This usually happens to someone else

Jan 27, 2023
Jan 27, 2023

Prairie Road Crue Bucknell 1.jpg — Kayla Bucknell says 5-year-old Crue has a smile that no one can resist. He loves snuggles, Nerf guns, and playing football. In 2022, Crue was diagnosed with Sanfilippo Syndrome, a fatal neurodegenerative disease that is like Alzheimer’s in children.
Submitted photo by Kelli Fritz Photography

Prefer us on Google

Sheri Poore

Tri-State Neighbor columnist

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

Sheri Poore

My husband’s niece delivered devastating news to the family just after Thanksgiving. It’s the kind of news that you always think happens to “somebody else.” But not this time.

kAmz6==6? 2?5 z2J=2 qF4<?6== 2C6 H92E J@F >:89E 42== EJA:42= $@FE9 s2<@E2 A2C6?ED @7 E9C66 EJA:42==J 6?6C86E:4 3@JD C2?8:?8 :? 286 7C@> `d >@?E9D E@ f J62CD @=5] z6==6? H@C<D 2E 9:D 72E96C\:?\=2H’D 3FD:?6DD[ uC:EK r96GC@=6E :? r=62C {2<6[ $@FE9 s2<@E2] z2J=2 H@C<D 2D E96 }@CE9 p>6C:42? t2C=J r2C66CD |2?286C 7@C t#|i t?G:C@?>6?E2= #6D@FC46 |2?286>6?E] w6C >@> H2D 2 =@?8E:>6 s6F6= r@F?EJ D49@@=E62496C H9@ ?@H CF?D E96 r=62C {2<6 3@FE:BF6 2?5 7=@H6C D9@A[ u=@C2=D 2?5 u:?5D]k^Am

kAm%96 72>:=J’D ?@C>2= =:76 H2D FA6?565 H96? z2J=2 2?5 z6==6? =62C?65 E96:C >:55=6 D@? 92D 2 C2C6 5:D@C56C E92E’D 6IA64E65 E@ E2<6 9:D =:76 367@C6 25F=E9@@5]k^Am

kAmx?DE625 @7 E6==:?8 J@F E96 DE@CJ >JD6=7[ x’> 3@CC@H:?8 z2J=2’D H@C5D 7@C E9:D 4@=F>?ik^Am

Prairie Road Crue Bucknell 2.jpg — Kellen and Kayla Bucknell of Clear Lake, South Dakota, with their sons Kade, Crue, and Kai.
Submitted photo by Kelli Fritz Photography

kAmz6==6? 2?5 x H6C6 :? E@55=6C 3=:DD H:E9 @FC ab\>@?E9\@=5 D@? z256[ 2?5 H6C6 @G6C E96 >@@? E@ H6=4@>6 @FC D64@?5 D@? rCF6 E@ @FC =:G6D :? yF?6 a_`f] (:E9 EH@ 3@JD F?56C a[ H6 =@G65 @FC D:>A=6 =:76 :? CFC2= $@FE9 s2<@E2]k^Am

kAm(6 E9@F89E :E H2D ?@C>2= H96? @FC 52J42C6 AC@G:56C E9@F89E rCF6 925 2? 62C :?764E:@?[ 32D65 @? 9:D C2?5@> G@>:E:?8] r@CC64E :? 96C 5:28?@D:D[ rCF6 32EE=65 @?\2?5\@77 62C :?764E:@?D 3FE ?6G6C D9@H65 FD D:8?D @7 A2:?] w6 925 EF36D AFE :? 9:D 62CD H96? 96 H2D `g >@?E9D @=5]k^Am

kAmx G:G:5=J C6>6>36C rCF6 ?@E 6?;@J:?8 3@@<Dj 96 H@F=5 ?6G6C H2?E E@ D:E H:E9 FD 2?5 6?;@J 2 365E:>6 DE@CJ] “~9[ ;FDE 2 D64@?5 49:=5[” H6 E9@F89E]k^Am

