MAGAZINE TownePost.com SEPTEMBER 2022 Laura Jay-Ballinger and Her Family Push Forward in the Fight Against Cystic Fibrosis PERSIST AND PREVAIL Sheltering Wings Celebrates 20 Years of Community Assistance MUST-SEE FALL EVENTS IN HENDRICKS COUNTY Take a Deep Breath
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IN THIS ISSUE SEPTEMBER 2022 #SPOTLIGHTINGLOCAL FOR FRANCHISE INFORMATION, VISIT franchising.townepost.com TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC. 8800 North Street, Suite 117 Fishers, IN 46038 Phone/Text: 317-810-0011 A TOWNE POST NETWORK PUBLICATION For advertising information, contact: PUBLISHER DARREN BOSTON 317.716.8812darren@townepost.com ANALYTICSREAL-TIME Scan the QR code to see this distributionreal-timemagazine’sreachandnumbers. KEY CONTRIBUTORS TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC. FOUNDER/CEO TOM BRITT 317.496.3599tom@townepost.com PRESIDENT JEANNE BRITT 317.810.0011jeanne@townepost.com PRODUCTION COORDINATOR ERIN TURK DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT JOSH BROWN CREATIVE DIRECTORS TONI EADS VAL AUSTIN COPY EDITOR JON SHOULDERS AMY PAYNE / CHRISTY HEITGER-EWING / DR. MICHAEL GABBARD TARA MARIE DORSETT / VISIT HENDRICKS COUNTY 6 GIVING HEARTS Local Outreach Ministry Feeds the Homeless 9 PERSIST AND PREVAIL Sheltering Wings Celebrates 20 Years of Community Assistance 15 MUST-SEE FALL EVENTS IN HENDRICKS COUNTY 20 CHOOSING THE RIGHT PET 22 HIP AND KNEE SURGERY What to Expect From Your Care Team 26 TAKE A DEEP BREATH Laura Jay-Ballinger and Her Family Push Forward in the Fight Against Cystic Fibrosis 26
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In November of 2015, Marie Dugan and her husband Scott felt a pull to do something to make the world a better place. They began volunteering at Wheeler Mission.
The couple pulled up to a building and followed a trail that led straight to a homeless camp.
HEARTSGIVING LOCAL HOMELESSMINISTRYOUTREACHFEEDSTHE Marie gifting a quilt to those in need.
“Though God put it on our hearts to do something to help, I heard him say, ‘Go to the source,’” Dugan says. “The first time we went out, we asked God to take us where he wanted us to go.”
“A great big, burly, bearded man came out and did not seem happy we were there,” Dugan recalls. By the time the couple left the camp, however, the man reached out for a hug.
Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided
“I wanted to see where they were living and talk to them where they felt comfortable,” says Dugan, who notes that their purpose is to befriend, which they do by sharing food. “It’s the heartbeat of our Saturdays. We want to build relationships.”
6 / PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE / SEPTEMBER 2022 / TownePost.com
“It’s hard to explain, but my heart changed in that moment,” Dugan says. “I knew that’s what I was meant to do.”
That’s how Hearts for the Homeless got started. The street outreach ministry became a 501(c)(3) organization in February of 2017. Dugan posted to Facebook and people started donating coats and blankets.
The pair went every week to camps, delivering food, clothing, hugs and hope. Unlike many outreaches, they don’t park and expect the homeless to come to them.
These people are often hungry not just for sustenance, but also for interaction.
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Scott was diagnosed with melanoma in 2018 and passed away in February of 2019. Dugan took a yearlong hiatus from the outreach to grieve. When she started volunteering again, she found the experience healing. She also met a host of new characters, like a young girl who would stand in the background cursing God, and shouting at Dugan and her crew that she hoped they all went to hell.
