Utah Family Faces Dual Tragedies After Son Shot, Daughter Dies in Hospital
A young girl defied medical expectations for four years before succumbing to a spinal infection, shortly after her brother was severely injured in a shooting incident.
A Utah family is navigating profound grief after a double tragedy struck: their young daughter died while hospitalized for a spinal infection, not long after their son was shot and seriously injured by bullies.
Brandon Dorrall was shot in the neck by teenagers who were reportedly seeking his younger brother, Alex. Crystal Dorrall, Brandon's mother, recounted the event, stating that gunfire erupted, striking Brandon on the second round of shots, followed by sixteen more.
Brandon survived the shooting but sustained severe injuries that required him to relearn basic functions like walking and talking. He also lost control of his right arm.
Simultaneously, Brandon's sister, Jocelyn, was in the hospital battling a spinal infection. Doctors had initially predicted that Jocelyn, born with her twin sister Serena, would not survive long after birth, or would have a very poor quality of life if she did.
However, Jocelyn defied these prognoses, living for four years. Her mother described her as a "sassy" girl who enjoyed K-pop, horror movies, and zombies, and disliked Disney princesses. Crystal stated that "Every day was a miracle" as Jocelyn progressed to rolling over and sitting up, with her school working on a communication device that would allow her to use her eyes to interact.
Jocelyn required a tracheostomy and round-the-clock care. She celebrated her fourth birthday before her condition worsened. Crystal received a text message from a nurse that simply read "Help," prompting her to rush to the hospital.
Despite resuscitation efforts, including CPR performed by a nurse, Jocelyn died on Tuesday. Crystal recounted a poignant moment as Jocelyn awoke briefly, acknowledging her father and then her mother before passing away.
"She acknowledged I was mom and then closed her eyes and didn't open them again. It was devastating," Crystal said.
A memorial service for Jocelyn was held on Wednesday in Eagle Mountain, Utah. A GoFundMe campaign has been established to assist the family with funeral expenses and outstanding medical costs.