Discover the power of a library card! Sign up for or renew your library card at the Fishers or Noblesville branch of Hamilton East Public Library in September to celebrate Library Card Sign-Up Month.
Show your library card at participating local businesses in September to get a special deal.
FOUNDER, CEO TOM BRITT tom@townepost.com (317) 496-3599
PRESIDENT JEANNE BRITT jeanne@townepost.com (317) 810-0011
Medical Mutts Launches Barks and Booze Inaugural Fundraising Event
Local Doctor’s Initiative Grants Wishes and Brings Smiles to Those With Critical or Terminal Illnesses
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR ERIN TURK
CREATIVE DIRECTORS VAL AUSTIN TONI EADS
DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL SERVICES
DEVON DEAN
COPY EDITOR JON SHOULDERS
TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC. 8800 North Street, Suite 117 Fishers, IN 46038 Phone/Text: (317) 810-0011 FOR FRANCHISE INFORMATION, VISIT FRANCHISING.TOWNEPOST.COM
CONTACT THE PUBLISHER Have a story idea or suggestion for the magazine?
THE LATEST HOMETOWN HAPPENINGS AROUND FISHERS
Writer / Larry Lannan
Residents of Fishers may see lower monthly costs for trash collection as early as January 2025. The city staff recommended the city accept a trash collection bid from Republic. It calls for a $16.39 monthly charge for residential service in 2025, and by the 10th year of the contract, the cost per month will be $26.89. “The $26.89 amount is substantially lower than about 50% of residents are currently paying,” says Mayor Scott Fadness’ Chief of Staff Jordin Alexander. Public hearings have been scheduled and the City Council must vote on the Republic bid before it becomes law. For more details, go online to fishers.in.us/ trash.
In August of 2022, the City Council approved an incentive package for a mixeduse development on 116th Street south of the Fishers Municipal Complex. It was revealed at the Fishers Redevelopment Commission meeting July 31 that the development, which was projected to have condominiums selling for as much as $1 million, will not move forward. The city and the landowner are working to provide what the city describes as a “transformative” mixed-use development for that site, located next to the Nickel Plate Trail.
The baby box at Fire Station 397, located in the northeast area of Fishers, had an infant dropped off by a mother on July 29, under Indiana’s Safe Haven Law. “Upon receiving the surrendered infant, our firefighters from Station 397 acted swiftly and provided the necessary medical attention and care,” said a Fire Department social media post. “The baby is now under the watchful care
of Children and Family Services, ensuring the highest standards of health and safety.” Fishers fire officials thanked the parents who “surrendered this newborn and entrusted the Fishers fire and emergency services firefighters to help in your time of need. Your baby is safe and healthy.”
The City of Fishers is eyeing an area adjacent to Fortville for expansion of the Fishers city limits. The area is currently unincorporated, in the southeast corner of Hamilton County, also adjacent to Fishers. Many residents in that area have Fortville mailing addresses, but have never lived in the Town of Fortville. Many homeowners in that area are bound by remonstrance waivers, which would possibly clear the way for the annexation in the coming months. This could add 2,000 to 4,000 residents in Fishers, adding to a population estimated to be about 105,000 now.
The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board chose not to hold a meeting Wednesday, July 24, but the Hamilton Southeastern Education Association (HSEA), the local union representing teachers, decided to picket the administration building on the 24th. HSEA President Abby Taylor told those assembled that HSE Schools did not properly handle responses to the HSEA’s unfair labor practice (ULP) filing, which extends the time to process the action. Taylor did say school officials claim HSEA “misinterpreted” comments by school administrators. Taylor says the union has documented comments from school officials that are fairly clear and would be
unlikely misconstrued. The ULP alleges that the current administration has created a toxic work environment at HSE Schools.
The Fishers Council passed measures July 15 implementing the economic development plan for a major expansion of the life sciences firm INCOG. Fadness praised INCOG for selling Fishers as a good business location, drawing other life science firms to the city. The expansion is expected to create over 100 additional high-paying jobs in Fishers.
