invest in real estate. So, if you or anyone you know likes making money in real estate using other people’s money, please contact The Corey Chambers real estate team immediately. While these HOT investment opportunities are available. Making gains in assets and wealth is nice! We especially like it because it allows us the opportunity to GIVE more. How about you? 

As you probably know, we donate a portion of our income to some AMAZING, worthy causes, like Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. It’s one of the country’s leading non-profit children’s hospitals. This year we are on a mission to raise $25,000 for CHLA. Their work in helping kids fight through and survive nasty debilitating diseases like cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and leukemia, as well as their work in other life-threatening childhood diseases.

At CHLA, they have performed first-of-its-kind surgeries to save local kids! As the leading not-for-profit hospital in L.A., you probably know they need sponsorships and donations to continue their leading-edge care and keep family expenses to a minimum. We are committed to donating a portion of our income from home sales to this worthy cause. So, YOUR REFERRALS really do HELP THE KIDS…

Who do you know is considering buying or selling a home or investing in real estate? Could you refer me to my team? Not only will they benefit from our award-winning service, but the kids at CHLA will also benefit. So call or pass my number on to anyone you know considering buying or selling. 

My number is 213-880-9910. You and your referrals mean more than ever to my team and me. As we progress through this red-hot summer, please know we are incredibly thankful for you and a particular part of our business. 

Your friends, neighbors, work associates, and family members who may be considering a move can now do so and celebrate true independence from the fear of getting stuck with two homes or none at all. And remember… Your referrals help the Children… As I share with you each month, we are on a mission to raise $25,000 for the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Helping Hands Fund. We do this by donating a portion of our income. Children’s does excellent work in helping kids overcome cancer and other life-threatening diseases. In fact, Kids under their care are 300% more likely to enter into remission IF they can get into the recovery center. But CHLA depends on Sponsorships and Donations to keep rolling. So, YOUR REFERRALS REALLY DO HELP THE KIDS…

Who do you know considering buying or selling a home you could refer to my real estate sales team? Not only will they benefit from our award-winning service, but we donate a portion of our income on every home sale to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Helping Hands Fund. In addition, I want to make it easy to refer your friends, neighbors, associates, or family members considering making a move, so here are your options:

1. You can go to www.ReferralsHelpKids.com and enter their contact info online or forward the link to who you know considering a move.

2. Of course, you can always call me directly at 213-880-9910.

You and your referrals mean more than ever to my team and me. So as we move forward in this new season, please know that my team and I are incredibly thankful for your being a particular part of our business.

With all my appreciation,

Corey Chambers, Broker

P.S. The story of this girl and her family may cause you to look at your loved ones differently. It did me. Check it out.

It’s easy to refer those you know considering buying or selling a home. Here are the Options Again:

You can go to www.ReferralsHelpKids.com and enter their contact info online or forward the link to someone you know considering a move.

Call me direct or pass my number on:

213-880 9910.

Why I Support Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles

I grew up right here in Los Angeles. Born nearby at St. Francis Hospital. I remember hearing about a young person close to our family suffering from a serious illness and getting treated for that at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Then, I began to pay more immediate attention to their work at that hospital. Since then, I have learned that it is a collection of hard-working health care professionals, most making their homes right here in the Los Angeles area, all coming together for a common cause. That cause is to help young people overcome unfortunate health issues that life sometimes throws our way. Being a Los Angeles area, California native, I take pride in supporting in any way that I can the good work these people do at Children’s, including CHOC Orange County and the Valley Children’s too. My team rallies around our annual goal of raising money and donating portions of our income to help Children’s Hospital in its quest to heal young people when they need healing. My team and I are committed to providing outstanding results for buyers and sellers referred to us by our past clients. I have discovered that Children’s Hospital Los Angeles shares similar commitments to its patients. And since their services survive sponsorships and donations, we are happy to contribute and proud to support them.

Twins Jeremy and Elijah Return to Martial Arts Following Scoliosis Treatment at CHLA

A diagnosis of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) led identical twins Jeremy and Elijah to CHLA, where they underwent individualized care plans to be able to resume the martial art Muay Thai. — by Parker Danowski

Brothers Jeremy and Elijah are 17-year-old identical twins, but their similarities don’t stop there: they also both practice the martial art known as Muay Thai and both received diagnoses for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) around the same time. When the curves in their spines started to affect Jeremy and Elijah’s athletic performance, their care team at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles helped ensure that neither would have to be away from their favorite sport for long.

