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MONDAYAugust 30, 2010

Muncie, Indiana

INDEXClassifieds 1C

Comics 5C

Editorial 5A

Good News 1D

Horoscope 3D

Local 4A

Obituaries 4A

Sports 1B

TV guide 4D

USA Today 6A

Weather 4D

Volume 111, No. 195, ©2010The Star Press, A Gannett newspaper

The Star Press is printed onpartially recycled newsprint

Page designerKara St. Myer, 213-5841

Customer Service1-800-783-2472

HE’S AT THE TOP OF THE CLASS

AWARD WINNERDelta biology teacher to be honored atnational convention for his work | 1D

@THESTARPRESS.COMPhoto gallery: BrandonOsborn’s Make-A-Wish trip

By JOY LEIKER • jleiker@muncie.gannett.com

‘Back to normal’ difficultmonths after Connor’s death

"#

Connor Haughn was tougher than

anyone knew.

Though his life was cut short, the

5-year-old lived twice as long as the few other

children known to have his same form of cancer.

“In everything, he was just special,” said his father

Jeff Haughn, relaying the amazement of doctors at

Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis.

The Star Press followedConnor and his familythrough the final months ofthe little boy’s life. He diedin January, and an autopsyreport issued months laterfinally revealed the exactmakeup of the tumors thatfirst attacked his brainstem, and later invaded hisspinal cord.There are only eight

other documented casesof medulloepithelioma,and those children lived anaverage of 6 months.Connor lived 11 months.

‘I’ll always have three’It’s been seven months

since Connor died. The bit-ter cold and wind and snowfrom the day of his funeralseem like forever ago. And

his family is left to figureout its new normal.But normal is what is so

difficult most days.“How many kids do you

have?”It’s a question asked

often. But the Haughnsdon’t know how to answer.Sometimes, on the bad

days where she wants tocry and bemad that her son

is gone, Michelle Haughn’sreply is something like this:“A 14-year-old, a 7-year-oldand one who will alwaysbe 5.”Usually, the other per-

son’s mouth drops open.Unable to say anotherword, the person runsaway.

PHOTOS BY CHRIS BERGIN / THE STAR PRESS

MICHELLE HAUGHN and her daughter, Sarah, play with their new kitten, Boo Boo Kitty. The kitten was a welcome distraction for the familyfollowing Connor’s death in January. Connor’s favorite stuffed animal (below) sits in a basket in the living room next to the television.

" See HAUGHNS, 2A

About this storyThis is the seventh and final story in a series about Connor Haughn,

a 5-year-old who died Jan. 21 after an almost-year-long battle with

tumors that invaded his body. Reporter Joy Leiker and photographer

Chris Bergin have followed Connor’s, and his family’s, progress.

By SETH SLABAUGHseths@muncie.gannett.com

PORTLAND — Manure applied tofarm fields surrounding Grand LakeSt. Marys in western Ohio has helpedpoison the 13,000-acre lake.Andoneof thestateofOhio’s solutions

— transporting future manure to farmfields outside the watershed, includingfields in Indiana — has alarmed someHoosiers in East Central Indiana.“That’s literally passing the buck,

isn’t it?” asked Portland resident TonyGiltner, a radio personality in AdamsCounty who says manure from Ohio isalready being applied in Indiana.The fact that the Jay County Drainage

Board clearcuts ditch vegetation thatcould act as a buffer to trap manure run-off from farm fields is another reasonGiltner is concerned. “I thought clear-cutting went out with the Dust Bowldays,” he said.Grand Lake St. Marys, Ohio’s largest

inland lake, is degraded by blue-greenalgae that can produce neurotoxinsaffecting the nervous system and hepa-toxins that affect the liver.

Ohio wantsto dumpmanureproblemon ECI

By MICHELLE KINSEYmkinsey@muncie.gannett.com

MUNCIE — John Norton called it afamily reunion.They gathered at Shelter No. 4 at

Westside Park on Saturday afternoon.There were hot dogs and hamburgers,fruit salad and paper plates. Therewere stories. There were kids blowingbubbles. There was laughter.Yes, this was a family reunion all

right. But this was a different kind offamily.“We are all very different people,”

Ray Ashbaugh, 81, said as he leanedback against the picnic table and lookedaround. “But we all have this one thing,this one place, in common.”“This place” is the Delaware County

Children’s Home, which stood for90 years on Kilgore Avenue beforebeing replaced in 1993 by the YouthOpportunity Center.

# An excess of excrement isfueling an algae bloom that’spoisoning Grand Lake St. Marys.

‘FAMILYREUNION’# Former residents of theDelaware County Children’sHome gather for a reunion.