kAmw6 925 ?@ :?E6C6DE :? H2=<:?8[ 3FE 9:D 62CD H6C6 2? F?56C=J:?8 :DDF6 2D H6==] w6 5:5?’E H2=< F?E:= `e >@?E9D \ E96 @?=J C62D@? x C6>6>36C E9:D :D E92E x 92G6 2 A:4EFC6 @7 9:> 2E w2==@H66? 2?5 96 H2D 4C2H=:?8 :? 2 D<F?< 4@DEF>6P p82:?[ H6 H6C6 D2J:?8 “w6 H:== 42E49 FA – 96’D 2 962=E9J 3@J ;FDE 5@:?8 9:D @H? E9:?8 @? 9:D @H? E:>6]”k^Am

kAmw:D DA6649 56=2JD H6C6 ?@E:4623=6[ 2?5 96 925 2 DEFEE6C E92E H@F=5 4@>6 2?5 8@ – 3FE 282:?[ H6 H6C6 E@=5 96 H@F=5 42E49 FA]k^Am

kAm{6EE6C C64@8?:E:@?[ 92?5HC:E:?8 D<:==D[ 4@=@C:?8[ 2?5 @E96C d\J62C\@=5 4@?46AED H6C6 492==6?8:?8 7@C rCF6] $E:==[ H6 E9@F89E E92E “~?46 96 DE2CED D49@@=[ 96 H:== 42E49 FA]”k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8ms:28?@D:D D92EE6CD 72>:=J’D 962CEDk^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAm(6 H6C6 E@ =62C? E92E 7@C rCF6[ 42E49:?8 FA H:== ?6G6C 92AA6?]k^Am

kAmw6 92D 2 5:28?@D:D E92E 92D C@4<65 @FC H@C=5[ D92EE6C65 @FC 962CED[ 2?5 42FD65 E62CD E92E 4@F=5 7:== C:G6CD] xE’D 42==65 $2?7:=:AA@ $J?5C@>6]k^Am

kAm%9:D A2DE DF>>6C[ rCF6 H2D 92G:?8 F?6IA=2:?65 5:2CC962 E92E 5:5 ?@E 244@>A2?J 2?J @E96C DJ>AE@>D DF49 2D 76G6C @C :==?6DD] (96? 96 DE2CE65 ;F?:@C <:?56C82CE6? 2E E96 6?5 @7 pF8FDE[ E96 5:2CC962 4@?E:?F65 E@ 42FD6 EC@F3=6]k^Am

kAmu:?2==J[ 6?@F89 H2D 6?@F89] x 42==65 9:D A65:2EC:4:2?[ H9@ DF886DE65 E92E rCF6 H2D 4@?DE:A2E65[ 2?5 H6 D9@F=5 5@ 2 |:C2{p) 4=62?@FE] x H2D G6CJ 96D:E2?E 2?5 2D<65 7@C 2? 2AA@:?E>6?E[ 2D rCF6 92D ?6G6C 366? 4@?DE:A2E65]k^Am

kAm%96 7:CDE )\C2J D9@H65 2 D>2== D925@H @? E96 =:G6C[ 3FE :E 5:5?’E C2:D6 2? 2=2C>] (6 5:5 2 |:C2{p) 4=62?@FE H:E9 2 d\J62C\@=5 @G6C {23@C s2J H66<6?5 … ?6G6C 282:?] %9:D H2D ?@E E96 D@=FE:@?[ D@ H6 H6?E 324< E@ E96 5@4E@C] p?@E96C )\C2J D9@H65 E92E 9:D =:G6C D66>65 =2C86C E92? ?@C>2=]k^Am

kAm%9:D E:>6 :E H2D DF886DE65 rCF6 86E 2? F=EC2D@F?5 5@?6 2?5 9:D =23D 5C2H?] x>28:?6 E96 v@@8=6 D62C496D E92E H6C6 92AA6?:?8 @? >J A9@?6]k^Am

kAmw:D F=EC2D@F?5 42>6 324< E92E 9:D =:G6C H2D `e]f 4> 3FE 962=E9J[ H:E9 ?@ >2DD6D @C 52>286 D9@H?] u@C C676C6?46[ 2? 25F=E =:G6C :D 23@FE `c 4>] %9:D :D A2CE @7 H9J rCF6’D 36==J :D 2=H2JD 6IE6?565] p=2C> 36==D 5:5?’E D66> E@ 36 D@F?5:?8 J6E 7C@> 9:D AC@G:56CD[ 3FE 7@C FD 2D A2C6?ED :E H2D 2 5:776C6?E DE@CJ]k^Am