“We’ve been doing Muay Thai for about four years now,” says Jeremy. “It involves a lot of sweeps and takedowns,” Elijah explains. As one might imagine, this full-contact martial art, which makes use of fists, elbows, knees, and shins, is an intensely physical sport. A sparring session can leave athletes sore, bruised, and exhausted—it’s a true test of endurance. For Jeremy and Elijah, that’s usually part of the excitement.

But in 2025, both twins noticed that Muay Thai was starting to feel more difficult than usual. Jeremy noticed more of an extreme difference. “I started to feel extra fatigued and sore after Muay Thai, more than usual,” he says. Elijah was less affected, but also noticed that sparring was beginning to feel more challenging than before.

Their mom, D’nelle, noticed a change too. “When I would look at each of the boys and they were standing up straight, I saw that one shoulder seemed slightly higher than the other,” she says. Knowing this was a sign of scoliosis, or curvature of the spine, D’nelle took Jeremy and Elijah to see their pediatrician. Both boys were diagnosed with AIS, but the curve of Jeremy’s spine was identified as more severe. D’nelle was told Jeremy’s spine may need to be corrected with surgery—a major decision for any family.

I hope this can inspire people to see that it’s okay to be worried or scared about scoliosis. But you can get through it with family and friends around you, and you will get better. — Elijah

Searching for second opinions

Hesitant to immediately commit to surgery, D’nelle took the boys to see several other pediatricians for additional input. “We researched different options for almost a year just to figure out what we wanted to do,” she explains. As D’nelle was searching for second opinions, the family’s pediatrician referred them to Tyler Tetreault, MD, MBA, Attending Physician in the Jackie and Gene Autry Orthopedic Center at CHLA.

The hospital’s reputation helped the family feel confident in their next move. CHLA is the #1 pediatric orthopedic center in California, and 1 out of 5 children in the state come to the hospital for spine care. Dr. Tetreault, an orthopedic surgeon, is one of the doctors who provides this care.

“I got to meet Jeremy, Elijah, and their parents in a whirlwind visit where we saw both twins back-to-back,” Dr. Tetreault says. He recalls that the family was well-informed about the diagnosis of scoliosis they had received, but understandably had some apprehension and anxiety regarding treatment options and the potential need for surgery. “But they were also enthusiastic and ready to learn more and see how they could continue to treat their scoliosis while doing the things they enjoy, which includes martial arts,” he adds.

Dr. Tetreault explains that for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients, the severity of the spine’s curve is used to determine whether or not surgery is needed. Generally, a curve under 50 degrees does not require surgery. Curves less than 25 degrees are considered mild and usually only require observation as the child grows to ensure their condition doesn’t worsen. Curves between 25 and about 40 degrees can be treated by wearing a brace, as long as the child is still growing. But curves that approach 45-50 degrees or higher generally require surgical correction before they start to drastically affect mobility and potentially even heart and lung function.

Surgical options for AIS include spinal fusion, in which rods are inserted around a portion of the spine to help straighten out the patient’s curve, or vertebral body tethering, in which a flexible cord is attached to the vertebrae to gradually straighten the spine as the patient grows. These methods can reduce mobility in the back somewhat and can have some impact on growth, but they ensure that a patient has a strong, straight spine and doesn’t encounter any of the serious problems severe scoliosis can bring, including long-term pain and issues with internal organ function.

Identical twins, differing spinal curves

Even though they are identical twins, Dr. Tetreault explains that Jeremy and Elijah each had different curves in their spines. Since there is a genetic component to scoliosis, two siblings experiencing the condition is not unusual. But since lifestyle and activities can also impact the development of the spine, the slight variation between the twins in terms of their spinal curves was also understandable.

“Elijah’s curve was only in the low 40s,” Dr. Tetreault explains. “He wasn’t quite meeting that 50-degree threshold for a surgical recommendation, and he was nearly done growing, so we decided that a brace wouldn’t be that effective for him either.” Dr. Tetreault and the family decided to continue monitoring Elijah’s curve over time. If it started to worsen at all, they could revisit surgery as an option. But if the curve remained stable, it wouldn’t require further treatment, and they would avoid the reduction in spine mobility and potential impacts on growth and development that can accompany surgery.

