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SALT LAKE CITY — A family known by many in the Salt Lake area is struggling with tough decisions Thursday night as they try to bring a sick family member home.
Isaac Winder, 28, of the Winder Dairy family, is in a coma right now in China.
"He's just an adventurous guy, and funny," said Aimee Winder Newton, the oldest of five Winder siblings.
The same day Newton was re-elected to the Salt Lake County Council, her brother drifted into a coma.
Isaac Winder, his wife and their young daughter arrived in Changchun, China in August.
"He was a stay-at-home dad," Newton said. "He took care of his two-year-old daughter, Adair. Candalyn was teaching school in China, and they were just loving it."
But Isaac Winder got food poisoning about a month ago. He was on medication for previous medical problems, and doctors tell the family his medication levels got out of balance and his health deteriorated.
It's scary to have them so far away and not be able to be there and support him.
–Aimee Winder Newton
"He got sick, and his immune system deteriorated so quickly," Newton said.
Winder became severely dehydrated, and his wife took him to the hospital.
"It's scary to have them so far away and not be able to be there and support him," Newton said.
Throughout West Valley and Taylorsville, the Winder name is synonymous with milk, ice cream and public service. The family, so well-known for giving back to the community, now needs prayers and support for Isaac Winder.
Brother Mike Winder, former West Valley City Mayor, and their father Kent Winder, a former Taylorsville council member, flew to China this afternoon.
Mike Winder speaks Mandarin Chinese, having served an LDS mission in Taiwan.
"We feel grateful to get them over there to help make decisions," Newton said.
Last night, the family Skyped with their cousin, Clay Winder, who held the phone to Isaac Winder's ear.
"Kind of a chance to share some feelings, just in case," Newton said.
They're ready to fight with him, if he can recover with a good quality of life.
"If there's just too much damage to his brain, and everything else because of this, we're going to have to make some tough decisions," she said.
Newton said a medical evacuation costs $150,000. Isaac Winder's wife already must prepay $1,700 a day to keep him in the ICU and $10,000 a day for dialysis. Newton said that's the way foreigners must pay at the hospital, and her sister-in-law has already gone through her own savings and is borrowing money from friends in China.
"So every morning they come to Candalyn and say, 'We need the money to keep treating your husband,' " Newton said.
Newton gets updates from their cousin at the hospital. On the phone this afternoon, Clay Winder said, "There's nobody to talk to. We're all just in this waiting room behind these big metal locked doors."
Despite the communication frustrations, the family feels good about the medical care. They're trying to stay positive about Isaac Winder's recovery, but they know they face difficult decisions in the next couple of days.
"We feel like it's God's will we will be okay with either way, but we would sure love to get him home."
In just two hours today, after Newton first shared her brother's story on her blog, she received more than $3,200 in donations*.
"That's two days worth of care for him."
*KSL.com has not verified the accuracy of the information provided with respect to the account nor does KSL.com assure that the monies deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account you should consult your own advisors and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