The Fishers Plan Commission voted unanimously July 11 to send an unfavorable recommendation to the City Council on a text amendment allowing a gas station and convenience store to be placed in the Fishers Marketplace area, near 135th Street and the east side of State Road 37. The Plan Commission is an advisory body and sends recommendations to the City Council. The Fishers City Council was scheduled to vote on the text amendment at its July meeting, but the firm proposing the plan withdrew the proposal following the Plan Commission vote.
The Maple Del residential development began as an apartment project, but that was abandoned, and the site is now set to be 56 units, as well as single-family homes. The area, just west of downtown Fishers along 116th Street, will see some preliminary construction work this year, with the project starting in earnest after the winter season, in 2025.
Tired of hearing about inventory issues in the Fishers real estate market? If your dream home is not currently for sale, our team will go to work finding ones that have yet to be listed for sale. Regardless of price point or location, we want to help! Call us to learn how partnering with the #1 REAL ESTATE TEAM IN FISHERS/GEIST AND CENTRAL INDIANA HAS ITS PERKS! Over 8,000 families have experienced our blue
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PAWS & THINK
Writer / Renee Larr
Studies have shown that dogs can have a variety of therapeutic effects on humans, including social connection, stress management and improved moods. Paws & Think is a volunteer-centric, community-based organization working with schools, detention centers, youth agencies, humane societies, shelters and hospitals. Gayle Hutchens founded the organization in 2001 after hearing about a similar organization in Santa Rosa, California.
“Gayle’s goal was to connect the community through dogs and the love of animals,” says Ashleigh Coster, executive director. “We work daily to continue advancing her mission in our community.”
Paws & Think’s transformative programs offer hope and inspiration. The organization provides both youth canine and therapy dog programs. Dog trainers and volunteer coaches help youths train dogs on basic skills and
manners using positive reinforcement methods. This not only teaches teens valuable life lessons, but also helps shelter dogs learn basic commands, facilitating their adoption. Coster emphasizes that dogs provide a nonjudgmental, safe interaction for atrisk youth.
“Right now we work with the Humane Society for Hamilton County for some of our programs, and with Indianapolis Animal Care Services to source the dogs,” Coster says. “Our goal is for the dogs to be adopted within three months after they go through the program, and we’ve seen great success with it. These success stories are a testament to the transformative power of our programs, giving us all a reason to be optimistic and encouraged about the future.”
Therapy Dog Programs provide comfort and support to adults and children in a variety of settings, including health care facilities, schools, libraries and support groups. Therapy teams consist of a dog and its handler, along with a volunteer
assistant. Therapy dog programs include Paws to Read, Paws to Heal, Paws to Comfort and Paws to Connect.
“We partner with St. Vincent Ascension and are at their infusion center weekly,” Coster says. “It’s been really neat to see the dogs relieve some of the stress of the patients having various treatments.”
Volunteers are the lifeblood of Paws & Think’s mission. Coster stresses that the organization always needs support, whether through volunteering, financial funding or in-kind donations. This ongoing need underscores the integral role that each supporter plays in advancing the organization’s mission. On October 10, Paws & Think is hosting a fundraiser called Tails of Celebration at the Indianapolis Art Center. The event includes hors d’oeuvres, beverages, a caricature artist and a therapy dog petting booth.
“It’s always so gratifying to hear the stories of people who have been affected by our programs,” Coster
says. “One young person fell through the cracks with [Department of Child Services] and was temporarily placed in the detention center until they could find a suitable foster home. She said to the dog that they were both waiting for their home. I thought it was great to
see that they were able to provide each other with a little bit of support and connection during a difficult time.”
For more information, visit pawsandthink.org.
SOME HISTORY BEHIND THE BIGGEST FISHERS GRIDIRON RIVALRY
THE ANNUAL MUDSOCK GAME
Story and Photos Provided by Fishers Historical Society
This year, Fishers High School will travel to Hamilton Southeastern on September 13 to meet on the gridiron for the annual Mudsock game. This game sells out each year and is one of the biggest events in Fishers, drawing nearly 8,000 people. Spectators are decked out in royal blue and red as they flock to root for their team in this fierce rivalry. This game has special meaning to Hamilton Southeastern Schools, and during halftime the Teachers of the Year are recognized on the field. While the game is mostly a friendly “battle” on the field between two great schools, it is inspired by a real-life and not-so-friendly “battle” in downtown Fishers in 1881.
