Utah Man Fights For His Life In Nepal While Family Tries To Get Help

SALT LAKE CITY — A Utah man has been stranded in a Nepali hospital while his family scrambles to secure the funds necessary to bring him home on an air ambulance.

“I’m the older one, so I’m the bossy big sister,” said Brandy Nelson.

Brandy Nelson’s best friend also happens to be her young brother.

“I was Will’s sister,” she said. “I wasn’t Brandy, I was Will’s sister.

Nelson has seen William Fackrell through his military service and the best of times.

“He’s had these three beautiful children that I love so much,” she said.

Now, William is fighting for his life nearly 7,500 miles away.

“It’s really hard,” said William’s daughter, May Fackrell. “This is probably the hardest thing.”

“I woke up with my phone blowing up from three different people from Nepal, basically telling me, ‘Hey, your dad is sick. He’s in the hospital,'” said Drain Fackrell, William’s son.

William has been studying in Nepal for the last year and a half.

“He’s studying Tibetan Buddhim and philosophy with languages as well so he can become a translator,” said Dravin.

Everything was put on hold a few weeks ago when William was rushed to hospital. Doctors later diagnosed him with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a rare disorder in which your immune system attacks your nerves, potentially paralyzing your body.

“Scary,” said Dravin. “It was probably like the worst thing I’ve ever seen because that’s my hero.”

"It was probably the worst thing I've ever seen, that's my hero."Dravin Frackrell is flying out to Nepal tomorrow to be w/ his dad who is hospitalized, fighting for his life. Dravin's dad was diagnosed w/ rare disorder, GBS. Their efforts to bring him home on @KSL5TV at 10. pic.twitter.com/WehtWK45rh

— Garna Mejia (@GarnaMejiaKSL) April 18, 2021

 

William’s kids said they are doing their best to stay strong.

“It’s going to be okay, girls,” Dravin said to his sisters.

Dravin is flying out to Nepal Sunday to be with his dad.

“We recently had to make the tough decision to have a trach put in and have him intubated,” he said.

With time running out, William’s best option is to be brought home on a medical flight.

“I would give everything up to just make sure my dad was okay again,” said Dravin.

“He would do anything for anybody, regardless of who they are,” May said of her father.

Brandy Nelson said the family has reached out to Senator Lee’s Office, asking for help.

They have also started a GoFundMe to help raise $260,000 for an air ambulance.