Corey Chambers Real Estate Newsletter June 2023 — The SoCal Home

THE GIVING IT BACK AND PAYING IT FORWARD NEWSLETTER

Happy Fathers Day to… Everyone?

You guessed it: Fathers Day is June 18. But why should I mention this to you?

Well, since you have been kind enough to be part of our business, I wanted to take the opportunity to give you a free gift on Fathers Day. Chances are that you are not a dad, but I am sure the dads won’t mind. So I am going to go ahead and give you (and those you know) TWO very special free gifts.

Yes, TWO Gifts.

Gift #1 We will sell your home at your price, or we will buy it.*

Yes, this is the guarantee I am most famous for. And you will know that, whether it’s a super awesome real estate market or a housing recession, I have not wavered from this guarantee. The peace of mind from a guarantee like this is a fantastic gift.

I can think of none better. My team and I are committed to results. In fact, Results-Oriented is one of our core values. For more than 30 years, people have been coming to us when they want their home sold, at their price and with the least hassle. We look forward to the next 30 years of Guaranteed Results for L.A. homeowners. #coreychambers #realestate #news

Your Referrals Change Lives!

Go Serve Large!!! Investing In The People Of Our Great Community.

With The Corey Chambers Team, Your Referrals Really do Change Lives!

If you or a friend are thinking about selling, make sure to choose a real estate company you can trust!

A Real Estate Company That Gives Back!

Gift #2… Donations to one of the areas Leading NonProfits, CHLA Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. In last month’s letter, I updated you on our goal of raising $25,000 for CHLA. In case you missed it, we donate a portion of our income from home sales to help the kids. Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is a 501(c)(3). a nonprofit institution that provides pediatric health care and helps young patients more than half a million times each year in a setting designed just for their needs. Its history began in 1901 in a small house on the corner of Alpine and Castelar Streets (now Hill St. in Chinatown) and today its medical experts offer more than 350 pediatric specialty programs and services to meet the needs of patients. CHLA provides more than $316.2 million in community benefits annually to children and families. As the first pediatric hospital in Southern California, CHLA relies on the generosity of philanthropists in the community to support compassionate patient care, leading-edge education of the caregivers of tomorrow and innovative research efforts that impact children at the hospital and around the world. YOUR REFERRALS HELP THE KIDS! Keep them coming!

Our goal this year: Raise $25,000 for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles!

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 and ironclad guarantees but the kids of Children’s Hospital will benefit too! Just give me a call or pass my number on to anyone you know considering buying or selling. My number is 213-880-9910.

Your Referrals help the Kids!

Life moves fast for some and we are eager to make the Home Selling and Buying experience a smooth rewarding one. Over the last two decades of helping thousands of families sell their home and/or buy another, we have met some wonderful, loving, caring people. People like you! As we move forward this Summer, please know we areA Real Estate Company That Gives Back!

Thank you in advance for your referrals! My number is 213-880-9910.

Go Serve Big!!!

Corey Chambers

P.S. Check out the story enclosed of this amazing young person whose life was given back thanks to CHLA.

A real estate company with experience, proven results, and a give-back philosophy!

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 someone you know considering a move.

Of course, you can always call me direct as well at 213-880-9910

Why I support Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles

I grew up right here in the Greater Los Angeles Area, born in Los Angeles County at St. Francis Hospital. I remember when I first heard about a young person close to our family suffering from a nasty disease and getting treated for that at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. It was then that I began to pay closer attention to the work they do at that hospital. Since then, I have learned that it is a collection of hard-working health care professionals, most making their home 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 a way that I can the good work these people do at Children’s. My team rallies around our annual goal or raising money and donating portions of our income to help Children’s 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 commitment to their patients. And since their services survive on sponsorships and donations, we are happy to contribute and proud to support them.

Sincerely,

Corey Chambers

*seller and Corey must agree on price and time of possession. Corey Chambers, Broker DRE#01889449

Can a New Way to Treat a Tumor Help Kai Beat Brain Cancer?

Melissa found Children’s Hospital Los Angeles in July 2021, when she was on a frenzied search for help for her infant son. — By Jeff Weinstock (Courtesy CHLA)

After her infant son was diagnosed with a rare tumor, Melissa crossed the country searching for help. She found it at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles in the office of Dr. Ashley Margol, one of the few experts in an innovative therapy called MEMMAT.