It was a cold, brisk Saturday morning on November 19, 1881, as the saloons started to fill up with those looking to wet their whistle. Fishers, then known as Fishers Station, had a reputation for being lawless. The railroad attracted drifters and other unsavory characters to Fishers. Shortly before noon, an argument began between a local farmer and a drifter inside a saloon owned by Andy and Ed Ferrell. The argument turned physical, and the local farmer was declared the victor, with the drifter sent packing.
Another saloon owned by Hampton “Hamp” West was on the other side of the railroad tracks. The earlier fight caused people to take sides, and disastrous consequences followed as the whiskey continued to flow. The West saloon and the Ferrell saloon were rivals. West, with a few friends, went over to the Ferrell saloon to engage in a fight. West was beaten and bloodied, and somehow limped back to his bar.
A couple of hours later, patrons at the Ferrell saloon were not done fighting. One of those patrons was Benjamin Fouch, known for having a bad temper. He was prone to fighting, especially when he was drinking whiskey. Just as West brought the fight to them, they were prepared to return the favor. Inside West’s saloon, another fight broke out, which was more brutal than the previous ones. Pool cues, billiard balls, axe handles and brass knuckles were just a few items used as weapons.
While the melee was going on inside the saloon, West and Fouch seemed to be in a standoff. Fouch, holding an axe, charged at West. West grabbed a brass beer faucet and struck Fouch over the head. He immediately fell to the floor. Fouch was taken from the saloon by his friends and taken to a nearby home, where he died hours later. West was eventually arrested and charged with murder, but was found not guilty by reason of selfdefense. Gunshots would still ring throughout the night and into the early morning hours, even as the Hamilton County sheriff arrived
from Noblesville to restore order.
A month before, Wyatt Earp, his brothers, and Doc Holliday had a shootout with a group called the Cowboys at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona. Although not as famous, and more of a bar brawl than a “battle,” it did garner worldwide attention. Newspapers as far as England reported on the incident.
Some may wonder why it was called the Battle of Mudsock, not the Battle of Fishers Station. This is because Mudsock was a nickname for Fishers. It was not an official name for Fishers and was not recognized by the post office. The name Mudsock was also not unique to Fishers. Many cities and towns were known as Mudsock, including the nearby town of Dundee in Madison County. It isn’t exactly known why Fishers was called Mudsock, but theories abound.
Many towns known as Mudsock center around the same theme: mud. The Wild West was a dirty place to live. There were no gravel or asphalt roads, only plank roads (roads composed of logs) and, of course, dirt roads. With no drainage system or ditches, the dirt easily turned to mud. The ground was so muddy that residents would get stuck in mud up to their ankles, hence the name Mudsock.
A town called Mudsock in Ohio gave two explanations for the origin of the name. First, the name was derived from the mud that would build up on horses’ ankles, which resembled brown socks. A second explanation was due to farmers dismounting from their horse and sinking into the mud. As they tried to pull their feet out, their shoes would come off, and then their socks. Fishers even had a saloon built on poles, and many times a drunk person would stumble outside only to get stuck in the mud.
Regardless of how the name came to be, it has stuck and is now interwoven into our history. While Mudsock may not have been an official name, it is a nickname that residents took pride in. An article in the Hamilton County Ledger from March 15, 1889, sums up the different names perfectly: “Known to the traveler as that great ironbound thoroughfare as Fishers, by those who send tender missives as Fishers Switch, by the country people as Fishers Station, and by rival hamlets who denizens want to be called smart, Mudsock.” For more information about the history of Fishers, follow Fishers Historical Society on Facebook.
Meet HSE Schools’ District Teacher of the Year
In a hot gymnasium packed with students and staff, all brimming with excitement for the end of the school year, Aimee Bastin sat ready to celebrate among her peers. Little did she know at the time, she would be the focus of the endof-year celebration, as she was about to be named the 2024 Hamilton Southeastern District Teacher of the Year.