At first, Elijah felt frustrated that his scoliosis didn’t have a simple or quick fix. “I remember being a little bit angry that I had this condition, and there wasn’t a solution that would just make it go away,” he says. “But I reminded myself that I had supportive family and friends around me, and Dr. Tetrault told me that Muay Thai would actually be good for the scoliosis because it would strengthen my core and help to support my back health. He also told me that having the surgery could impact my growth, and I might not grow as tall.”

Jeremy’s situation was different, as the curve in his spine was more severe. “His curve measured about 53 degrees, so we decided he would benefit from surgery,” Dr. Tetrault says. “That 10-degree difference between Elijah and Jeremy usually puts you over the tipping point, where long-term progression becomes more of a concern.”

I would want anyone else going through this to know that the surgery sounds tough, but you’ll get through it and you’ll feel so much better. — Jeremy

Moving forward with surgery

D’nelle had already been researching surgical options on her own and wanted to ensure the family made the best possible choice.

But then Jeremy’s condition began to worsen. “He was at school, sitting in class and working one day,” D’nelle says. “He told me that all he did was turn his body slightly in his chair, and he felt intense pain. He had to stop working and take a second to breathe through the pain, and we realized then how much this was really affecting him.”

That’s when the family started discussing surgical options in more detail with the care team. They decided that spinal fusion surgery was the best approach since it would permanently resolve the problem.

For Dr. Tetreault, explaining the intricacies of different treatment strategies for scoliosis is an essential and gratifying part of his job. “It’s great to be able to reassure families and help educate them in a way so they can understand the nuances between the treatments for two different spinal curves,” he says. “In this case, the curves were not too dissimilar, but it was important for the family to understand why they’re different and why we treat them differently.”

Jeremy underwent spinal fusion surgery in July of 2025, which was a success. Rods were inserted alongside the curved portion of his spine to help straighten it and keep it straight. “Jeremy did great—his surgery was super routine. We had a really good correction of his spine, and he went home on day three after surgery,” Dr. Tetreault says.

It’s great to be able to reassure families and help educate them in a way so they can understand the nuances between the treatments for two different spinal curves. — Dr. Tyler Tetreault

Recovering and returning to Muay Thai

Typically, patients can return to everyday activities about six weeks after spinal fusion surgery and may return to sports about three months afterward. “Given Jeremy’s interest in Muay Thai, a particularly high impact sport, I limited his return to full sparring a bit longer, until the six-month mark—at which point he was very excited to get back into it,” Dr. Tetreault explains.

Today, though he sits on a cushion to support the healing of his spine, Jeremy is happy to be back to fighting with his brother during Muay Thai sessions. “I have been doing it about two days a week, and I hope to increase that to three soon,” he shares. Elijah is happy to have his brother back as well.

Dr. Tetreault still sees the twins periodically at CHLA for check-ins on their spine health. “We’ll monitor Jeremy’s implants on a yearly basis for the first few years, just to ensure his fusion has fully healed and the implants are stable. Then we’ll space out his visits,” he explains. “And for Elijah, we’ll continue monitoring his spine on a yearly basis as well as he gets older.”

At this point, the family doesn’t mind these visits. “The whole team at CHLA is great, and now we always look forward to going there,” D’nelle says. “We love seeing Dr. Tetreault.”

The boys now have a new perspective on dealing with scoliosis. “I would want anyone else going through this to know that the surgery sounds tough, but you’ll get through it and you’ll feel so much better,” Jeremy says.

“I hope this can inspire people to see that it’s okay to be worried or scared about scoliosis,” Elijah explains. “But you can get through it with family and friends around you, and you will get better.”

Learn more about the Jackie and Gene Autry Orthopedic Center at CHLA.

Refer your friends, neighbors, associates, or family members who are considering making a move:

Visit entar.com/kids or call Corey at 213-880-9910

Copyright © This free information provided courtesy L.A. Loft Blog with information provided by Corey Chambers, Broker DRE 01889449. We are not associated with the seller, homeowner’s association or developer. For more information, contact 213-880-9910 or visit LALoftBlog.com Licensed in California. All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Text and photos created or modified by artificial intelligence. Properties subject to prior sale or rental. This is not a solicitation if buyer or seller is already under contract with another broker.