Brackin began volunteering with Hearts for the Homeless in February of 2021. The fact that she started just a few days after Valentine’s Day seemed serendipitous, because she instantly found a love for the team and for the friends they serve. Prior to joining
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Hearts for the Homeless, Brackin was focused on mission ministries, primarily in Africa.
“I knew I had to go again,” she says. “Hearts for the Homeless is so much more than the food being served. It’s the conversations, prayers, love and hope. We have seen some beautiful transformations I just can’t put into words.”
Dugan herself has endured a lot in life. She was abused in her younger years, became addicted to drugs, and couch-surfed at times when she didn’t have a physical address to call home.
“It’s hard for normal people to understand homelessness when they see folks standing on corners, mumbling and begging for money, but they all have stories and every single one of them is heartbreaking,” Dugan says. “The biggest misconception about homeless people is that they are where they want to be. That’s not the case. They’re there because of their past.”
For many, their issues date back to childhood. Dugan shares the story of a man who ran away when he was 6 years old. His parents beat him, his mom died, and he has been on his own ever since.
“Certain people will gravitate to specific people on our team,” Dugan says. “It feels good when people’s faces light up when they see you.”
“Because of that focus, I was missing the needs right here at home,” she says. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, caused her to re-evaluate her plans. From the first Saturday she joined the ministry, she felt a strong sense of belonging.
“I didn’t say anything,” Dugan says. “God told me to love her, so I Ashleydid.”
“We’re not faith-based but we share the Gospel wherever we go,” Dugan says. “We don’t push it on them, but if they ask, we’ll pray for Onethem.”day this foul-mouthed girl found her way into Dugan’s prayer circle. Before long, she was attending church services with Dugan. Ultimately, she accepted the Lord and was baptized on her birthday. Others were left dumbfounded by the transformation and asked Dugan what she had said to turn the girl around.
Brackin wants people to understand that the homeless do not start their lives any differently than anyone else. The only difference is their journey, and much of it can’t be helped. “We could all be in the same position very easily,” she says.
to Hearts for the Homeless may be sent to: P.O. Box 91, Lizton, IN 46149. For more information or to sign up to provide a meal, call 317-869-7281 or visit heartsforthehomelessindy.org.
“It’s truly about survival,” Dugan says. “They don’t know rules and they don’t know love. This is all they know.”
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“I’ve seen people throw things at him and trip him,” Dugan says. “We have no idea what’s in people’s hearts and minds. We don’t know what they’ve experienced, so at least don’t be mean to them.”
SignUpGenius for people to sign up to provide a meal. Dugan then picks up the meals on Friday nights so they are ready to be distributed on Saturday mornings. In addition to meals, Dugan collects flashlights, batteries and hygiene products.
Hearts for the Homeless serves people in Hendricks County and surrounding areas. The nonprofit is 90% supported by the communities in Hendricks County.
“It’s been amazing to witness,” Dugan says. “Our community is awesome.” Dugan and her team of volunteers hand out between 45 and 70 meals per week. Sometimes these meals are bagged lunches. Other times they include a pot of spaghetti or chili. Chick-fil-A often provides them with 20 sandwiches to compensate if they run low on food.
Dugan used to put bottles of water in her freezer before bedtime in the summertime, and then pass out frozen waters to people on the interstate on her way to or from work. “People loved it,” she says.
Dugan also describes a girl who was baptized on her birthday. She was placed in foster homes where she was raped and abused, so she ran away when she was 9 years old, knowing that if she stayed uncaught until the age of 18, she would never have to go back into the system. So that’s what she did.
More than anything, Dugan implores people to just be kind. She mentions a homeless man she knows who is schizophrenic. Because of his erratic behavior, people assume he’s on drugs.
Because this is all many homeless people know, sometimes they’re hesitant to leave it. For instance, after the girl was baptized, Dugan invited her to stay at her house for a week. After just three days, however, she was ready to go back to the homeless camp.
“I’ve found that a beautiful smile has nothing to do with straight teeth, white teeth or no teeth at all,” she says. “Their smiles come from the Donationsheart.”