Bastin’s journey in education spans 30 years, with 23 of those dedicated to Hamilton Southeastern Schools. Throughout her career, she has held various roles, including teaching 4th grade at Geist and Lantern Road Elementaries and 7th/8th grade Resource at Fall Creek Junior High. In addition, she has served as the Chair for the Department of Exceptional Learners and as an RTI Coordinator at Geist Elementary.
When asked about what she enjoys most in her current role as a resource teacher, Aimee lights up. She speaks passionately about creating a safe space where students can receive the small group and individual help they need. “In the whole class setting, students often feel uncomfortable speaking up when they don’t understand concepts. In the resource setting, students know it’s a place where they can learn at their own pace. It’s a wonderful feeling to see their confidence grow.”
Many might consider junior high a challenging age to teach, but Bastin sees it differently. “Students at the junior high are really not that different than the 4th graders I used to teach. They live in bigger bodies and are experiencing a few more changes; however, they still want to be loved, praised, and understood.” She adds with a smile, “Junior High students are funny and definitely don’t hold back their opinions! There’s never a dull moment.”
Bastin’s inspiration to become a teacher came from her own educators, who left a lasting impact on her. She fondly recalls Mrs. Melinda Fairburn and Ms. Mary Nicolini, teachers who fueled her passion for teaching and writing. She also credits her parents, both teachers at IU Medical School, for being role models in her life.
When asked if she was surprised about becoming HSE Schools’ Teacher of the Year, Bastin humbly replied, “I was in complete shock! There are so many individuals who are deserving of this acknowledgement. I just feel fortunate that I work alongside them each and every day.”
As a final piece of advice to parents with students in HSE Schools, Bastin encourages them to provide enough space for their children to tackle decisions and activities independently. “Children learn and gain confidence by trying. It’s okay if things don’t always go as planned. It’s how we pick ourselves up and keep going that leads to success.”
eCommunity.com/cancer
THIS IS FISHERS HAPPENINGS FROM THE CITY OF FISHERS
MONTHLY HIGHLIGHTS
Fishers Citywide Trash Contract
Following a public RFP process, City of Fishers staff presented their recommendation for a city-wide trash contract with Republic Services at the July 23 Board of Public Works meeting A public hearing and contract approval was held on Tuesday, August 13. A final recommendation will be presented to City Council this fall with services targeted to begin in January 2025 if approved. Learn more at FishersIN.gov/Trash.
Register for the Geist 5K, 10K or Half Marathon
Enjoy the beautiful waterfront scenery of Geist Reservoir with the family-friendly Geist Half Race Series presented by Meijer This annual tradition returns September 14 with a walkerfriendly course complete with live music, community support, and an all-ages after party! Register at GeistHalf com
Safety Day at the Fishers Farmers Market
Saturday, September 7 | 8 a m – noon
NPD AMP | Free
Join Fishers Fire & Emergency Services at the Fishers Farmers Market at the NPD AMP for live entertainment and safety demonstrations, meet and greets with Fishers first responders, opportunities to connect with local organizations and more Learn more at Fire.FishersIN.gov/SafetyDay.
City Recycling Day
Saturday, September 14 | 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Billericay Park (12690 Promise Road) | Free
The City of Fishers hosts free City Recycling Day, where residents can recycle electronics and household electronic or metal items and household hazardous wastes For a full list of acceptable items, visit FishersIN gov/Recycling
Glow in the Park
21+ Night: Friday, September 20 | 8 – 10 p m
Family Night: Saturday, September 21 | 8 – 10 p m
NPD AMP | Prices vary, tickets required
Get messy while enjoying face painting, live DJs, dancing, neon splash zones, and more! Black lights, fog machines, and lasers will light up the night, so wear white and get ready to glow Tickets are on sale now at FishersParks com/Glow
Fishers Event Center Opening Series
Tickets are available for upcoming shows at the Fishers Event Center, the largest mid-size event center in the Indianapolis region Get tickets now for: Turnpike Troubadours with Trampled by Turtles and Tyler Halverson on November 22
Leanne Morgan's "Just Getting Started Tour" on November 30
Get tickets at FishersEventCenter com
Follow the Event Center on Facebook, X and Instagram, and visit their website to buy tickets and sign up for event announcements at FishersEventCenter.com.
