Monday, May 12, 2025
54.7 F
Roseville

Journalist With Muscular Dystrophy Has Grit

Early on while growing up in Iowa, Finn Bullers could see he wasn’t as physically adept as other children his age, but didn’t know why.

“My parents were very adamant about not wanting to label my condition,” said now 51-year-old Bullers of Kansas City, Kansas, in a telephone interview. “But what I did know was that as a child playing football with the neighbor kids, I could never kick the ball into the air. Consequently, I would spend hours and hours trying to perfect my kicking skills while not realizing my (inability) was due to a physical condition.”

Eventually, Bullers learned he had a form of muscular dystrophy (MD), which the National Institutes of Health classifies as a group of more than 30 inherited diseases. All forms of MD cause progressive muscle weakness and muscle loss, and usually lead to an affected person being unable to walk. Bullers inherited MD from his mother.

He said, “(My parents) honestly did not give me a diagnosis for the same reason they didn’t believe in labeling me with the disease. ‘Can’t’ was a word we never used in our house and I carried that (same attitude) on in my life. I don’t blame my parents for taking that approach because, in the long run, it has made me a stronger person. I grew up as a strong-willed (rural) Iowan, in a place where you always caused your own problems, you never complained, you picked yourself up and dusted yourself off, and you didn’t make excuses for why you weren’t able to do something. Then you accomplished things.”

By his sophomore year in college, though, his disability had begun catching up with him. He could no longer walk across campus and make class in time, and so reached out to a local vocational rehabilitation office, which provided Bullers with financial assistance and taught adaptive skills.

During a nearly 30-year work career as a newspaper journalist, he went from using a cane to a walker, and then from a scooter to a power wheelchair. After stints with the Miami Herald and several Midwestern newspapers, he ultimately hung his hat at the Kansas City Star, covering county politics and suburban issues.

In 2009, he retired because of the constant strain of having MD and sometimes working 12-hour, deadline driven days. Along the way, he married and had two children.



Sphere Las Vegas

Festival! May 16 -18

Support local sports!

Trending

Midas / SpeeDee Oil Change in Roseville

Your Roseville Midas dealer on Foothills Boulevard is the place to go for brakes, oil change, tires and all your auto repair needs

Fat’s Asia Bistro in Roseville

Modern Asian cuisine meets timeless tradition. The premier spot for Chinese and Asian fusion in Roseville and Folsom. Great for happy hour, dinner, date night.

Squeeze Burger in Roseville

Squeeze Burger Roseville, home of the Famous Squeeze With Cheese. Formerly Squeeze Inn, we offer the #1 Burger in the Sacramento area.

Subaru Outback still delivering dependability

Roseville, Calif. - Despite having a wagon-like body style, for years the Subaru Outback was classified as a midsize SUV.

Peet’s Coffee locations in Roseville

Since 1966, Peet's Coffee has sourced and offered superior coffees and teas adhered to strict high-quality and taste standards.

Topics

Midas / SpeeDee Oil Change in Roseville

Your Roseville Midas dealer on Foothills Boulevard is the place to go for brakes, oil change, tires and all your auto repair needs

Fat’s Asia Bistro in Roseville

Modern Asian cuisine meets timeless tradition. The premier spot for Chinese and Asian fusion in Roseville and Folsom. Great for happy hour, dinner, date night.

Squeeze Burger in Roseville

Squeeze Burger Roseville, home of the Famous Squeeze With Cheese. Formerly Squeeze Inn, we offer the #1 Burger in the Sacramento area.

Subaru Outback still delivering dependability

Roseville, Calif. - Despite having a wagon-like body style, for years the Subaru Outback was classified as a midsize SUV.

Peet’s Coffee locations in Roseville

Since 1966, Peet's Coffee has sourced and offered superior coffees and teas adhered to strict high-quality and taste standards.

Hormones: The Key to Dropping Excess Weight

Sacramento, Calif.- When it comes to improving body composition and achieving optimal health, balancing your hormones is essential for both short- and long-term success. There are seven major hormones that

Roseville Quilt Guild 2025 show at Jessup University in Rocklin

Roseville, Calif.- Welcome to the Roseville Quilt Guild 2025 Quilt Show! Join us May 9 & 10, 2025 for a day filled with beautiful quilts and creativity at Jessup University in Rocklin.

RCSDF Golf Tournament in Roseville tees off to support student education

Roseville, Calif. - The Roseville City School District Foundation (RCSDF) invites the community to its 4th Annual Golf Tournament on Monday, May 19, 2025, at the scenic Sierra View Country Club.

Related Articles

Local Spotlight

California Recovery Center in Roseville offers treatment for substance abuse and mental health

California Recovery Center (CRC) is a treatment provider for adults with substance abuse and mental health condition, located in Roseville and serving the greater Sacramento region.

Paul Black’s Solar Panel Cleaning in Roseville serving the region for over 30 years

Roseville, Calif. - Money-saving solar panels in Roseville, Rocklin and throughout South Placer County have become ubiquitous From new residential solar communities continue to big business and after market installation, solar seems to be a smart choice to shred those high monthly electric costs.

Stanford Ranch Family Dentistry in Rocklin serving the local community since 2000

Rocklin, Calif.- For nearly 25 years, Jason and Heather have grown their successful Stanford Ranch Family Dentistry practice by faithfully serving patients throughout the Rocklin, Roseville, and greater South Placer County region. Their business has grown to now employ over a dozen employees which helps them meet the growing demands of a successful local business.