As for Brackin, she says she can’t express how thankful she is to be a part of this outreach. It truly has shifted her perspective.
“It’s worked out every time,” Dugan says. “We’ve never run out of Theyfood.”use
Dugan says one of the best ways to help someone who is homeless is to carry water, snacks and chapstick in your car to hand out.
“One thing leads you to another until God thumps you on the head, and you’re like, ‘I get it now. This is something you want me to get started on,’” Hoffeditz says. That was the birth of Sheltering Wings, formed in the name and for the sake of Jesus Christ, to provide emergency housing for survivors escaping domestic abuse. They build stable and independent lives through programs offered in a caring and Christ-centered environment.
One evening in 1999, Sue Hoffeditz was working at a local food pantry when a mother and her two children came in to “Ishop.was initially so enamored with the little ones that I didn’t pay much attention to the mom, but when I did look up at her, I could tell someone had beaten her,” says Hoffeditz, whose initial instinct was to contact the local shelter. Then she learned that there was no local shelter and she was crestfallen. As she continued to ask around about what could be done, it became clear in her heart and soul that she was the one to make something happen.
Linda Wells, emergency services manager, is grateful for such people, as it made a dream become a reality.
The organization started as an extension of Cornerstone Christian Church as an independent nonprofit, and has garnered a huge amount of support from the entire community including various agencies, individuals and other churches. Though they have stayed true to their core principles and guiding values, the organization and its mission has continued to expand and grow
ANDPERSISTPREVAIL SHELTERING WINGS CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE
“It doesn’t take much involvement [at Sheltering Wings] for a person to become a fan and realize, ‘This is something I can really get behind,’” he says.
“God had a much bigger plan and he put the right people in place for that plan.”
“We wouldn’t be here today without that group of people having a heart for something they didn’t even know was going to become this big,” says Wells, noting that initially they all envisioned building or buying a small house for women in need of refuge, but it grew to be so much more.
Bob Leonard, Raylene Bayless, Dave Blanford and others joined Hoffeditz as founding board “Imembers.can’timagine society where a woman is living in an abusive situation and doesn’t know what her options are, and she doesn’t have any,” Leonard says.
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Bayless knew someone who needed a place to go but didn’t have one, and that was the impetus for her involvement in Sheltering BlanfordWings. didn’t have much experience in domestic violence, but he was close to a couple of female victims, and that pulled at his heartstrings.
Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided
SEPTEMBER 2022 over time.
For instance, in February of 2020 Sheltering Wings opened a 12-person unit for male victims of domestic abuse. The nonprofit helps roughly 250 women, men and children annually through their residential services. In addition, they provide prevention and education all across the county in churches, schools and workplaces, so they touch a lot of people in various ways. Plus, they have a helpline that operates 24/7, fielding thousands of calls each year that serve a whole spectrum of needs. Sheltering Wings, in numerous ways, helps those who suffer domestic abuse get back on their feet.
Cassie Mecklenburg, Sheltering Wings’ executive director, is grateful to not only the founding board members, but also all of the friends and supporters of Sheltering Wings who have educated themselves and others, and/or volunteered their time and talents through the years. In October, the Sheltering Wings team members will
October 6: Dine Out Against Domestic Violence. When you dine at any Cunningham Restaurant Group restaurant in Hendricks County, a portion of your bill will be donated back to Sheltering Wings. The Cunningham Restaurant Group locations in Hendricks County include Boulder Creek Dining Company, Charbonos, BRU Burger Bar Brownsburg, BRU Burger Bar Plainfield, and Stone Creek Dining Company Plainfield.
SEPTEMBER 2022
Ascension St. Vincent | © Ascension 2022. All rights reserved.
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Because of this nonprofit, survivors get a whole new lease on life. One resident shares that she was stuck in a cycle of abuse, going from one abusive boyfriend to the next since she was 17 years old. She then got married and had two kids with an abusive husband.