" See REUNION, 2A

" See MANURE, 4A

WWW . T H E S T A R P R E S S . C OM

There are other days it’seasier to talk only aboutGray, 14, and Sarah, 5. Shecan beat herself up later fornot mentioning Connor.“To me, I’ll always have

three (kids,)” said Jeff.Of course, sometimes,

the search for normal isgood. This summer hadsome All-American high-lights.Gray hit his first home

run, and Sarah — never tobe topped by her brother’sstorytelling — is proudthat after a softball seasonwhere she struggled at theplate, in her last at bat shehit one down the third baseline.The back yard of

their home along SouthBurlington now features aswimming pool. It had beenConnor’s dream to have apool at home. In fact, lastsummer Michelle had start-ed the paperwork to makeConnor’s dream come truewith the Make a WishFoundation, but the paperswere never completed.Now, it’s Jeff and

Michelle’s dream to makethe back yard somethingtruly special with landscap-ing and a plaque or statueto remember their son.“When they were putting

(the pool) up, it was OK,”Michelle said. “But wheneverybody left, that was thehard part. Knowing he’llnever be able to partake inwhat he wished for.”

‘It gets frustratingsometimes’There are many smaller

reminders of Connor scat-tered around the Haughnhome.Framed photos.

Decorative butterflies thatwere part of the flowerarrangements at his funer-al. And his favorite toy, astuffed dog that he lovedand carried since he was ababy. Michelle removed itfrom his casket and tuckedit under her arm the day ofthe funeral.It’s part of a small dis-

play in the family’s livingroom.But it’s too much for any

of Connor’s grandparentsto bear. Jeff said his par-ents will come and standinside the front door fortheir entire visit. Michelle’sparents prefer to breeze

through the living roomand head for the kitchen.“It gets frustrating some-

times,” Jeff said.But everyone grieves

differently. The Haughnsknow that. So they takeanother deep breath and goon. And they give plenty ofthanks for the distractionsthat have come their way.In April Sarah’s two gold-

fish died, “so we flushedthem and sent them toConnor,” the second-gradersays matter of factly.The next day, they found

four tiny kittens outsidetheir home. Sarah’s con-

vinced Connor sent them.So the Haughns became

rescuers. They fed the kit-tens with bottles and oohedand aahed as they even-tually opened their eyes.Every three hours it wasfeeding time.They found homes for

three of the kittens andkept one, Boo Boo Kitty.“They were a great dis-

traction,” Michelle said.“Just kept me busy.”

‘Maybe they’re sick oftalking to me’In addition to dealing

with their loss, Connor’s

cancer prompted someother big changes in theHaughn house. Jeff, whohad worked an unpredict-able schedule at RuralKing, recently took a newjob with Warner Supply,a plumbing supplier inMuncie. He now worksdays and has his weekendsfree.“After all that I wanted

to spend time with myfamily,” Jeff said.Sarah, just 13 months

older than Connor, wasmore like his twin than hisbig sister. They shared aroom, so now Sarah trulyis queen of her kingdom.And even though there’s alot more pink and purplenow, she kept one of hisposters on the wall. Andher hair is shorter now.Last month she choppedoff 10 inches to donate toLocks of Love.Michelle has sorted

Connor’s clothing, butcan’t bring herself to getrid of any of his toys yet.“I think I’ve been pro-

crastinating on that,” shesaid.Sitting in the living room,

it’s easy for this family totalk about Connor. Graytalks about the songs his

little brother sang, and howfor a while Connor wantedto eat only one thing.As if on cue, they each

yell, “I want a chicken chi-michanga!”They see and feel him

in tons of tiny ways everyday.The black and blue but-

terflies in the yard areexactly like the pretty onesfrom the funeral flowers.Michelle’s cell phone playsasongtheysungatConnor’sfuneral. “Godspeed, littleman. Sweet dreams littleman.”She worries that she

talks about him too much.That her friends are sickof hearing Connor stories.That she’s taking too longto get over it.“Maybe they’re sick of

talking to me. I start towonder if people are likethat,” Michelle said. “Youput on that front in front ofother people.”

‘Getting backto normal’There is good news in

the Haughn house.They believe every med-

ical bill is paid. (The billfor the last 100-plus dayswas $2 million.) The socialworker assigned to Connorat Riley was a lifesaver,they say, as was the factConnor was approved forMedicaid.“If we went to a normal

hospital, we’d be in medi-cal bankruptcy for sure,”Jeff said.And even bigger than

that: they can finally restknowing Gray and Saraharen’t going to developConnor’s same cancer. Itusually rears its ugly headby age 5.“I think we’re getting

back to normal,” Michellesaid.

# Contact education reporterJoy Leiker at 213-5825.

MU_MN_1ST_08-30_N_B_A_2_K

Page designer: Chris Simons, 213-58532A • Monday, August 30, 2010 www.thestarpress.com FROM THE FRONT PAGE

CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS

The names of DaneCook and Gary Friendwere omitted from the BallState University dean’slist published Aug. 25. Anannouncement is on page4A today.

We regret the error.

# The Star Press makesevery effort to publish fair andaccurate information, and it isour policy to acknowledge andcorrect errors promptly. Readersare urged to call mistakes to ourattention by telephone, 747-5754,9 a.m.-10 p.m. weekdays, 3-10p.m. weekends and holidays.

HAUGHNSContinued from 1A

They see and feel him in tons of tiny ways every

day. The black and blue butterflies in the yard

are exactly like the pretty ones from the funeral

flowers. Michelle’s cell phone plays a song they

sung at Connor’s funeral. “Godspeed, little man.

