November 19, 2015
THIS WEEK IN
VO LUM E 28 | IS S U E 52 | FREE
LIFE
LOCAL
There’s more to Thanksgiving than just turkey and stuffing
Page 14
HighlandsRanchHerald.net A publication of
D O U G L A S C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
Epilepsy hits home for families
HOMELESS IN DOUGLAS COUNTY
Highlands Ranch residents spread word about the neurological disorder By Alex DeWind adewind@coloradocommunitymedia.com Benjamin Wann was 9 years old when he went into status epilepticus, a constant state of seizing. He was taken to the hospital and prescribed Valium, a sedative drug, to reset his brain’s activity. “He could hardly pronounce Ben, the short version of his name,” said his mother, — Amber Wann. People in the world “The next have epilepsy couple of months were — very hard.” People in the United BenjaStates have epilepsy min, 14, was — Of diagnosed people with with with epilepsy epilepsy live with Thanksgiving uncontrollable Day 2004 — he seizures because no was 3. available treatment Epilepsy works is a central nervous sys— tem disorder People with epilepsy that affects with unknown cause the brain’s neurological — People activity, causwill be diagnosed ing repeated with epilepsy in their seizures. It lifetime is diagnosed by medical Source: epilepsy.com history and brain-imaging tests. The types of seizures vary from grand mal — unconsciousness and convulsions — to absence seizures, brief lapses of consciousness. The Epilepsy Foundation reports more than 2 million people in the United
BY THE NUMBERS
65 million
Before moving into their Highlands Ranch apartment, Michelle McCarty and her son, William, lived in their car for almost two months upon moving to Douglas County. For that time, William was among the more than 600 students classified as homeless in the Douglas County School District. More than 24,000 students in Colorado fall into that same category. Photo by Shanna Fortier
‘Our car was our bed’
By Shanna Fortier sfortier@colroadocommunitymedia.com
Michelle McCarty, 46, and her 14-year-old son, William, slept in their 2003 Volkswagen Jetta wagon for almost two months when they first moved to Douglas County. Each night they moved the ice chest and suitcases to the front seat, laid out sleeping bags and pillows in the back, then stretched out next to each other. “Part of what people think when you say you’re living in your car is that you’re using your car as your house,” William said. “But, really, our car was not our house — our car was our bed.” For a short while this year, William was one of hundreds of Douglas County students considered homeless. Unlike many homeless youths in urban areas, they don’t necessarily live on the street. But, like William, they don’t have a permanent place to call home. Instead, they sleep on friends’ and relatives’ couches. Or in
THE ISSUE
In 2014-15, 637 students in Douglas County schools were classified as homeless. Living in one of the nation’s wealthiest counties, they are an invisible population. But their numbers are growing — lack of affordable housing and financial hardships are among the reasons. During National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, Nov. 14-22, Colorado Community Media tells the story of a mother and her teenage son, and on Pages 6 and 7 explores the issue and highlights an organization that is trying to help. hotels. Or cars, when options have run out. “I remember looking over at William sleeping and just crying because I felt like I was putting him through this,” McCarty Homeless continues on Page 7
Local teams advance in football playoffs
2 million 1/3
6 out of 10 1 in 26
Epilepsy continues on Page 9
Valor, ThunderRidge move on, while Mountain Vista is ousted Staff report
Valor Christian quarterback Dylan McCaffrey squeezes over the goal line as Chaparral’s Jacob Stanton knocks his helmet loose. McCaffrey also threw for a touchdown in the 47-3 Valor playoff victory Nov. 13. Photo by Paul DiSalvo
Cherry Creek and Valor Christian, last season’s Class 5A state finalists, have advanced to the quarterfinal round of the state playoffs. Creek’s touted defense held Mullen to 151 yards of total offense in a 39-6 rout of the Mustangs on Nov. 13 at the Stutler Bowl. Ashton Riley rushed for 134 yards and a touchdown for the Bruins. Freshman quarterback Alex Padilla was 8-14-3 for 123 yards and a touchdown as a replacement for Joe Caplis, who apparently missed the game because of injury. Cherry Creek (9-2) will play ThunderRidge (7-4) in a quarterfinal game at 7 p.m. Nov. 20 at Shea Stadium. ThunderRidge defeated Fruita Monument 40-14 on Nov. 14 at Shea Stadium, but no statistics were available. Football continues on Page 31
Benjamin Wann, an eighth-grade student at Cresthill Middle School, was diagnosed with epilepsy when he was 3 years old. He’s now four years seizure free. “You just have to find what you like to do,” he said. “And what makes you happy.” Photo courtesy of Julie Hutchison