ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A beloved local coach and father suffered a stroke while on vacation in the Dominican Republic. Now, his family is working to bring him home.
On Dec. 28, Markeith Williams had a stroke while on a solo vacation to the Dominican Republic. Williams’ son, Markell, said it was scary moment when he found out his dad was in the hospital.
“It was just unreal, I didn’t feel like it was happening to me,” Markell Williams said. “I didn’t feel like I was going to go through this at this age, at 26.”
Markell’s sister and Markeith’s daughter, Mayah, said she felt the same when she found out.
“I’m like, I’m too young, I can’t lose my dad,” Mayah Williams said. “The only thing I kept thinking was, ‘I am too young to lose my dad, I want to get married, I want to have kids, I want him to be there,’ so it was extremely heart-breaking.”
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Williams is still in critical condition at the hospital in the Dominican Republic. Now, his family has set up a GoFundMe to try and raise money to cover his medical expenses and bring him home.
“He’s in a coma,” Markell Williams said. “When I went to go see him, my sister was unable to go see him but I did play a voice message that she sent me and there was a moment where he opened his eyes.”
Williams’ impact is far-reaching. Not only is he the water polo head coach at Wekiva High School, he also works security at Lake Brantley High School.
“Markeith, great guy,” said LBHS Head Basketball Coach Mike Cuff. “I think he’s been here for almost six years and over that time he’s got great relationships with all of his coworkers, all the kids — for his birthday they decorated his golf cart for him and everything — so he is well liked and well respected here at Lake Brantley High School for sure.”
Markell said their focus is to bring their dad home safely.
“We just really want to get him back home to his friends, and his family, so his water polo team can see him, his swim team can see him, we just really want him to get back home,” Markell Williams said. “I know it’s going to be a long journey — I know he’s going to pull through this though.”
To help Markeith Williams’ family bring him home and cover the cost of his care, click here.
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