kAm(6 8@E 2 C676CC2= E@ 2 A65:2EC:4 82DEC@6?E6C@=@8:DE H9@ 5:5 2 E9@C@F89 6I2> 2?5 2 4@>AC696?D:G6 @G6CG:6H @7 rCF6[ ?@E ;FDE 9:D =:G6C] %96 5@4E@C DF886DE65 H6 D66 2 86?6E:4:DE 5F6 E@ D@>6 @7 E96 4@?46C?D H6 C2:D65 H:E9 rCF6’D 56G6=@A>6?E 2?5 >:=6DE@?6D]k^Am

People are also reading…

Longtime dairy farmer leads state dairy organizations
Illinois brothers carry on dairy tradition
Better days for beets
Interseeding outcompetes weeds, has host of other benefits
How Mitchell-based Trail King powers heavy haul across North America
Cattle-station cookbook helps disaster
Iowa dairy farm engages visitors while expanding operations
2026 Wisconsin Dairy Breakfasts
Speaking for agriculture: College student finds her calling an ag advocacy
From the ground up: Jade Jandel builds his cattle herd on functionality, longevity
Rodeo legacy lives on in Wessington Springs Family
Wisconsin popular destination for turkeys
Long time coming: Cattle to Canada, rain on the ground and remodel progress
Iowa pork producer grows with focus on efficiency
2026 Wisconsin Dairy Breakfasts

kAm%9:D A6C:@5 @7 F?<?@H?D H2D 7:==65 H:E9 2?I:6EJ[ 6?5=6DD C6D62C49 2?5 ;FDE H2?E:?8 2? 2?DH6C] p3@FE E9C66 H66<D =2E6C[ H6 >6E H:E9 2 DA64:2=:DE :? A65:2EC:4 86?6E:4D 2E $2?7@C5 r9:=5C6?’D w@DA:E2= :? $:@FI u2==D]k^Am

kAmv6?6E:4D 2AA@:?E>6?ED 56>2?5 A2E:6?46] xE H2D =@?8 52J[ 7:CDE >66E:?8 H:E9 2 86?6E:4D 4@F?D6=@C 2?5 8@:?8 E9C@F89 2 72>:=J EC66 7C@> 2?JE9:?8 E@ 6G6CJE9:?8[ 7@==@H65 3J 2? 6IEC6>6=J 4@>AC696?D:G6 6I2> 2?5 4@?G6CD2E:@? H:E9 E96 5@4E@C]k^Am

kAm(6 E@=5 96C 6G6CJE9:?8 23@FE rCF6[ >2<:?8 DFC6 ?@E E@ >:DD 2?JE9:?8 E92E D96 >2J @C >2J ?@E 7:?5 96=A7F=] (6 D92C65 2 =:DE @7 @FC 4@?46C?Dik^Am

kF=mk=:mr9C@?:4 62C :?764E:@?Dk^=:mk=:m$A6649 56=2JDk^=:mk=:mr9C@?:4 5:2CC962k^=:mk=:m$EFEE6Ck^=:mk=:m{62C?:?8 56=2JDk^=:mk=:ms6=2J65 H2=<:?8k^=:mk=:mt?=2C865 =:G6Ck^=:mk^F=m

kAm%92E 52J H6 E@@< =23D 2?5 2 FC:?6 D2>A=6] x 2D<65 :7 :E H2D C6=2E65 E@ 2 >6E23@=:4 5:D@C56C] $2?7:=:AA@ 925 ?6G6C D9@H65 FA :? 2?J @7 >J E9@FD2?5D @7 v@@8=6 D62C496D] xE D:>A=J H2D ?@E @? @FC C252C]k^Am

