The Pierre, Fort Pierre and Huron communities are rallying support for the Kelsey and Trevor Hupp family, who suffered an incomprehensible loss on Wednesday after an explosion in their home about 11 miles southwest of Fort Pierre claimed three family members and injured two more.
A CaringBridge account has been set up online for the family, and Kelsey Hupp's coworker at the Avera Health Clinic in Pierre has set up a GoFundMe account where donations can be made to help the couple after their 6-month-old daughter, Harper Hupp, died at the scene of a house explosion.
Trevor's father and mother, LaDonna Hupp, 61, and William Hupp, 66, of Huron, were also fatally injured in the explosion.
The couple's young sons —5-year-old Myles and 3-year-old Royce — were seriously injured as well and flown to a burn unit at a St. Paul, Minnesota, hospital.
Kelsey said Myles has mostly first- and second-degree burns covering 10 percent of his body.
"He squeezes my hand and wiggles his toes. He even fought sedation one time and sat up and looked around. He is stable," Kelsey wrote.
Roycey suffered third-degree burns on 25 percent of his body on his chest and arms.
Both boys are intubated, though Royce's recovery will take longer than his brother's, their mother wrote.
"Not to be outdone, he also woke up from sedation wild eyed, which is in true Royce fashion. I’ve been tickling his cute fat toes and he wiggles them for me, too. The boys have a long road ahead of them, but we are just so thankful that we even have this road with them," Kelsey wrote. "They are strong and will persevere. I will do my best to update as I can because I know everyone cares. Please don’t stop praying. I’m going to need every ounce I can get to continue. We love our family, friends and community so much."
