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SALT LAKE CITY — Aubrey Waldren never imagined her previously healthy, active brother could become seriously ill so quickly.
"It's kind of a normal thing for Bryce to be on a big adventure during the winter season," Waldren said.
Bryce Astill traveled to Peru alone earlier this month, and had planned on staying there through mid-March. Waldren said family members started to hear of his worsening condition in bits and pieces.
"He had messaged his brother and said that he was not going to go on a trek that he had planned because he was sick and felt a cold coming on," Waldren explained. "The next message was that he was going to the hospital and feeling really sick. The one after that was that he was headed into the ICU."
Waldren said her brother was diagnosed with pneumonia and a pulmonary edema, which causes the lungs to take on liquid. Family members learned that medical care in Peru could not be performed without an up-front payment. A close friend, Jenny Powers, then put together a fundraising page to help get Astill moved to a hospital in Lima that would be better equipped to help him. Powers said the page raised more than $5,000 in four hours.
"That's a testament to Bryce," Powers said. "This is all coming from people who are giving little by little, 550-plus donors, because they care and personally want to see him get well."
The GoFundme site has raised over $35,000 so far, but Waldren says her brother will likely be in the hospital for up to two weeks, with treatments totaling near $100,000.
"It's scary to know that your brother's life depends on a cash amount," Waldren said. "I can't imagine my life without him."
In addition to being a very active athlete and world-traveler, Powers and Waldren say Astill mentors at-risk youths and helps battered wives through charity organizations.
"Every group or community that he joins, I think he ends up participating in a way that he teaches and touches people," Powers said.
Family and friends are organizing multiple fundraisers to get Astill the treatments he needs.
"I really never have wanted someone to get better so bad," Waldren said. "[And] to come home."
In addition to the GoFundMe* page mentioned above, friends have set up a fund in Bryce Astill's name at America First Credit Union.
Special fundraiser exercise classes are also scheduled:
Ute Crossfit, Friday, March 4, 5:30 p.m.
Salt Lake Power Yoga, March 12, 1-2 p.m.
Fit To Recover, March 19, 2 p.m.
*KSL.com does not assure that the money 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.