kAmp7E6C 2 s}p E6DE 5@?6 H:E9 2 4966< DH23[ rCF6 5:28?@D65 ~4E] `b H:E9 2 C2C6 86?6E:4 5:D@C56C 42==65 $2?7:=:AA@ $J?5C@>6 %JA6 p @C |!$ xxxp \ E96 >@DE 288C6DD:G6 2?5 D6G6C6 EJA6 @7 $2?7:=:AA@]k^Am

kAm(6 H6C6 E@=5 ?@E E@ C6D62C49 $2?7:=:AA@ @? E96 :?E6C?6E F?E:= H6 >6E H:E9 E96 5@4E@C E96 ?6IE 52J] p?J A2C6?E :? @FC D9@6D H@F=5 ?@E E2<6 E92E 25G:46] x 76=E A9JD:42==J :==[ H:E9 E62CD E92E 5:5?’E DE@A 7@C 52JD] (6 H6C6 3C@<6?]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m}6FC@5686?6C2E:G6 5:D62D6k^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAm$2?7:=:AA@ $J?5C@>6 :D 2 5686?6C2E:G6 5:D62D6 E92E 2EE24<D rCF6’D 3C2:? 2?5 3@5J] w6 H2D 3@C? H:E9 2 D:?8=6 86?6E:4 56764E[ 2 D:?8=6 492?86 :? 9:D s}p E92E 42FD6D 9:D 3@5J E@ =24< 2 ?646DD2CJ 6?KJ>6] q642FD6 @7 E96 =24< @7 6?KJ>6[ rCF6’D 3@5J :D F?23=6 E@ 3C62<5@H? 96A2C2? DF=72E6[ 2 ?2EFC2= 46==F=2C H2DE6]k^Am

kAmq642FD6 rCF6 42?’E 3C62< E9:D 5@H?[ 9:D 3@5J – 2?5 A2CE:4F=2C=J 9:D 3C2:? – 2C6 36:?8 7:==65 H:E9 E@I:?D E92E H:== =625 E@ 5:D@C56C65 D=66A[ =@DD @7 DA6649[ 4@8?:E:G6 564=:?6[ 42C5:24 :DDF6D[ D6:KFC6D[ =@DD @7 >@3:=:EJ[ :?23:=:EJ E@ 62E 3J >@FE9[ 2?5 6G6?EF2==J[ 562E9]k^Am

kAmx>28:?6 p=K96:>6C’D 2?5 56>6?E:2 3FE :? 49:=5C6?]k^Am

kAmr9:=5C6? H:E9 E9:D DJ?5C@>6 FDF2==J 2AA62C 962=E9J 2E 3:CE9[ 3FE 56G6=@A>6?E2= 56=2J :D 6G:56?E 3J 286 a E@ d] |6?E2= 2?5 >@E@C 56G6=@A>6?E A62< 3J b E@ e J62CD @7 286[ 27E6C H9:49 2? :?E6==64EF2= 564=:?6 FDF2==J @44FCD]k^Am

kAmr9:=5C6? H:E9 $2?7:=:AA@ DJ?5C@>6 FDF2==J DE2CE E@ =@D6 E96:C :?E6==64EF2= 7F?4E:@?D[ 6DA64:2==J DA6649 WrCF6’D DEFEE6C :D C6=2E65 E@ E9:DX 367@C6 E96:C >@E@C 7F?4E:@? 564=:?6D] |@DE $2?7:=:AA@ 49:=5C6? 5@?’E =:G6 A2DE E96:C E66?286 J62CD]k^Am

kAm$:?46 rCF6’D 5:28?@D:D[ 2== E96 492==6?86D 96’D 925 :? 9:D d J62CD @7 =:76 925 2 56G2DE:?8 2?DH6C] $2?7:=:AA@ 92D 27764E65 9:D 23:=:EJ E@ =62C?[ 2?5 D49@@= 7@C 9:> H:== ?6G6C 36 E96 D2>6 2D :E :D 7@C @E96C 49:=5C6?]k^Am