Five months earlier, Kai had been diagnosed with atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor, known as ATRT, an especially menacing brain cancer with a bleak prognosis. The doctors who made the diagnosis after removing the tumor recommended that Melissa and her husband, Chasen, not intervene with treatment.

“We ran from them as fast as we could,” Melissa says. But where to? Searching out an alternative opinion was an immense effort. “Nobody said, ‘This is how we treat it, this is what we’re going to do,’ because there’s no real protocol for ATRT.”

The family moved east, picking up stakes from San Jose, California, to pursue treatment, but after four months of chemotherapy, Kai relapsed just before his first birthday. The cancer reappeared in the same area of Kai’s brain, along with more, smaller lumps nearby and on his spine. The medical team told the family that there was no answer for recurrent ATRT and discontinued Kai’s care.

Again facing a desperate scramble to find an expert who would treat Kai, Melissa contacted doctors across the country, but got nowhere until a pediatric oncologist in Texas listened to her story and thought of a colleague. She told Melissa, simply, “Call Dr. Margol.”

A new way of attacking a tumor

One of the few physicians with expertise in ATRT, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles oncologist Ashley Margol, MD, Director of the hospital’s Brain Tumor Center, administers a treatment protocol called MEMMAT developed specifically to target recurrences of the most destructive pediatric cancers, including atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor.

Melissa says she didn’t hold back. “We emailed her, we called her. She called us back and said, ‘Get on a flight. I’ll see him in a couple of days.’”

How fast was the response? The time elapsed between the date Dr. Margol received the email and the date the family was in her office was five days.

“We were completely overwhelmed,” Melissa says. “We had no idea this even existed, this possibility. We were thinking we were only going to have a certain amount of time with our kid. And then we were presented with a little bit of hope, which was—no, you can’t describe that.”

The acronym MEMMAT is a merger of recurrent medulloblastoma, ependymoma and ATRT. It’s what’s called an antiangiogenic therapy, which means it is designed to prevent new tumors from forming by cutting off their blood supply, as opposed to standard chemotherapy, which kills active cancer cells.

“I’ll give you an example,” Dr. Margol says. “If I have a plant and I start depriving it of water, that’s one way of killing it, right? Versus if I pulled the plant out of the dirt and chopped it into 10 pieces. We know that tumors, unless they have their own blood supply, can’t grow. Eventually they wither away and die. So it’s kind of a different way of attacking a tumor.

“Honestly,” she says, “there’s no standard of care for relapsed ATRT. There’s really no standard of care for upfront ATRT. It’s such a rare disease. There are only about 50 kids in the U.S. every year who are diagnosed with it.

‘Fifty percent doesn’t mean anything’

What separates MEMMAT from conventional chemotherapy is the delivery of medicine, which goes directly into the fluid surrounding the brain through a small catheter called an Ommaya reservoir. That’s a potential advantage over the standard intravenous injection of chemotherapy, which can run up against a protective screen called the blood-brain barrier and be kept from reaching cancer cells in the brain and spine.

The therapy knocked out the several new, smaller tumors Kai presented with at CHLA, while the recurrent large tumor was removed by neurosurgeon Mark Krieger, MD, Surgical Director of the Brain Tumor Center, who holds the Billy and Audrey L. Wilder Chair in Neurosurgery. Multiple rounds of radiation followed. Last October, with repeated MRIs showing no evidence of cancer and seeing no benefit to be gained from more chemotherapy, Dr. Margol advised ending the treatment to spare Kai any further side effects. The most recent scan in January was also clear.

“Dr. Margol and the MEMMAT protocol absolutely saved Kai,” Melissa says.

However, Dr. Margol has had frank talks with the family about the chances of surviving the disease. MEMMAT is not seen as a cure, she says. It can extend and improve life, but recurrent ATRT remains a nearly insurmountable cancer.

“I don’t go over statistics because children are not statistics,” Dr. Margol says. “Fifty percent doesn’t mean anything, right? Your kid is 100%. So I don’t have that conversation. There is never a scenario where I tell someone, ‘I’m sorry, there’s nothing I can do.’

“I do tell every family, ‘My goal is to cure your child, and I’m going to do everything I can to make that happen.’ My goal is always for the family to understand that we’re on the same team from the get-go. I don’t know how the journey’s going to end, but we’re all on this train together.”