Talk about health screenings with a doctor or care team who listens Health screenings are important for all of us. Taking care of yourself means being proactive about your health. So talk with a doctor or care team with Ascension Medical Group St. Vincent about the screenings that are right for you, based on your age and family history. They may help detect cancer early, when it’s most treatable.
celebrate their 20th anniversary.
“That’s 20 years of safety, 20 years of breaking the cycle of abuse, 20 years of life-skills classes, and 20 years of showing Christ’s love to survivors of domestic violence,” Mecklenburg says. “It’s also 20 years of families who have found safety, love and encouragement from our services.”
• October 3: Understanding Domestic Violence. 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Sheltering Wings. In this training, participants learn about the causes for domestic violence and how to be a part of the solution.
October 20: Celebrate, Create, Connect. 6 p.m. at Sheltering Wings. Celebrate survivors of domestic abuse, create a unique piece of artwork, and connect to continue to prevent abuse. Wear purple to show your support for National Domestic Violence Awareness Day (the color of the domestic violence ribbon).
OCTOBER IS NATIONAL DOMESTIC OCTOBER.EVENTSHOSTSHELTERINGAWARENESSVIOLENCEMONTH.WINGSWILLAVARIETYOFTHROUGHOUT TOSHELTERINGWINGS.ORGVISITLEARNMORE.
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Start a conversation with a doctor or care team at ascension.org/StVincentScreenings or call 833-478-1261
“[Sheltering Wings] offered me a bright new future that I didn’t think existed,” she says. “This place has really helped me with independence and learning to believe in myself.”
October 6: Sixth Annual Men IN Action Breakfast at D-BAT Avon. 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Designed to equip men on the journey to build one another up, hold one another accountable, challenge the status quo and navigate life by being positive role models for youth.
You can get screened and have peace of mind
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If you need more care, including more advanced treatment options, you are connected to compassionate care teams right for you.
If your church or workplace would like to receive resource cards, trainings, or help creating a domestic abuse policy, all free of charge, contact Harris. Mailing address: Sheltering Wings, P.O. Box 92, Danville, IN 46122. To call the 24-hour helpline, call 317-745-1496. For more information, call 317-718-5460 or visit shelteringwings.org.
“Community support makes it possible for survivors to find safety.”
“Our work is only possible through the support of the community,” says Jenna Harris, communication and annual giving officer with Sheltering Wings. “Monetary donations provide for our clients in an extremely meaningful way, and there’s always a need for donated items and Marilynvolunteers.”Bradford started volunteering at Sheltering Wings in early 2019. “Abuse is so much more prevalent than what people think, and I want to be a part of the solution,” Bradford says. “It’s such a rewarding experience and I know I’m making a difference. I encourage everyone to volunteer at least once.”
SEPTEMBER 2022 DID YOU KNOW CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENTS BOOST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM? WHAT A GREAT REASON TO START CARE AT ANY AGE! Chiropracticfor all ages CHIROPRACTIC CAN HELP WITH COLIC, REFLUX, NURSING/LATCHING ISSUES, CONSTIPATION, SLEEPING CONCERNS EAR INFECTIONS, BED WETTING, ASTHMA, GROWING PAINS, SCOLIOSIS, HELP WITH INJURIES FROM SPORTS, AND MORE. NEWBORN:TOTODDLERSTEENS: THE ONLY FEMALE CHIROPRACTIC OFFICE IN HENDRICKS CO. 7651 E. US HWY 36 • AVON, IN 46123 |COMMUNITYCHIROAVON.COM | (317) 272-7988 DR. VICKI CRUM Thanks to continual advocacy and support, more than 4,500 men, women and children have left domestic abuse behind for safe, bright futures. As Mecklenburg reflects on all of the names and faces of individuals who have entered their doors through the years, she smiles at the outcomes. “I celebrate with them the jobs that they have secured, degrees completed, first-time homeowners, and most importantly the newfound safety and freedom they are experiencing,” she says. “I’m beyond thankful for [the community’s] support over the past 20 years. God has been so faithful. His hand can be seen in everything here at the shelter.”
