Battling Batten with Sloan Raylee Murfield & Fam

Hey all,

With permission from Heather and Kevin, I have started this GoFundMe for sweet Sloanie Pie. This money will go directly to the Murfield Family, who co-manage this account, to help with all the costs that they have incurred and will in the future to give Sloan the absolute best care possible.

I am trying to think of how to convey how special the Murfield Family is to me. I will try to do justice here to explain just how amazing they are and how lucky I’ve been to be a part of their journey thus far.

Sloan and Cainen started coming to our house to hang out most weekdays while their Mom and Dad went to work in March 2022. We had been friends before, Heather and Kevin both worked with my husband Manny at the Sheriff’s Office and we had the kiddos out a few times prior. Sloan and Cainen quickly took to life on the farm. Sloan loved wagon rides around the barns and Cainen began exploring the “forest” around the house. They were fast friends with our 5 children and quickly it felt like they were always meant to be here. Our son Porter and Cainen had become like brothers, which is no surprise if you know of the bromance with Kevin and Manny!

We loved to keep busy and moving. Sloan loved the sandbox, swinging, music, playing in water, the puppy dogs, and she loved when I whistled, it always brought a HUGE smile! It was my trick for picture taking. She was a happy little girl, living her best life!

As time went on, we noticed Sloan squinting a lot. She had missed the milestone of walking but could stand and crawl (she was quick too)! Her speech was also a bit behind but we did get to hear that sweet voice a few times, she’d tell me “uh oh!” I thought for certain a prescription for glasses would be the key to all the problems. Poor eyesight can cause milestone delays. Heather and Kevin took Sloan to the eye doctor and they confirmed she did need glasses, and OMG she looked ADORABLE in them!! We were all happy and hopeful this would solve what was troubling her.

I have been trying to think of when exactly Sloan’s symptoms got so much worse for her. It happened so fast over the course of just a few months. I have spent time looking through pictures I’ve taken to narrow it down. The last picture I have of her big, toothy grin was the end of October. I think we all noticed the changes in her. She started having troubles sleeping, she was crying so much, she had trouble balancing and getting around, and feeding herself had become more difficult with the loss of hand control. She also started having what we thought were seizures, she would be in the middle of playing or eating and just completely space out a bit. She was also having some jerky movements and shaking. Even with all these worrying symptoms, hearing the news from Heather that Sloan had a fatal genetic condition called Batten Disease was completely blindsiding. I thought worst case Cerebral Palsy or Epilepsy, terrible but we could

manage them. Since then I cannot get this awful knot out of my chest and have a lump in my throat. The kids ask why we are all crying and it’s so hard to explain to their sweet, innocent faces. Although, Cainen thought I was a crazy blubbering nut job when they came to pickup Sloan (he had not been told yet). He is my favorite comedian who tells it exactly like it is .. just what we need in such a dark time. He has a heart of gold.

Heather and Kevin have shown so much strength and grace. They are amazing parents with so much love for their children. Please help us support them so they can support Sloan through this journey and Cainen too with one less worry of finances.

And last but most importantly, please PRAY! Pray for a breakthrough in a cure for Battens. Pray for strength for the Murfield Family and those who love them. Pray for the doctors and nurses. Pray for Sloan Raylee Murfield.

With Love and Gratitude,

Alysha Langstraat

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10

If you would rather donate by check, please mail or drop off to:

Brookings County Sheriff’s Office

Attn: Sgt Manuel Langstraat

315 7th Avenue

Brookings, SD 57006

Venmo:

@Heather-Murfield

Walk In Bank Donations:

Any First Bank and Trust location.

Donate under the names:

Kevin and Heather Murfield

Sloan Murfield Benefit