An ellipsis that signals hope

Each clean MRI report offers some relief, but hardly enough time to exhale before the next one. As each scan draws closer Melissa gets a swell of “scanxiety,” as parents of pediatric cancer patients call their nervousness before an impending test and the wait for the outcome.

“About a week leading up to MRIs, we’re irritable, we’re scared, we’re worried, we’re all the things, but we still have to function,” Melissa says. She asks her husband to check the patient portal for the results. “I can’t open the app. He does it because I just sit and shake until we know we’re in the clear for another little while.”

That’s just one of the ways Chasen has held Melissa together. She says that Kai’s 6-year-old brother, Cruz, also provides support. “It’s a family fight,” she says. “I’m only a small part of the reason we’re still upright each day.”

Kai turns 3 in July. He gets physical and occupational therapy to address the weaknesses related to his disease and treatment, including walking and talking. A stroke he suffered after his initial brain surgery impaired the right side of his face, which makes eating a challenge.

“I don’t think of them as deficits at all,” Melissa says. “I think of Kai as thriving based on what he’s been through. He’s the sassiest 2-year-old you’ve ever met in your whole life. He’s been telling us every day that he wants to go to preschool. We’re like, ‘OK, well, let’s try to get you potty-trained and we’ll take that next step,’ because he seems to be ready.”

Dr. Margol told the family that if Kai gets to two years with no appearance of cancer, then she will be comfortable saying his prognosis has improved meaningfully. Yet seeing in her notes that he has passed the one-year mark draws a small inflection of optimism. “Oh yeah, look at that,” she says.

“I told the family, ‘It’s still a very small possibility that we can cure him, but we’re certainly going to try.’ To be honest, I didn’t think we would be in this space right now where he doesn’t have any tumor, but …” In the upturn of her voice as it trails off, in all the open-ended qualifiers, in certainly, but, and small possibility, is a slender allowance of hope.

“I don’t know that I think about whether there’s going to be a cure,” Melissa says. “I live in survival mode, truthfully. I want to be hopeful. I’m just really cautious about how optimistic I am. The reality is that ATRT is a beast and can come back at any time. So it’s scan to scan. I’ll take it all day long because I didn’t think I would get the opportunity to experience such a beautiful kid, and I’m getting that. I’m grateful for it.”

— 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

LOFT & CONDO LISTINGS DOWNTOWN LA [MAP]

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

May 1, 2023May 1, 2023

Corey Chambers Real Estate Newsletter May 2023 | The SoCal Home

A Mother’s Gift: The Foundation for a Lifelong Passion in Writing

Every mother has her unique way of guiding and teaching her children. My mother was no exception. She was instrumental in teaching me to read and write even before I started my formal education. Her nurturing and guidance have made me who I am today: a passionate writer and the proud author of the L.A. Loft Blog. As we celebrate Mother’s Day, I want to share my story as a tribute to my mother and all the amazing moms out there who shape their children’s lives in profound ways.

The Wise Woman and Her Free-Range Approach

My mother was not the type to constantly instruct me on what to do or not to do. Instead, she was more of a free-range mom who believed in giving me space to learn and grow at my own pace. She offered valuable advice when needed, and time has revealed that she was, indeed, a wise woman. Her approach allowed me to develop a strong sense of independence and curiosity, which later translated into my passion for reading and writing.

The Gift of Reading and Writing

Before I even set foot in a classroom, my mother had already taught me to read and write at a third-grade level. She recognized the importance of a strong foundation in literacy and spent countless hours nurturing my abilities. This early start in my education not only made me feel confident and ready for school but also sparked a love for reading and writing that has stayed with me throughout my life.

The L.A. Loft Blog: A Testament to a Mother’s Love

Today, I am the proud author of the L.A. Loft Blog, and I owe my success in part to my mother’s guidance and support. Her belief in me and her dedication to my education laid the groundwork for my passion for writing. This Mother’s Day, I want to acknowledge her impact on my life and express my gratitude for her unwavering love and support.

A Gift for All Mothers

This Mother’s Day, let’s celebrate the wisdom, love, and dedication of all mothers, both present and those who are no longer with us. Each mother has her unique way of shaping her children’s lives, and their influence lasts a lifetime. So here’s a heartfelt gift to all moms out there: Buy a home in May, get $5,000 cash from your broker, the Corey Chambers team, at closing. Happy Mother’s Day!

