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PATRONS | Fall 2015 14 For addi onal informa on about the Torrance Memorial Burn Center, call 310-517-4622. AMBASSADORS' CORNER BURN CENTER PATIENTS RECEIVE INTENSIVE, HIGH-LEVEL CARE For more than four decades, the Torrance Memorial Burn Center has cared for burn patients of all ages. One of only three verified burn centers in Los Angeles County, the Burn Center provides specialized care for hundreds of survivors of residential and industrial fires and accidents every year. Torrance Memorial's Burn Center offers a unique array of services, including: >> A complement of burn and reconstructive surgeons, emergency physicians and a network of physicians in every medical specialty >> A multidisciplinary team who work closely together, assuring continuity of care for every patient >> Located adjacent to Torrance Municipal Airport, offering easy accessibility by air ambulance, helicopter and fixed-wing transport >> Close proximity to Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors Burn patients benefit from the expertise of a wide variety of specialists. is interdisciplinary team is committed to helping burn patients through every phase of their recovery, healing the whole person: mind, body and spirit. Torrance Memorial's Burn Center is led by specially trained physicians whose careers and training are focused on burn treatment. Because recovery from burn injuries can be a long and demanding process—both emotionally and physically—Torrance Memorial's Burn Center provides comprehensive care for patients after their hospital stay through the following services: e Outpatient Burn Clinic Rehabilitation Department Continued Reconstructive Services Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation and Children's Burn Foundation In this case, Dr. Reiss and the care team also had another weapon working in their favor: Mendieta's strong will to live. "I was most impressed with this mental recovery—his attitude and motivation. He was a fighter from the beginning," Dr. Reiss says. "His family was also very supportive and here every day. ese factors made a big difference in the speed and fact of his recovery." Mendieta and the staff celebrated each small recovery milestone. In January he was able to once again eat on his own without the help of a feeding tube. "He was very active with physical therapy and wanted to get back to his life," Dr. Reiss says. Persistence paid off. After 11 months of rehabilitation, on August 20, 2013 Mendieta was able to return to work. Today, two years later, he still wears special compression socks due to chronic lymphedema—a condition where fluid collects in the tissue—but has retained full use of his legs. Near normal sensation has also returned. "I am very thankful to God and to the care team at Torrance Memorial," Mendieta says. "ey fought as much as I did to keep moving forward." In December 2014 Mendieta had an opportunity to express his gratitude. e Burn Center staff, along with current and former patients, came together at the Queen Mary for a holiday party and celebration of life. Mendieta worked in the kitchen to help prepare a buffet for his special guests. "e reason we had it there was because of him," Dr. Reiss says. "Our staff doesn't often get to see the long-term outcomes of our patients, so seeing them at a celebratory occasion helps keep them enthused about the work they are doing. Our biggest goal is to get patients as close as possible to their previous life. On this front with Raul, we were very successful." Thanks to his care in the Torrance Memorial Burn Center, Raul Mendieta is back at work in the Queen Mary's kitchen.