Fishers Art Center Fall 2024 Classes
The Fishers Art Center, located in the Fishers Municipal Center at 1 Municipal Drive, offers art classes and programs for all ages, engaging summer camps, unique gallery exhibitions, and more Registration is open for fall semester classes for children and adults, as well as various Make It Take It classes for adults Learn more at FishersArtCenter org
HAMILTON COUNTY’S FOOD PANTRY SHORTAGEAND HOW YOU CAN HELP
Writer / Renee Larr
Hamilton County, with its exceptional schools, beautiful suburban neighborhoods and world-class amenities, is also home to some residents who are grappling with food insecurities. Despite its affluent reputation, the county is facing a food shortage crisis in its pantries. As Hamilton County Deputy Trustee and Director of Client Services Beth Myers explains, this issue has been exacerbated by the change in benefits after the pandemic.
“During COVID, benefits increased, and people were getting more food stamps so they didn’t need to utilize local pantries as much,” Myers says. “Since then the benefits have gone back down, and we’re seeing an increase in people needing our assistance. Also, the price of groceries has increased tremendously.”
Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank (HCHFB) gives food to food pantries, not the general public. HCHFB helps to supply between 30 and 40 pantries and meal programs all across Hamilton County with healthy nonperishables, produce and meat. Anita Hagen, executive director, says the food bank alone is purchasing nearly 100% of the food it is currently distributing, more than last year.
“All of the wonderful holiday food donations that came in from November through January have long since been distributed out,” Hagen says. “Also, as our local community continues to experience population growth, so does the number of food-insecure individuals continue to rise rapidly. Although we experience one of the lowest food-insecurity rates for any county in Indiana, we are also easily in the top 10
as far as sheer numbers of food-insecure individuals.”
Linda Williams with Come to Me Food Pantry at Fishers United Methodist Church says this time of year is challenging for fundraising because many families are considering taking one last vacation before school starts in the fall.
“By now we have gone through all of those donations from last year, and we’re having to purchase products,” Williams says. “Hamilton County residents can help us most by going to our website, cometomefoodpantry.org, and donating financially. We can usually use that money to purchase from Gleaners at one-third of the price. They can also bring donations to the pantry on Wednesday.”
Myers emphasizes the importance of responsibility when donating food. She says checking expiration dates before donating is crucial. While she understands that people have good intentions when cleaning out their home pantries, receiving expired items creates a challenge, as those items cannot be used and must be disposed of.
“We’re always grateful for financial donations because we have to purchase our perishable items like milk, eggs and meat,” Myers says. “While we need food donations, we also rely on financial donations.”
Hagen says this time of year is excellent for setting up food drives. She says this is also a great time of year when bountiful home gardens produce more fruits and vegetables than the average home gardener can consume. For more information on donating your homegrown bonus vegetables, visit hchfoodbank.org/donateyour-vegetables.
“The cost of living has gone up exponentially,” Myers says. “People must have a place to live, so they pay the rent or mortgage first. Unfortunately there isn’t much left, after paying all the bills, for groceries, even for people in Hamilton County.”
Hagen says the Community Compass app and website are powerful tools for families and individuals to find food nearest to them, and learn all they need to know to access healthy, needed food. Individuals in the county are working hard to ensure this is widely publicized so people can get the help they need.
Meyers says local businesses and organizations can also get involved by hosting a community service project food drive. She says Hamilton County also reaches out to local restaurants to host round-up campaigns to raise funds. She encourages Hamilton County residents to participate in such campaigns.
Nancy Chance, executive director of Good Samaritan Network of Hamilton County, says they have worked creatively to find alternative resources in the face of
shortages. She encourages people to look at the pantry list and donate items directly to the Fishers-area pantries, or deliver food for donation and receive a tax receipt from Good Samaritan Network of Hamilton County.
For more information, visit fishersumc.org/ FoodPantry, hchfoodbank.org, and gsnlive. org/client-assistance.
Walk-in Urgent Care for back, bone, joint and muscle injuries. Fishers, Noblesville, Westfield and throughout greater Indianapolis.
OrthoIndy Fishers
10995 N. Allisonville Rd.
OrthoIndy Westfield
288 E. 175th St.
317.802.2000
Scan the QR code or visit OrthoIndy.com/urgent-care to see all 6 locations and their hours.
