On January 8, 2025, the Altadena home of the Martinez Family was reduced to ashes as the Eaton Fire ravaged the area. On the 10th, Daniel's place of work was also destroyed. This young family was already in the midst of the unimaginable nightmare of fighting for their 17 month old son's life - navigating a broken healthcare system to get him placed on the Donor list at Children's Hospital LA for new liver. Without a home, an income or any familial financial support, the family is struggling immensely to afford the most basic daily necessities.

My personal plea:

Thank you for reading this. I write on behalf of this family I've recently met. They are the epitome of a family "in need" and, yet, it has taken me weeks to convince them to let me post this. In my own - relatively privileged - life, I have not had cause to ask for much help. But I've learned (and it has been hugely amplified in the past weeks since the devastating fires in Los Angeles), that the people I've met over the years who need the most help, are the least likely to ask for it (and, therefore, the least likely to get it.) The efforts and generosity of friends and strangers who have raised money for the people of LA - many of whom will be ok - these past weeks has been momentous. Still, I implore you, please also donate here. This family may not be.

Their story: This family is living what I can only imagine is the American nightmare.

The 17 month old boy (Ace) has something called Biliary Atresia - a rare liver disease that affects newborns, where the bile ducts (tubes that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder and intestines) are blocked or absent. This prevents bile from reaching the digestive system, leading to liver damage and other complications. He was growth restricted at birth and Katelyn (his mother) was told, "it was fine" by her OB/GYN. His gallbladder and kidneys grew to be huge because his body wasn't growing.

Ace has already had surgeries to remove his gallbladder and one kidney that haven't worked and, now, he is in dire need of an immediate, life-saving liver transplant and is on a donor list at Children's Hospital LA. Subsequently, this has all caused developmental delays. He also has smaller lungs than he should and will, likely, need a lung transplant later in life. He uses oxygen at night and his blood count randomly drops so he has to have a blood transfusion once a month and is on more than 10 daily medications. Additionally, his immune system is so fragile that they can hardly leave the house to go anywhere with him.

The parents, Katelyn and Daniel, are young and educated. They have worked tirelessly to fight for the care that's needed for their babies. They have done everything "right." And, yet, Katelyn has confided in me that they 'can't afford food right now' and, "since my son is so immunocompromised, it is hard to go to food banks." Daniel has his Bachelor's degree and has been working in property management (until the fire rendered that impossible) and Katelyn is a certified vet tech but, as they have no other support and Ace wouldn't be safe at a daycare even if they could afford one, she is the best candidate to stay home and care Ace and his even littler baby sister.

They aren't asking for handouts (at all) - in fact, it’s baffled me how humble they are. I met them because I started a small Facebook group for the fire victims in LA for people to donate things, and the only thing this sweet Mama who lost everything asked for was Legos for her 10 year old stepson who was heartbroken because he lost all of his collection in the fire. In knowing them a little bit more, I now know they need literally everything.

And that means money. And sharing their story.

Thank you all so much. I know times are tough right now for everyone. If you can give a little, please do. If you can give a lot, please do.

"No one has ever become poor by giving" -- Anne Frank, The Diary of Anne Frank