Up Close: Dialysis Center Named After Young Man Who Died In Raging Waters

A young man who lost his life in the raging waters of Bell Canyon is getting memorialized in another country thousands of miles away.

His name will be appearing on the largest Island of Tonga where his parents were born on a facility that’s all about saving lives.

It was June of 2017 when Siaosi Brown, 22, lost his life while hiking Bell’s Canyon. A young man who loved healthy living and the outdoors – especially Bells Canyon where he hiked weekly.

His mother would often ask, why?

“He always answers me with the same thing, ‘It’s beautiful there mom. The nature is closest to God, it’s beautiful,” said Sela Brown to KSL’s Dan Rascon.

One of Siaosi’s best friends is Rod Emam, whose father and uncle are building the dialysis center on Tonga, a country where diabetes is a health crisis, because of the lack of treatment.

Rod suggested it be named after his friend.  His father who is a doctor and his uncle who is Khosrow B. Semnani an industrialist, and philanthropist in Salt Lake agreed to let it happen.

“It’s the Siaosi Brown Dialysis Center, housed within the Semani Health Center,” said Emam.  “I wanted to name the center after him. I felt it was the only way to truly honor who he was for me.”

A fitting name for a health center that’s all about saving lives – Something Emam says, Siaosi was all about.

“He always wanted to help,” said Emam.

Siaosi’s parents couldn’t be more proud.

“When they told me they were going to put Siaosi Brown that brought tears to my eyes because this is what Siaosi would have wanted,” said his mom.

“It’s amazing that a sad incident happened, but it also created something every special,” said Siaosi Brown’s father.