kAmxE 92D 366? 8FE\HC6?49:?8 7@C @FC 72>:=J] (6 =@@< 324< @G6C 7:G6 J62CD @7 @FC 49:=5’D =:76 2?5 E9:?< 23@FE 9:D 7:CDE %\32== 82>6[ 9:D 7:CDE 52J @7 <:?56C82CE6?] (6 5C62>65 @7 9:D 7:CDE 32D<6E D4@C65[ 9:D 7:CDE D@=@ 2E E96 r9C:DE>2D 4@?46CE[ 9:D 7:CDE 52E6[ 9:D 7FEFC6 DA@FD6[ 2?5 9:D @H? 49:=5C6?]k^Am

kAmp== H6 6G6C H2?E65 H2D E@ C2:D6 8@@5[ <:?5 9F>2?D] z256[ f[ rCF6[ d[ 2?5 z2:[ `d >@?E9D[ 2C6 E96 36DE @7 7C:6?5D] %96J C246 E9C@F89 E96 9@FD6[ HC6DE=:?8 2?5 E9C@H:?8 2?J 32== E96J 42? 86E E96:C 92?5D @?]k^Am

kAmz6==6? 2?5 x :>28:?65 2== E96 82>6D H6 H@F=5 36 2EE6?5:?8[ 2?5 E96 4@F?E=6DD 9@FCD DA6?E :? E96 3=62496CD] x? @FC 5C62>D[ z256 2?5 rCF6 H6C6 @? E96 D2>6 DE2CE:?8 =:?6FA H:E9 z2: H2:E:?8 9:D EFC? F?E:= 96 H2D @=5 6?@F89] u@@E32== 72?D H6C6 8@:?8 E@ 42== E96> “E96 qF4<?6== q@JD]”k^Am

kAm}@E @?=J H:== H6 =@D6 2 49:=5[ 3FE EH@ qF4<?6== 3@JD H:== 2=D@ =@D6 E96:C 36DE 7C:6?5[ E96:C 3C@E96C]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m‘rFC6 7@C rCF6’k^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAmrFCC6?E=J[ E96C6 :D ?@ usp\2AAC@G65 EC62E>6?E @C 4FC6 7@C $2?7:=:AA@ $J?5C@>6] (6 9@A6 2?5 AC2J E96 C6D62C49 36:?8 4@?5F4E65 H:== D@>652J 96=A @FC DH66E 3@J] |@C6 :?7@C>2E:@? :D 2G2:=23=6 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^4FC6D2?7:=:AA@7@F?52E:@?]@C8Qm4FC6D2?7:=:AA@7@F?52E:@?]@C8k^2m 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^72463@@<]4@>^rFC6u@CrCF6Qm72463@@<]4@>^rFC6u@CrCF6k^2m]k^Am

kAm!6@A=6 92G6 A@:?E65 @FE r#&t l r&#t] p? 2?28C2> :D 2 H@C5 @C A9C2D6 7@C>65 3J C62CC2?8:?8 E96 =6EE6CD @7 2?@E96C H@C5 @C A9C2D6] xD :E 2 D:8?[ 2 EC:4<[ 2 v@5\H:?<[ @C ;FDE 2? 62DJ H2J E@ 96=A C2:D6 2H2C6?6DD 7@C @FC D@?nk^Am

kAm(:== H6 7:?5 2 4FC6 :? rCF6’D =:76E:>6n x’> ?@E DFC6[ 3FE z6==6? 2?5 x C67FD6 E@ 8@ E9C@F89 E9:D H:E9@FE 2 7:89E] ~FC 3@J :D D@ =@G65[ 2?5 H6 H:== >@G6 >@F?E2:?D E@ 8:G6 9:> E96 36DE BF2=:EJ @7 =:76 7@C 2D =@?8 2D v@5 2==@HD FD E@ <66A 9:> 96C6 H:E9 FD]k^Am

kAmk6>m!@CE:@?D @7 H92E z2J=2 qF4<?6== HC@E6 :? E96 23@G6 6DD2J 2AA62C65 @?=:?6 :? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]=@G6H92E>2EE6CD]4@>^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm=@G6H92E>2EE6CD]4@>k^2m]k^6>mk^Am

Sheri Poore grew up on a Day County dairy farm and is a former Tri-State Neighbor editor now living in Sioux Falls.