BRUSSELS, April 8, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — Family members of Elder Richard Norby have released a statement through the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints saying they are grateful for people’s thoughts and prayers on Norby’s behalf.
Norby, 66, is the last of three Utah missionaries remaining oversees after being caught in the March 22 suicide attack on the Belgium Airport. All three, along with female missionary Fanny Rachel Clain, of France, were burned and injured by shrapnel from the attack.
“Elder Norby remains in a Belgium Hospital’s ICU,” the family statement says. “He continues to deal with the serious effects of infection and injury from shrapnel, and the progress is slower than we had anticipated.
“We are very grateful for the thoughts and prayers that continue to come on his behalf. We are looking forward to having him back in the United States for continued care and recovery as soon as possible.”
Norby, of Lehi, suffered the most serious injuries of all four missionaries, and spent time in a medically induced coma. The two other Utah missionaries, former companions Mason Wells, 19, of Sandy, and Joseph Dresden Empey, 20, of Santa Clara, were transferred late last month to the University of Utah Hospital Burn Unit Center, where Wells’ recovery continues.
Empey was released earlier this week, and will continue outpatient treatment in St. George, which is near his family’s home.
Wells and Empey have been released from their mission callings.
Clain has said she plans to continue to America, to serve a mission in Ohio, when her healing permits. The airport trip was to take her to a flight to Ohio.
All four missionaries had served at the France-Paris mission. Clain was there short term, to serve while awaiting paperwork that would allow her to travel to the United States.
