04/16/2026
When a child suffers a burn injury, healing involves far more than medical treatment alone.
Through our partnership with the Children’s Burn Foundation, Torrance Memorial provides comprehensive support for pediatric burn survivors and their families—from advanced surgical care and rehabilitation to emotional counseling and financial assistance.
For instance, Dr. Matthew Reiss, director of the Torrance Memorial Burn Center, says, the foundation helped a local family whose lives were forever changed after their home burned down in 2024. The fire killed the father, severely burned the mother and burned 60% of their 6-year-old daughter’s body. She was treated by Dr. Reiss and his team.
Another son with special needs lost a leg, and the 21-year-old son, who had not been home at the time of the fire, was left in charge to manage family care and the funeral for his father.
“It was traumatizing. And although the mother was out of the hospital earlier than her daughter, she was devastated and depressed and still had her own injuries,” explains Dr. Reiss. “The older son was the decision-maker and took care of the family. He received a lot of help from the Children’s Burn Foundation. The youngest needed multiple surgeries, including a tracheostomy, and they all had significant rehabilitation needs.”
Learn more: https://www.torrancememorial.org/healthy-living/blog/childrens-burn-foundation/
Children's Burn Foundation