For anyone interested in helping, Sheltering Wings gladly accepts donations and volunteers.
Sheltering Wings also offers workshops, trainings and policy help, to educate and equip workplaces, churches, schools and “Aindividuals.greatway to get involved is to bring us in to do a workshop, or to come to the shelter for a workshop on-site,” Harris says.
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This must-see autumn institution in Danville hosts our county’s largest fall event, the annual Heartland Apple Festival. Always held the first two weekends in October – Oct. 1-2 and 8-9 this year
Must-See Fall Events in Hendricks County
Story & Photos Provided by Visit Hendricks County Can you believe it? The fall season has officially arrived, and it is time to look ahead to local events and activities you can enjoy right here in Hendricks County. We’ve created an online tool exclusive to our website at VisitHendricksCounty.com to help you find your perfect personalized fall itinerary. By answering four simple questions, the system will search for and display your perfect fall adventure. Narrowing down all the festivals, activities and other fall attractions in Hendricks County can prove to be a daunting task because of the sheer number of fun things to see and do. So, we are here to help both through that quiz and with my summary that follows.
BEASLEY’S ORCHARD & HEARTLAND APPLE FESTIVAL
While Beasley’s and the Heartland Apple Festival may be the autumn headliner, it merely scratches the surface of fall events you can enjoy with your family. Six other favorites in October Harvestinclude: Moon Festival (Oct. 1) – This new event hosted by Washington Township Park in Avon kicks off the fall season in style this year with pumpkin carving, wagon rides, a petting zoo,
--Indianapolis Monthly magazine featured this festival as one of “50 Things Every Hoosier Must Do!” Visitors can tour the orchard, take a hayride to the pumpkin patch, pick apples from the U-pick area, enjoy live entertainment, buy fresh produce and other goods in a Civil War-era barn turned rustic market or wind their way through a huge corn maze. Your children will love hay mountain, the apple cannons and Barnyard Bonanza, which features ball throws, a spider web, a huge jumping pillow and more.
SEPTEMBER 2022 10-31-22EXPIRES
But you don’t have to visit Beasley’s during those two weekends to enjoy the fun as the orchard remains open every day during the fall season with many of the above activities available.
6 FALL EVENTS
MORE
LEARNMORE: live music, vendors, food, fireworks and much more. Hendricks County International Festival (Oct. 1) – In its third year, the International Festival at Talon Stream Park in Plainfield is a free cultural immersion for the entire family. Experience food, dancing and musical performances and interactive booths to learn more about other cultures and parts of the world such as India, Pakistan, Poland, Russia and Japan. Fall Harvest Festival (Oct. 8) – Another first-time fall event hosted at W.S. Gibbs Memorial Park in Avon will feature scarecrows and chili-cooking contest and also include games and other activities for the entire family. Dog Daze at the Maze (Oct. 15-16) – Beasley’s Orchard turns its
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Other Fall Attractions
I briefly mentioned Who North America in the events above. Did you know that it is the only retail store and museum dedicated to the TV show Doctor Who in North America? If you love the show, venturing to this attraction in Camby should be on your bucket list.
Fall Colors Festival (Oct. 22) – Enjoy the best public place to see fall foliage in Hendricks County -- McCloud Nature Park in North Salem. This event boasts lots of fun activities including archery, tree-climbing, exploring their fish-themed prairie maze, throwing an atlatl, hayrides and more.
For more information about any of these attractions or events or other things to do in Hendricks County or to take our fall quiz, go online to VisitHendricksCounty.com.
In addition to all the events, a couple of fall attractions in Brownsburg that I highly recommend include Hogan Farms and Natural Valley Ranch. Hogan Farms has become a popular autumn spot with activities during the month of October that include a huge corn maze, pumpkin patch, petting zoo and hayrides. I took my son a few years ago, and he loved it.
