Hamlet Nalbandyan
Jason Chamberlin celebrated his 15th birthday in Childrens
Hospital Los Angeles Tuesday, but the Glendale High football player
might be released as early as today, hospital officials said.
Chamberlin, who collapsed at the end of practice Aug. 21, is
listed in fair condition and "moving around", according to Childrens
Hospital spokesman Steve Rutledge.
Rutledge also added that Chamberlin's vital signs are stable and
that he's showing great improvement.
"He'll probably be released within the next couple of days, maybe
even as early as [today], but that's too early to say right now,"
Rutledge said.
On Thursday, Dr. Brigham Willis -- who treated Chamberlin in the
intensive care unit at Childrens Hospital -- told the News-Press that
Chamberlin was in "good condition."
However, Rutledge said that was a mistake, and that Chamberlin has
been in fair condition since Thursday.
Chamberlin was rushed to Glendale Memorial Hospital Wednesday
morning after suffering from heat stroke.
The 6-foot-3, 280-pound offensive lineman had a 107-degree body
temperature.
He was transferred to Childrens Hospital Wednesday afternoon,
where he was listed in critical condition.
Willis said that at one point, Chamberlin even stopped breathing.
Chamberlin's mother, Mia, believed that her son was dehydrated,
even though Glendale football Coach Loi Phan gave his players a
five-minute water break every 30 minutes during the two-hour
practice.
But since many of the players share water bottles, Mia believed
that Jason just didn't have enough water in his system.
Chamberlin, who has asthma, was unconscious for much of the day
Aug. 21, and was on a respirator.
He came to consciousness late Aug. 21, just after his mother got
to the hospital after rushing down from Fresno, where she was
dropping off Jason's brother, Shawn.
"I got there around 7:30, and he was still on life support," Mia
said.
"I went up to him and whispered in his ear, and he looked up and
said 'my mom's here.'
"Kids always know when their mom is around, and fortunately, he
started to respond and come around."
Chamberlin, a sophomore who is expected to be a big part of the
varsity team, was in great health before Wednesday's incident, and
had gone through "Hell Week" just fine last year, according to
teammates.