Sweet dreams little man.”

Connor is pictured (at left) before he got sick

PHOTOS BY CHRIS BERGIN / THE STAR PRESS

JEFF HAUGHN smiles as his family talks about Connor seven months after his death. Jeff started a newjob with better hours to spend more time with his family after Connor’s death.

GRAY HAUGHN plays with the family’s new kitten at the Haughnhome. The kitten was a welcome distraction following the death ofConnor, Gray’s little brother.

Ashbaugh lived therewith his two younger broth-ers for four years, beginningin 1938.“We had some good times

there,” he said with a smile,his wife of 63 years, Roberta,at this side. “I don’t remem-ber much, but I do remem-ber making bead braceletsand catching butterflies toput on display. I remem-ber dipping them in alcoholand them putting them on aboard with pin.”He doesn’t remember

why he was there. At leastnot the specifics.“Who knows?” he said

softy. “My folks were break-ing up at the time.”Nearby, John Norton,

organizer of this reunion,was catching up with Dee(Brown) Humbles.Both lived at “the home”

in the 1980s. They spokeof the weekend movies andtrips to Shakey’s Pizza. Theyrecalled the chore lists.Then they mentioned the

“level zero” punishments— the worst you could get— for violations such asrunning away or fighting.“You couldn’t talk to any-

one; that was torture for a

teenager,” Humbles saidwith a laugh.“Didn’t you run away?”

Norton asked her. Shegrinned sheepishly. “Wedon’t need to talk aboutthat.”Norton, who now lives in

Hartford City and runs theIron Skillet on I-69, decidedto put up a DCCH Facebookpage a few months ago. “Ijust thought it would beneat to see who would findit,” he said.Within a few weeks, 30

people had made their wayto the page and were post-ing pictures and updates ontheir lives.“So I threw out the idea

of a reunion and peopleseemed interested,” he said.Nearly 10 former resi-

dents, as well as employees,showed up, along with theirfamilies.“I loved it there,” Norton

said of DCCH. “I guesssome people have horrorstories about it. We all hadour trials and tribulationsthere. But, to me, it was themost enjoyable time of mylife. They were my family.”After Norton’s mother

moved to Vegas, he wasshuffledamongrelativesandfoster homes before land-ing in the county children’shome in 1984. He left a year

later to join the Army.“Then, I didn’t tell any-

one where I lived. … kidscan be cruel,” Norton said.“But now I don’t have aproblem telling anyonewhere I was.”Jill Edmonds, who trav-

eled from Ohio for thereunion, was a “house par-ent” and office worker atthe home from 1982 to 1986.“As a house parent, you

pretty much lived therewith them,” she said. “I stillcall those girls my kids.”One of those girls was

Humbles, who is now a reg-istered nurse in Portland.“You know, I hated it

when I was there,” she said.

“But it was the best thingthat ever happened to me.”She put her arm around

Edmonds and gave her asqueeze.Humbles lived in the

girls’ dorm from age 13 to 17.“I was in a very abusive andneglectful environment,”she said, referring to hermother’s home. She addedthat some of the kids wholived at the children’s homewere delinquents, but mostof them were from “badhomes.”Evelyn Green, 70, spent

about a year at the home,beginning in 1955.“I likedmydormmother a

lot,” she said. “Mrs. Hughes.

She was real sweet.”She laughed. “Of course,

she didn’t like it when Itried to do tricks on my roll-er skate, because I only hadone leg. That really scaredher!”Green moved into DCCH

after her mother died andliving arrangements “didn’twork out” with other familymembers.She said she was a “good

kid” most of the time. “ButI had my moments,” shewhispered.As people mingled at the

reunion, the smell of grilledburgers began to fill the air.Donald Walsh was the manbehind briquettes.

“I was nominated,” Walshsaid of his “Grill Master”status as he began to pileburgers onto a foil-coveredplatter.Walsh spent 14 years at

the home. “I think I wasnine or 10 when I went in,”he said.When asked why, he

paused and put down hisspatula.“I just didn’t have any-

where else to go,” he said.“You know, abusive family.”He grabbed the platter

and headed toward the shel-ter.“I loved it there,” he said.

“I remember the bunk bedsand the foot lockers every-one had at the end of theirbeds.” His voice trailed offas he placed the burgers onthe picnic table.“Does anyone remember

the grace we said beforeevery meal?” he askedHumbles and Norton. “I’llnever forget it.”Humbles encouraged him

to share it.“Grace, the Lord, thank

thee for this food we areabout to receive for thenourishment of our bod-ies. In Jesus name we pray,Amen.”“Yep, that was it,” Norton

said with a grin before grab-bing a bun.

REUNIONContinued from 1A

KURT HOSTETLER / THE STAR PRESS

DEE HUMBLES leads the group in a prayer before they eat at the Muncie-Delaware County Children’sHome reunion Saturday in Westside Park. Dee’s last name was Brown when she lived in the home from1984-1987.

" For Lotteries, turn to 4A