LOGAN — A local hero and example of perseverance, Deserae “Des” Turner, has reportedly developed a deadly infection and family members fear her life is coming to an end. The 22-year-old woman has been placed on hospice after being diagnosed with bilateral septic pulmonary emboli in her lungs.
On Tuesday, April Turner, Deserae’s mother went public with the heartbreaking announcement on a GoFundMe account. She wrote how her daughter was recently taken to the emergency room, after experiencing unusual pain and shortness of breath. Doctors soon discovered the infection.
April wrote, “Des has fought a good fight for more than 8 years now; she is tired. She doesn’t have it in her to fight another life or death battle. She has endured so much more than anyone should ever have to endure.”
On the afternoon of February 16, 2017, Turner was led by a pair of teenage boys she knew to a canal in Smithfield where then-16-year-old Colter Peterson shot her in the back of the head. He and Jayzon Decker took the 14-year-old’s belongings and left her there.
Early the next morning, Turner was found by a family friend who was helping search for her. She was still alive, but barely.
Turner underwent 63 days of intensive hospital treatment and made a miraculous recovery, although never completely. For the past 8 years, she endured countless doctor visits and therapies, underwent nearly 50 procedures, of those, 16 were brain surgeries.
Despite the daily pain and challenges, Turner set and accomplished so many goals: graduating from high school, serving as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, growing thousands of flowers to give away, working a job a few hours each week, and getting married.
In Tuesday’s update, April wrote that after the latest diagnosis, “Des made the very brave decision not to treat and to go on hospice. She has a firm belief there is life after death and we will be together again.”
Turner’s family set up the online fundraiser to help them with expenses in Deserae’s “final days.”