Iván’s Inspiring Story: Surviving and Thriving Thanks to Shriners Children's

Six years ago, Iván's life was irrevocably changed in a tragic car accident.

A drunk driver struck the vehicle carrying Iván and his father, causing it to flip and burst into flames. Trapped by his seatbelt, Iván was heroically freed by his father, who later died from his injuries. The crash occurred in a rural area of Mexico, miles from the nearest hospital, leaving them stranded without immediate aid.

Iván’s mother, Paloma, endured an anxious wait, traveling through Culiacán and La Paz, Mexico, before reuniting with him at the hospital. There, a knowledgeable doctor connected them with Shriners Children's, starting Iván's long journey toward recovery.

Iván was taken to Shriners Children’s Northern California, where he stayed in the ICU for eight months. Despite the challenges, he finds peace and reassurance in knowing he is in capable hands.

“I have surgeries and pain, and despite those things, I feel safe here. All the doctors and staff try to keep your mind off things. All the people here are so kind, like a family. It makes the hospital not a hospital,” Iván said. "I don’t have to worry. I’m not stressed; I know everything is going to be perfect here. If it is not perfect, they are going to fix it.”

The people who work here do it with all their heart and we thank them very much.
Paloma, Iván's mom

The Most Amazing Care Anywhere for Burns

The Neil Reitman Pediatric Burn Institute is widely recognized as one of the world's leading pediatric burn research and treatment centers in the United States. The institute provides all aspects of burn care – from initial management, critical care and wound coverage – to rehabilitation, inpatient care and reconstruction. Shriners Children’s Northern California has the largest pediatric burn treatment center west of the Mississippi, and many hospitals and healthcare systems refer their most complex and complicated patients because of the training and expertise the burn doctors have to treat the most complicated and life-threatening burn injuries.

Paloma recalled the moment she first met David Greenhalgh, M.D., emeritus chief of burns, who promised to do everything possible to save Iván. "I said: ‘No – you are going to save him, and then you are going to talk in your lectures and with your coworkers about what a great achievement it was to save my son’."

Her faith was well-placed. Iván continued to thrive under their care, and Dr. Greenhalgh performed almost 50 surgeries over the next six years, including skin grafts, intestinal surgeries and complex operations on his hands to restore their mobility.

Paloma credits Dr. Greenhalgh and the team for their unwavering support, especially during critical moments when Iván’s life hung in the balance. She said that when Iván stopped breathing, "They surrounded me and hugged me, they gave me aromatherapy, and suddenly, Iván was fine. They were so prepared for everything, even to support the parents,” she said.

"The work that the entire staff does makes the hospital a very special place,” she added. “Child life made us feel special since they always kept the children entertained. The nurses sang, danced or showed a movie. It was like another medicine for my son. The people who work here do it with all their heart, and we thank them very much."

Looking to a Bright Future

Now studying psychology in college, Iván wants to be a counselor in a hospital, inspired by the compassionate care he received. His love for reading, playing video games, and spending time with his family and cat reflects his resilience and positive outlook.

Paloma, too, finds solace in their journey, believing that their experiences at Shriners Children's Northern California have profoundly shaped their lives.

“When Iván was born, I knew that he had a very special reason for coming into this world, and he has shown it to me every day,” she said. “He has changed my life and will continue to change my and many others’ lives. I am his biggest fan.”

Un patient brûlé tenant un ours en peluche parlant avec un adulte

Iván visits the Build-A-Bear Foundation’s Buddy Room at the hospital.

Next Steps

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