PAWS CAUSE
MEDICAL MUTTS LAUNCHES BARKS AND BOOZE INAUGURAL FUNDRAISING EVENT
Imagine spending a delightful fall evening at Daniel’s Vineyard, sipping a refreshing glass of white wine or a robust red, all while contributing to a noble cause. Medical Mutts is offering this unique experience at its inaugural fall fundraising event, Barks and Booze, on September 19, starting at 6 p.m.
A top authority in training medical alert dogs, Medical Mutts’ mission is to train rescued dogs to be service dogs, and promote collaboration between dogs and people through science, education and ethical training. Dogs are trained to alert for conditions such as diabetes, seizures, migraines, allergies and more.
“We’re a local nonprofit based here in Indianapolis that rescues dogs from shelters all across the country, and trains them to become medical alert dogs,” says Liz Boskovich, director of development, marketing and communications. “We specialize in invisible disabilities, so we train our dogs to alert their owner about an hour before an episode or medical event occurs.”
Medical Mutts is making a significant difference by sourcing dogs from shelters across the United States and then training them. However, this process requires both time and money. On average, it costs Medical Mutts around $25,000 per dog to train and place them with a deserving recipient. By attending Barks and Booze, Geist residents can directly contribute to this worthy cause. General admission tickets are $100 and VIP tickets are $135. VIP tickets include one Tito’s Cocktail and a glass of Daniel’s Sangria.
“The first-time event is going to be a treat for attendees,” Boskovich says. “Ed Martin Automotive Group sponsors Barks and Booze. There is a wine tasting, behind-the-scenes tours of Daniel’s Vineyard, live music, catered appetizers, a cash bar and a silent auction. The proceeds will benefit Medical Mutts and allow us to rescue more dogs, help more people, and promote kindness and inclusivity.”
Live auction items include autographed sports paraphernalia and behind-the-scenes experiences at local Indianapolis attractions. Local band Traci and Jimmy, an Indianapolisbased acoustic duo, will provide the music, with songs from the 1970s, ‘80s and ‘90s.
“We’re hoping to raise $30,000 from this event,” says Dr. Jennifer Cattet, founder and CEO for Medical Mutts. “We also hope to spread awareness about what our small but mighty team does. It takes a lot of time and money to seek out potential dogs, adopt them, transport them and train them to be medical alert companions. A lot of work goes into finding the right dog for the right person.”
Cattet says Medical Mutts hopes to reach a whole new audience of potential donors, volunteers, fosters and potential clients by hosting the event. The organization celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2023 and, by that date, placed over 100 service dogs with people with medical issues. Cattet says they cannot currently provide free medical alert dogs to companions. She says Medical Mutts is the most affordable of the options available, but it can be quite expensive to adopt a medical alert dog.
The process involves an extensive application process for the dog’s companion and a training period for the dog. Cattet says they are limited on what types of dogs they can adopt and train to be medical alert dogs. She says many of the dogs in Indianapolis shelters are considered bully breeds, and therefore aren’t a good fit for someone needing medical assistance. The average wait time for one of their rescue dogs is 12 to 18 months. She wants to increase Medical Mutts’ visibility within the community and work toward lowering the cost to the recipients.
“We need so much more support from the community to continue doing what we’re doing, but also to look ahead to the future,” Cattet says. “We want to be able to provide scholarships and lower the costs in the future, but we can’t do that without community awareness and support. There are lots of organizations that go and rescue the dogs, and there are lots of organizations that help with disabilities. We’re one of the very few, if not the only one in the country, that’s actually connecting the two, and that’s what makes us special. We have the dogs we’re saving. Then we’re helping people in desperate need of medical alert service dogs to get their lives back on track. We’re essentially helping both the dogs and the person, and doing that in a symbiotic relationship.”
Medical Mutts is located at 6120 Allisonville Road in Indianapolis For more information, visit medicalmutts.org. To purchase tickets for Barks and Booze, visit medicalmutts. goodworldnow.com/e/barks-n-booze.