If you’re into horseback riding, there truly is no better season to experience a ride through the scenic woods at Natural Valley Ranch than in the fall. The Brownsburg ranch spans 70 scenic acres, and offers 30, 60 and 90-minute guided trail rides along the banks of White Lick Creek.
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Doctoberfest (Oct. 22) – This is a must for any fan of the TV show Doctor Who as it features a costume competition, custom action figure contest, games, merchandise and much more at Who North America in Camby. More on this attraction in a moment.
popular corn maze over to the dogs with a weekend dedicated to our four-legged friends.
SEPTEMBER 2022 GOLF OUTING 24TH ANNUAL HENDRICKS REGIONAL HEALTH YMCA OCTOBER 3 SHOTGUN START 12 PM Country Club of Indianapolis 2801 Country Club Rd Indianapolis, IN 46234 RSVP To Kim Vu atorkvu@indymca.org317.204.1905 Celebrate, Create, Connect! Join us on October 20 at Sheltering Wings as our community celebrates survivors of domestic abuse, creates a unique piece of artwork, and connects you to ways to prevent abuse! Domestic Violence Awareness & Prevention Month You can prevent domestic violence. But do you know how? Find more ways to get involved by visiting ShelteringWings org/DVAP O C T O B E R I S N A T I O N A L Together, we can prevent abuse and end domestic violence. U P I C K A P P L E S S TA R T I N G I N S E P T E M B E R Apple Cannons · Hay Rides to the Pumpkin Patch Corn Maze · Barnyard Bonanza · Food Vendors ORDER YOUR TICKETS FOR FALL FESTIVALS ONLINE TO START HARVESTING MEMORIES WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS FARM MARKET HOURS: MONDAY SATURDAY: 9 AM 6 PM | SUNDAY: 12 PM 6 PM | 2304 E. MAIN ST. DANVILLE, IN 46122 | 317 745 4876 @BEASLEYSORCHARD @BEASLEYS.ORCHARDBEASLEYS ORCHARD.COM
CHOOSING THE PET
The 3-month-old Burmese mountain dog was adorable, but his size stopped adopters from filling out an application. On his fourth day at the shelter, a young woman wanted to meet him. Some basic questions were “Whatasked:type of housing are you in?” She rented a small, second-floor apartment.
“Do you have time to train and exercise the dog?” Her job kept her busy, often requiring her to work late. She was told that a large puppy might not be the best fit for her, but she said the dog was perfect and took him home.
“Do you enjoy being outside?” She preferred to stay indoors.
RIGHT
Now do some research on the species you Dogswant. typically need three or more hours of outdoor, high-energy
playtime. They need to go out at least two times per day to use the bathroom. Average food consumption is one-half to three cups per meal. Cats can comfortably live inside. Average meal size is one-third to one-half cups per day. Toys are easy to find. Cats sleep
Writer / Tara Marie Dorsett Photography Provided
The next morning she returned, sheepishly admitting she may have bitten off more than she could chew. For many of us, life feels empty without a pet, but we don’t always take time to figure out exactly which one works for us before we jump into pet ownership. So how do you choose a furry, feathered or scaled friend that is practical for your home and life? Start by asking yourself a few Whyquestions.doyouwant this type of pet? What draws you to that Doanimal?you have room for your pet’s cage, kennel or aquarium? Do you have space for them to run, jump and explore? How much money can you spend per month on a pet? Do you have time to train, exercise and play with a pet?
SEPTEMBER 2022
several hours per day and can usually be left unattended for long periods of time.
Birds enjoy human company and benefit from out-of-cage time. The amount of food needed for the day varies from bird to bird, but averages from one-half to one pound of food per day. Toys are expensive with few options. Small animals do well in medium to large enclosures. A bag of food lasts about three to four weeks. Toys need to be replaced often. Some small animals such as rabbits, chinchillas and ferrets require more human interaction, and their diets have special requirements.