Though my mother is no longer here, her legacy lives on in my writing and my love for reading. Her wisdom and love have made a lasting impact on my life, and I am forever grateful. As we celebrate Mother’s Day, let’s remember to honor and appreciate the incredible women who have made us who we are today. Happy Mother’s Day to all the wise, loving, and dedicated mothers out there. Your impact is immeasurable, and your love knows no bounds.

Corey Chambers Team raising $25,000 for CHLA

Supporting Moms at Children’s Hospital: How Your Real Estate Referrals Can Help Families in Need

There are many ways to make a positive impact on the lives of families with sick children. At Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, the dedicated staff goes above and beyond to support mothers whose children are fighting for their lives. As we approach Mother’s Day, it’s important to remember that many moms are by their child’s bedside, focusing on their well-being rather than on their own special day. One way you can help these moms and their children is through your real estate referrals. Read on to learn how your referrals can make a difference in the lives of these families.

The Mission: Raising $25,000 for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

Our team is on a mission to raise $25,000 for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. The funds raised will support the Children’s Recovery Center, where kids battling cancer and other debilitating diseases receive life-saving care. The Recovery Center relies on sponsorships and donations to operate, and your real estate referrals can help ensure that more children have access to this vital resource.

Children receiving care at the Children’s Recovery Center are 300% more likely to enter remission when they can access its services. With your help, we can make a difference in the lives of these young patients and their families.

How Your Referrals Help the Kids

When you refer someone to our real estate sales team, not only do they benefit from our award-winning service, but we also donate a substantial portion of our income from every home sale to Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. This means that your referrals directly contribute to the well-being of children in need.

How to Make a Referral

Referring someone is easy. Just visit www.ReferralsHelpKids.com or call us directly at 213-880-9910. You can rest assured that your referrals will receive excellent service, as well as our exclusive guarantees:

Home Sellers: We will sell your home at your price, or we’ll buy it ourselves.*
Home Buyers: If you are not completely satisfied with your home within 24 months of purchase, we will buy it back or sell it for free, your choice.*

Why Your Referrals Matter

Your referrals not only help us provide top-notch real estate services, but they also support a worthy cause. Children’s Hospital Los Angeles relies on the generosity of people like you to continue its life-saving work.

As we honor mothers this month, let’s not forget the moms who are fighting for their children’s lives. Your referrals can make a difference for these families and help Children’s Hospital continue its vital mission.

*Conditions apply. Please inquire for details.

A Lifelong Connection: Why I Support Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) is a beacon of hope for countless families in need of specialized care for their children. As a native of the Greater Los Angeles Area, I have always felt a deep connection to this incredible institution and its mission. In this article, I will share my personal story of why I support Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and how my team and I work together to contribute to their cause.

A Personal Connection to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

We are grateful for your support in our effort to raise $25,000 for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. By referring friends, family, and associates to our real estate sales team, you’re not only helping them find their dream home, but you’re also giving back to a meaningful cause. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of children and their families. Visit www.ReferralsHelpKids.com or call us at 213-880-9910 to make a referral today.

Growing up in the Greater Los Angeles Area, I was born in Los Angeles County at St. Francis Hospital. My connection to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles began when a young person close to our family suffered from a severe illness and received treatment at CHLA. This experience opened my eyes to the vital work carried out by the dedicated healthcare professionals at the hospital. As a result, I felt compelled to contribute to their mission in any way possible.

The Common Cause: Healing Young Lives

Children’s Hospital Los Angeles brings together hard-working healthcare professionals from the Los Angeles area, united by a common cause – to help young people overcome the health challenges life sometimes presents. As a native of the area, I take immense pride in supporting the incredible work carried out by the CHLA team. My team and I have made it our annual goal to raise money and donate a portion of our income to help CHLA in their quest to heal young people when they need it the most.

Our Commitment to Supporting CHLA

My team and I are dedicated to providing outstanding results for buyers and sellers referred to us by our past clients. We have found that Children’s Hospital Los Angeles shares a similar commitment to their patients. Since their services rely on sponsorships and donations, we are delighted to contribute and proud to support their life-changing work.

Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is an institution that has touched the lives of countless families in the Greater Los Angeles Area. My personal connection to CHLA has inspired me and my team to support their mission in any way we can. By raising funds and donating a portion of our income, we aim to contribute to the incredible work they do to heal young lives. Together, we can make a difference and help CHLA continue to provide hope and healing to those who need it the most.

