Update on Bill Kapoun

Dear Friends,

Early last Sunday, Bill Kapoun was caught in a fire at his apartment in Seoul, South Korea. Although he is alive, he has third degree burns on almost 70 percent of his body. He is currently in critical condition in the ICU burn ward at a hospital in Seoul. Bill had been teaching children here for over a year.

The cause of the fire has not been determined at this time. It is believed that the fire began in Bill's living room, and when he awoke during the night to investigate or escape, he was knocked down by a backdraft. However, these details have not been confirmed by authorities.

I was supposed to be staying with Bill at his place this weekend on my way out of Korea. Fortunately I've at least been able to visit him in the hospital. His parents, Dan and Judy, have come over from the states, and it has been my absolute pleasure to meet them. They are wonderful and kind people who certainly do not deserve this kind of tragedy.

Bill has made some progress, but there have also been complications. He's had one skin graft, which went alright, and he also had a tracheotomy. The level of artificial oxygen he's been needing has fluctuated somewhat. Tomorrow he is scheduled for another skin graft. It's a very important operation for him.

Although Bill has not been conscious, his family and friends have been permitted to see him for about one hour each day. We believe he can hear us and we've been trying to encourage him, tell stories and jokes, and express our affection.

Bill's contract in Korea did not provide him with insurance. His family is facing medical bills that will probably exceed $100,000. The hospital needs the money in order to proceed with his treatments. Bill's parents have four other children at home, plus an exchange student, as well as a grandmother undergoing chemotherapy. Alone, they cannot afford this.

I am asking you to help. Please help save Bill's life. He and his family and his friends need some support. Any money that you can donate, anything at all, would be a heartfelt gesture that is severely needed right now.

Any of us who have spent time away from home and from our families realize that this is the ultimate nightmare. His parents struggle even getting a decent translation of what is happening.

Fortunately Bill's friends have been working round-the-clock, literally, raising funds and building awareness and support.

To donate by check (tax-deductible charity), please send it to:
Help Bill Fund
PO Box 283
Bloomington, IN
47402

To donate by Paypal, click on the link at the top of this blog and you'll see the donate button in the middle of the page.

To make a direct transfer from a Korean bank, the account is:
KB Bank 794002 04 03 1635. It's under the name Warren Franklin-William Fund

I am asking you to help save my friend's life. Thank you.

Adam, his family and his friends

PS Please, please, double-check your smoke alarms and fire extinguishers.