Reptiles vary in size. Their enclosure should be large enough and secure enough to keep them safe. Initial setup can cost up to $1,000. Food cost and type vary with species. A snake may only need to be fed twice per week, while a lizard or frog may need to eat more often.
Fish need very little care beyond food, places to hide and clean water. A container of food, dry or frozen, can last a month. Ideally they need one gallon of water per inch of body length.
Now that you have considered the basics of pet ownership, have fun choosing your new family member. Oh, and in case you are wondering, the Burmese mountain puppy found an amazing home later that afternoon.
What could be sweeter than indulging in a decadent dessert made by your favorite local bakery? Enjoying that tasty treat while also empowering women to become substancefree, self-sufficient and healthy. Dove House is opening new doors for women in recovery, and you will want to be part of this exciting event.
SEPTEMBER 2022
A SWEET EVENT TO SUPPORT WOMEN STRUGGLING WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER
The Dove Recovery House for Women Celebration Luncheon & Dessert Auction will take place Wednesday, September 21st from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Ritz Charles in Carmel, IN. Sponsorship opportunities and individual tickets are available at doverecoveryhouse.org/luncheon. Contact Dove House CEO Wendy Noe (wnoe@doverecoveryhouse.org) to learn more about how you can get involved. Scan the QR code to purchase tickets or become a sponsor.
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Take a
As for Laura, she says she always knew she was different as a result of CF.
BreathDeep
Against Cystic Fibrosis
In 1989 the Jay family began participating in the Great Strides Walk for Cystic Fibrosis in Indianapolis, and as their numbers grew, they started a Great Strides Walk in Plainfield. The community responded, including businesses, schools, Scouts groups, the Kiwanis Club, the Plainfield Optimist Club, church groups and local ball teams.
hen Laura Jay-Ballinger was a little girl, her parents, Brenda and Jeff Jay, knew that something was wrong with their daughter, but a diagnosis didn’t come until she was 2 years old. As it turned out, Laura had cystic fibrosis (CF), a progressive, genetic disease that causes persistent lung infections and limits the ability to breathe over time.
Laura, Ruby & Brenda
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“It meant that I did breathing treatments that my friends didn’t,” she says. “It meant that when I had sleepovers, my friends’ parents recognized that I needed to swallow 10 pills before a meal. I also knew that there was a community full of generous people who were dedicated to raising money for CF.”
Laura herself became an advocate. She began giving speeches with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation when she was 5 years “Momold. would help me write them and I’d memorize them,” Laura says. She spoke about how donations would go towards raising money for medications that would help keep her alive, because at the time there was nothing on the market other than enzymes to help her digest her Fundraisingfood. has served as a therapeutic outlet for the whole family. In 2000 Brenda joined the Indiana Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, where she served for 10 years. She continues to serve on several national foundation Withcommittees.CF,alung infection can come out of “Onenowhere. dayyou’re fine, and the next day you can’t breathe and need IV antibiotics,” says Laura, who was frequently admitted to the hospital for lung infections, often spending two weeks there at a time. “I identified as the sick Nonetheless,kid.” Laura kept living life as normally as possible.
Laura Jay-Ballinger and Her Family Push Forward in the Fight
Amy Payne
“We were told that life expectancy for her would be mid to late teens,” Brenda says. “We were devastated.”