Writer / Renee Larr Photographer / Tom Klubens
PHYSICIANS FOR WISHES
LOCAL
WISHES AND BRINGS SMILES TO THOSE WITH CRITICAL OR TERMINAL ILLNESSES
Writer / Natalie Platt
Dr. Gregory Taylor is doing more than saving lives; he’s granting wishes.
The Fishers resident is a board-certified emergency medicine physician at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie, as well as Riverview Hospital in Fishers/Carmel with Cross Country Locums and TeamHealth. Beyond the hospital, Taylor serves in the United States Air Force stationed at Grissom Air Reserve Base, and functions as a flight surgeon and emergency medical service/fire department
medical director.
And he’s making dreams come true.
Physicians for Wishes has been a long time coming for Taylor. His mother was diagnosed with multiple myeloma when he was still in training. A family surprised him with a weekend getaway to Great Wolf Lodge. During that time frame, he saw his mother smile again, laugh again, and for a brief moment in time, she forgot she had cancer. Her passing in 2008 planted the seed for Taylor to start giving back.
Fast-forward to October of 2022, when close friends of Taylor found out their daughter was diagnosed with a terminal illness.
“We made the decision as a family to take them to Disney World,” he says. “For seven days we did all the parks and all the character dining experiences we could find. The amount of smiles and laughter is just something you don’t forget and something the family will never forget. If I could do that for this family, I could do it for others.”
When Taylor decided he was in a financial position to take the next step and make wishes come true for more families, he started a YouTube channel, Physicians for Wishes, in the summer of 2023.
“The first wish I granted was almost a year ago for a 20-year-old with glioblastoma, a highly aggressive brain tumor,” Taylor says. “He was in hospice, but the family’s wish was to see him smile again. I was able to get a list of all the things he loved: Lake Michigan, bonfires, s’mores, barbecue, hot tubs, and Mountain Dew Baja Blast. I was able to give him and his family an incredible four-day Lake Michigan vacation. It was my first wish for the YouTube channel and is truly heartwarming.”
Devin Loudy would pass away a few months later, but his family will always remember his last vacation, and seeing him smile and laugh
Taylor’s second and most recent wish, granted via the Physicians for
Wishes YouTube channel, was for Jeremy Maines, a cancer patient who thrives on adrenaline rushes. The video, featured on Fox59 news, features Jeremy telling his cancer story and driving a NASCAR race car around the Michigan International Speedway, followed by one more activity - jumping out of an airplane.
“This video and wish will truly warm your heart and is the reason I do this; he said that experience was the coolest thing that has ever happened to him,” Taylor says.
Physicians for Wishes needs community and corporate support to continue granting wishes for terminally ill patients hoping to experience a few of their favorite things or activities while they fight against time.
“What I did not realize when I started this channel was how difficult it was going to be to get support and wish nominations,” he says. “ For that reason, I made the decision to do community give-back videos, to raise awareness for the channel and hopefully get subscribers and support. Some of those include donating Christmas presents to an entire elementary school in need, and providing over $20,000 worth of Valentine’s Day toys/baskets/supplies to every cat and every dog at an animal shelter.”
The biggest step the community can take is to visit the YouTube
channel (@Physicians_for_Wishes) and subscribe, and also donate. The goal with the channel is for the videos to fund themselves with viewer donations via subscriptions. Taylor currently funds the wishes himself, supplemented with a few individuals who want to be part of something truly life-changing.
“Without someone doing for us what I am doing for others, my mother would not have smiled again, laughed again, and for a brief period of time would not have forgotten about her cancer fight,” he says. “Most of the donations I’ve received so far have come from outside of the Fishers/Carmel area. I have hope that more people in this area will want to be part of giving back and granting wishes for cancer patients.”
Looking ahead, Taylor also wants to give back during the holiday season. He would like to be able to provide presents to all three elementary schools in Winchester, Indiana, a town hit hard by a tornado in the spring of this year. By doing so, he would be providing over 800 gifts to children and families in need.
However, continuing to grant wishes for those in need at this level requires donors and sponsors. Taylor notes that the YouTube channel is growing one step at a time and making progress - but he needs help.
To learn more about Physicians for Wishes and how you can donate, visit youtube.com/@Physicians_for_Wishes.
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