It’s been three months since devastating wildfires tore through Southern California, decimating thousands of homes and businesses. Daytime star Cameron Mathison (Drew, General Hospital) was among the unfortunate ones who saw their beloved family home burn to the ground, and now he’s shared an inspiring update on the sentimental items he has been able to recover from the rubble.
In an emotional post on Instagram, the actor shared haunting video footage of a group of people dressed in hazmat gear digging through the debris and ash at the site of the Mathison family’s former home in Altadena, CA. “We are three months post-fire, and I’m grateful for all my friends and family who have graciously helped sort through the burn site, finding a few small pieces that are very special to me,” he wrote in the caption. “Even more so now.”
Along with the cleanup footage shown in his Instagram Reel, Mathison filmed a video from the living room of his new home, explaining what was recovered from their property. “We found all sorts of different things. Some Tibetan Buddhist statues, some pottery that the kids have made, some tiles. Lucas found a lot of his drum set. We found the grand piano that Leila played.”
Another item found among the ashes holds incredible sentimental value for Mathison, his former wife, Vanessa, and their children: a tile sign representing the name the family had called their home. “We actually named the house; we felt like it was worthy of a name,” he explained. “We called it Casa Lula — Lucas and Leila, our kids’ names — and we found that piece of tile. And although it’s broken and cracked, we’re going to put that back together, and it’ll be a little memento for us.”
However, some items Mathison was hoping to salvage were not found. “I was lucky to win three Emmys when I was at Entertainment Tonight, and we looked through the debris to see if I could find them, but obviously, they melted,” the GH star explained in a voiceover while unboxing three brand-new statuettes. Not wanting Mathison to be without the prestigious awards he earned for hosting the entertainment news show, the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) replaced them, he revealed! “I’d like to thank the Academy…” he quipped as he reached off-camera to grab one of the golden ladies from a nearby table.
While Mathison and his family will never be able to get back all that they lost in January, having these bits and pieces once again after thinking that they were gone forever is invaluable. “Being able to recover priceless items like these brings a small ray of hope shining into my life,” he concluded his post.