After ECMO, Nothing Can Stop Martin

Martin is now 4 ½ and thriving.

At birth, Martin went precious minutes without oxygen. A specialized team at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles raced to save his life—and his brain.

“Did you get a picture of your baby yet?” Imelda looked up, startled by the nurse’s question. At her side, her newborn baby, Martin, lay in an incubator, with what seemed like a million tubes coming out of his little body. A heart-lung machine called extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) had been keeping him alive since he was born. “I don’t want a photo,” Imelda told her, shaking her head. “I don’t want to remember my son like this.” “Oh, that picture is not for you,” the nurse responded. “It’s for your son. Because when he gets older and he’s struggling through something, you’re going to show him a picture of him on this machine, and you’re going to say, ‘Honey, if you can get through this, you can get through anything. There’s nothing that can stop you.’”

A traumatic birth

Just a few days earlier, Imelda had been at home, timing her contractions at 3 a.m. and watching them get faster and stronger. That in itself was not alarming; she was 40 weeks pregnant. Still, she couldn’t shake the sense that something was terribly wrong. “I just had this feeling in my heart,” she says. “I told my husband, ‘We need to leave right now.’” At the hospital, her fears were confirmed. The baby was in distress; his heart rate was dropping dangerously. Doctors rushed to perform an emergency C-section. But when Martin was born, there was no telltale cry. He was completely limp. “What’s wrong?” Imelda cried. “What’s wrong with my baby?”

The team whisked him away. Fortunately, doctors were able to insert a tube into Martin’s trachea and connect him to a ventilator, allowing him to start breathing. But he had been without oxygen for a dangerous two to three minutes. “On a scale of 1 to 100, with 100 being the worst, your baby is a 99,” a doctor told Imelda and her husband, Armando. “He needs to go to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles immediately.”

Time is brain

Martin had hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), a brain injury that occurs when a baby lacks oxygen during delivery. His case was severe. Every second counted to save his brain cells.

An emergency transport team from CHLA quickly arrived and started Martin on critical medicines, as well as therapeutic hypothermia. Hypothermia lowers a baby’s body temperature and can reduce the risk of brain injury from HIE, especially when started right away. “It’s critical to cool the brain as quickly as possible after birth,” explains Tai-Wei Wu, MD, Director of the Neonatal Neuroprotective Program at CHLA. “That gives us the best chance to preserve a baby’s brain cells.” But Martin also had meconium aspiration syndrome, which occurs when a baby poops before birth. The meconium mixes with amniotic fluid, and the thick, tar-like substance is inhaled into the lungs. Meconium aspiration often occurs when there is fetal distress before the baby is born.

At CHLA, doctors in the Level IV Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation Newborn and Infant Critical Care Unit (NICCU)quickly determined that only an extreme measure—ECMO—could save Martin’s life. “The ventilator and medications were not enough to raise his oxygen levels,” says Rachel Chapman, MD, Associate Division Chief of Neonatology in the Fetal and Neonatal Institute and Medical Director of the Cohen Foundation NICCU. “ECMO was his only chance.”

ECMO is an advanced form of heart-lung support, and CHLA has the largest pediatric program in California. The specialized team includes neonatologists, pediatric surgeons, nurses and respiratory therapists who have extensive experience in providing round-the-clock care for babies on this complex heart-lung support. That expertise enabled the team to immediately mobilize and place Martin on ECMO just a few hours after his arrival. “Time is brain,” Dr. Wu notes. “This was a baby who was not getting enough oxygen. The longer that goes on, the greater an effect it has on the brain. We had to act fast.” The team was also able to continue Martin’s hypothermia treatment while he was on ECMO. Still, his prognosis was bleak. “Even with hypothermia, 60% of babies with severe hypoxic brain injuries like Martin’s do not survive or have severe neurodevelopmental impairment,” Dr. Wu says. “And ECMO carries high risks of brain bleeds and stroke.”

Beep! Beep! Beep!

The next day, Imelda was released from the hospital and joined Armando at Martin’s bedside. “I walked in, and there were just tubes everywhere,” she remembers. “And alarms. Alarms for hours on end. Beep! Beep! Beep! The nurses were moving, like, fast. They were working so hard! They were trying to keep him alive and suction the meconium out of his lungs. I was in awe.”

