SALT LAKE CITY — One of the four Mormon missionaries wounded in the Brussels terrorist attacks told hospital staff Thursday to go down to a press conference and tell the world his condition is "fair to awesome."

Joseph Dresden Empey's mother beamed as she shared that story with a roomful of media Thursday morning at University Hospital, where Empey, 20, and his missionary companion Mason Wells, 19, are receiving care in the burn center.

"Dres is making great progress," Amber Empey said. "Every time they take care of his wounds you can see the progress. They are healthy young boys and their bodies are healing fast."

However, full recovery for Empey and Mason Wells from the serious burns and shrapnel wounds they sustained in the bombing could take months, and the next several weeks are a critical time in their healing, said Dr. Stephen Morris, medical director of the University of Utah Burn Center.

Their parents expressed gratitude and faith during the press conference, including an impassioned defense of the missionary work of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Their doctors further described their injuries and what lies ahead in their work to fully recover.

Meanwhile, a church spokesman provided an update on Elder Richard Norby, 66, of Lehi, Utah, who was with Empey and Wells at the airport and remains hospitalized in Belgium with serious wounds. The fourth injured missionary is Sister Fanny Clain, 20, of Montélimar, France, who also is recovering in a Belgian hospital.

'Lucky to have survived'

Empey and Wells were serving as companions and zone leaders assigned to Belgium by the France Paris Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Norby drove them and Clain to the airport, where Clain was to catch a flight to her mission assignment in Ohio.

"Both Mr. Wells and Mr. Empey arrived in pretty good condition," said Dr. Giavonni Lewis, a surgeon at University Hospital's burn center who has had primary responsibility for the care of the two men. "I thank our Belgian colleagues for taking care of them in the initial trauma. They are very lucky to have survived. They are doing well, but will require further care and procedures."

Lewis said both men have marks throughout their bodies from shrapnel or debris caused by the bombs. Both still have shrapnel in their legs that doctors won't remove unless it becomes infected. Lewis is most worried by the largest chunk of shredded metal, which is lodged on top of Empey's left foot.

She said a large piece of shrapnel or debris moving at high velocity ruptured the Achilles' tendon on Wells' left foot and tore off the entire surface of skin. Wells will require a skin graft to repair the wound. He also has a broken left heel.

Lewis said Wells has second-degree burns to his face. She cannot yet determine the severity of a bad burn on his hand that might require further intervention and surgery. Empey has second-degree burns to his hands and face that are mostly recovered and should not require surgery.

Wells previously reported the four missionaries were standing together in the Delta check-in line when the first of two suicide bombs exploded. He said the initial blast drove his iPad from his hands, and the iPad struck his head. The blast also blew his watch off his wrist and the shoe off his left foot.

The blasts knocked out Empey. When he woke up he found Wells standing in a pool of blood outside the airport doors, and Norby.

'Take courage. Don't be afraid'

The attack won't deter Mason Wells' father from supporting his two younger sons when they are missionary age.

Chad Wells, Mason's father, said he would have no hesitation seeing his two younger sons serve LDS missions in the future.

"If I had one thing to say to other parents it is, 'Take courage. Don't be afraid. We're not worried.' Missionaries do so much good. I'm just as comfortable sending my next two boys out as I was sending this one because I trust the Lord. Our message today is a message of peace, hope, healing and faith. There are challenges out there, and we can help."

While they are happy and grateful to have their sons back in Utah alive, Chad and Kymberly Wells and Court and Amber Empey repeatedly said they continue to pray and mourn for the families whose loved ones died in the attacks on the airport and a Brussels Metro station.

Court Empey echoed a message shared with the family Wednesday by Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the LDS Church.

Elder Oaks visited Dres Empey and talked with him about how much people grow through adversity. Court Empey said he did during his own mission in Dresden, Germany.

Moving forward

At the start of the press conference, LDS Church spokesman Eric Hawkins read a statement from Jason Norby, Elder Norby's son, who said his father is recovering as expected considering his serious injuries.

Norby and Clain also suffered shrapnel wounds and burns. A Belgian source told the Deseret News that Norby, who is well over 6 feet tall, was between Clain and the explosions and bore the brunt of the blasts. Among other injuries, he has a broken left leg.

Belgian doctors placed Norby in a medically induced coma for several days. He has been awake since Saturday night and is stable but unable yet to travel back to the United States.

Jason Norby said his father has progressed from turning his head, to speaking single words to talking in short sentences. His doctors expect a long but full recovery.

Empey and Wells have been released from their mission assignments. Church sources have said Norby will be released from his mission service, too. Clain will resume her mission once she recovers from her wounds.

Morris said burns and dramatic injuries can take months and even a year or two of dedicated, focused therapy and ongoing care before a patient makes a full recovery.

"They were doing what they wanted to do and were doing good every day they got up. Now they need time and space to put this together," Morris said.

Contributing: Sam Penrod, Ladd Egan

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