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Christy Heitger-Ewing
“I went to school, played sports and had friends,” Laura says. “I did the things I wanted to do.” She also did daily respiratory therapy, which involves pressure on the chest to move mucus through, to prevent infections. For the first 15 years of her life, Laura’s parents manually performed that therapy with their hands, pounding
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“I didn’t know any woman with CF who had carried a pregnancy,” Laura says. “It was a risky endeavor, and I’m not a risk taker.” She was told that the majority of CF moms die before their child turns 10 - a chilling statistic. Nevertheless, with the support of her doctor, she took the risk and gave birth to a healthy baby girl named Ruby in 2013. Laura experienced a significant decline in her health after Ruby’s birth. Soon thereafter, three different drugs came onto the market in a row, all designed not just to treat the symptoms of CF, but also to actually correct the defect in the cells that cause CF. “That’s a huge difference,” Laura says. “Instead of trying to keep up and prevent decline, they actually create healthy cells.” One medication helped to stabilize her health, causing her to get sick less often, but it was not the miracle drug she was hoping for. But the science kept progressing, and in 2018 she felt she hit the lotto when she got a spot in a trial for a new drug called Trikafta. The timing couldn’t
ownePost.com NowairportHiring!parkingis FPR Now Hiring Shuttle Poster, 1-sided. Trim Size 11 x 17 Colors Cyan Magenta Yellow Black Preflight and Trap artwork if needed to meet your press tolerances. This artwork not trapped.NowairportHiring!parkingis growing, and we need you! NowairportHiring!parkingis growing, and we need you! To apply, scan this code with your smartphone. ■ Part-time, full-time, tipped and untipped positions. ■ Flexible hours ■ Cashiers ■ Drivers (CDL not needed) ■ Supervisors Family Business “ A family oriented workplace Everyone is part of the team” — Driver, Houston NowairportHiring!parkingis growing, and we need you! FPR Now Hiring Shuttle Poster, 1-sided. Trim Size 11 x 17 Colors Cyan Magenta on her chest and back to release mucus. Then when she was in high school, a device came out that did that for her, bringing with it an independence that she didn’t previously have. She was able to go away to college, live in a dorm and play on the tennis team at Anderson University. She also earned a graduate degree in clinical psychology and married her husband, David Ballinger, in 2010. The couple then had to decide whether to start a family.
Ballinger Family
The first year after giving birth, Laura was on intravenous antibiotics four times, each time a three-week ordeal. Since she has started Trikafta, however, she’s
my life these drugs have been developed just as I needed them,” Laura says. “My health would be declining and I would need something new, and then something new would come to be. It’s been pretty wild but I’m so grateful.”
“Onlyshape. myhusband knew how sick I was,” says Laura, who was working as a psychotherapist at a community mentalhealth center at the time. “It was too scary for me to fully recognize it myself. When I couldn’t recover and had to quit my job, I was really scared. I thought that was the end of my career. I didn’t know what the rest of my life would look like.” She was one of only 100 people in the world in the trial phase for her specific genetic mutation of CF. “I took Trikafta the first day and that night I was reading ‘Harry Potter’ to my daughter, and I started to not feel well and was coughing a lot,” Laura says. “The next morning, things felt different.” She started sleeping better and coughing less, while also having more energy. The mucus in her lungs was coming up. Though it was a blind study, she knew she wasn’t on the placebo. “I knew something good was happening,” she Whensays.she finally did see the numbers, her overall lung function had increased by a whopping 20%. Kalydeco was approved in 2012 and helped just 4% of CF patients. Orkambi, approved in 2016, helped CF patients with the most common CF genes. Trikafta was approved in 2019 and is the most effective treatment available for 90% of “Throughoutpatients.
TownePost.com / SEPTEMBER 2022 / PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE / 29 have been better. At the time she was in bad
“The work isn’t done, but if anybody can do it, the CF Foundation can. I really believe that.”
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To date, their family’s team, the JAYWALKERS, has raised just over $1 million, a bittersweet accomplishment as Jeff passed away in 2014 from a brain tumor. Still, they are proud and thankful, and know he would be too.
“We’ve been surrounded by the most caring, dedicated family, friends and community for over 30 years,” Brenda says.
The Indiana Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is located at 8445 Keystone Crossing, Suite 135 in Indianapolis. For more information, call 317-202-9210 or visit cff.org.
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