A multidisciplinary team of specialists—including neonatologists, pediatric surgeons, pulmonologists, neurologists, nephrologists and cardiologists—collaborated on his care. When Martin began having seizures, for example, the team’s 24-hour video EEG monitoring identified them, enabling neuro critical care specialists to quickly treat them with medication.

Meanwhile, Imelda and Armando found themselves transfixed on the many monitors surrounding their son, watching anxiously as numbers seemed to randomly zigzag up and down. “Dr. Chapman came into the room at one point,” Imelda remembers. “And she just hugged me and said, ‘Let us worry about the monitors. Just look at your son. Just be with him.’ “The doctors and nurses at CHLA are amazing,” Imelda adds. “Their words are like little gems, little treasures that keep you going.”

‘He wanted to live’

When Martin reached his sixth day on ECMO, Dr. Chapman came in with good news: His lungs were improving. The plan was to slowly start weaning him from the machine later that day. His parents celebrated. But not for long.

Two hours later, Martin’s condition turned: He had a small stroke. There would be no gradual weaning—the team had to immediately take him off ECMO. If his lungs could not handle it, there would be nothing more they could offer him. “Just pray,” Imelda told her husband. “Pray, pray, pray.” The team carefully removed Martin from ECMO. He needed full ventilator support and many medications. But he hung on. “He’s a little fighter,” his mom says. “He wanted to live.”

For the next several weeks, Martin slowly improved. First, he weaned off the ventilator. After a couple of weeks, there was another milestone: His parents were able to hold him for the first time.

Finally, after two months in the hospital, he went home. He was on oxygen 24/7. He had a feeding tube. His struggles were not over. But he was home.

A daily reminder

“Helloooo!” A little boy with a cardboard box over his head has come alongside Imelda, who is talking by Zoom. The box has two Batman-shaped holes for eyes. The boy lifts up the box to reveal a huge smile. It is Martin. “He was so excited to show you his robot costume,” his mom says, laughing. “It’s not a robot costume,” Martin corrects her. “It’s a box with eyes on it.” “Yes,” she says, smiling down at him. “It’s a box with eyes on it.”

Now 4 and a half, Martin is thriving. An energetic preschooler, he runs, climbs, swims, sings, talks up a storm and charms everyone he meets. “He’s got that magnetism,” Imelda says. “He is a happy, happy, happy boy. We are so grateful. If it weren’t for CHLA, our son would not be here.”

His recovery was slow but steady. A few months after coming home, he no longer needed the feeding tube. Gradually, he needed less oxygen support, too, and by age 18 months he didn’t need it at all. Doctors at CHLA followed him closely through the Newborn Follow-up Program, which provides comprehensive care for babies after a critical illness. And while Martin underwent occupational therapy for his right hand, which is weaker because of the stroke, he was walking before his first birthday. And even the hand weakness doesn’t hold him back. “No one else notices it,” Imelda says. “He is a total lefty.”

His doctors have been amazed by his recovery. “He had such a rough start,” says Dr. Wu. “It’s quite humbling to see him now—so bright and curious and active. It shows how plastic the brain can be.” It also is a testament to CHLA’s lifesaving care. In gratitude, Imelda created posters with pictures of Martin and shared them with Dr. Wu, Dr. Chapman and one of Martin’s former nurses.

“I look at it every day!” Dr. Chapman shares. “His recovery has been remarkable. It’s a daily reminder of why we do what we do.” And that picture of Martin on ECMO? Yes, Imelda heeded that nurse’s advice and ended up taking several photos. Right now, her son is too busy playing with his older sister and parading his latest collection of superhero action figures.

But one day, she will show the photos to him—and remind him that he’s always been a fighter. That he can get through anything. And that nothing can stop him. — By Katie Sweeney | Story and photos courtesy Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

Learn more about the Fetal and Neonatal Institute.

How You Can Help

Anyone you know who might be making a move — refer them to the Corey Chambers real estate team. Not only will they benefit from our award winning service, but this very worthy cause will benefit as well. Corey Chambers 213-880-9910 helpkids@coreychambers.com www.ReferralsHelpKids.com

Copyright © This free information provided courtesy L.A. Loft Blog with information provided by Corey Chambers, Broker CalDRE 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. Some text and images have been 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.