Westfield Magazine March 2023

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Remembering, Honoring and Celebrating XAVIER JOHN MCDONALD

Writer / Alli Donovan Photography Provided

To lose someone who brought such a light to the lives of others is a terrible tragedy. And to lose a child is incredibly devastating. Renee and Brandon McDonald experienced these feelings with the loss of their son, Xavier. They are honoring his legacy in the best way possible – by helping others.

Xavier McDonald was a beautiful child. A happy, curious, wonderful 11-year-old boy. He was a kid who loved superheroes – so much so he named his pug Bruce Wayne. He enjoyed playing with his friends and always wanted to make people laugh. Sadly, Xavier passed away a couple weeks before his 12th birthday on November 13, 2022.

Xavier was a sixth grader at Westfield Intermediate School. He played the trumpet in the school band; he was a good student and he loved being with his family and friends.

Renee and Brandon treasure the

moments they had with him. He was fiercely independent. With his amount of dedication, he never failed to amaze his parents on what he accomplished when he was ready. He developed his phrase, “I’m good” when he was being reluctant. He used it so often as he was a strong and energetic kid who could handle himself.

Xavier’s greatest joy was making people laugh. Once he got a laugh, he would do the same joke repeatedly. After Xavier passed, Renee and Brandon found an app downloaded on his school Chromebook, “101 Kid/Family-Friendly Jokes.” This brought so much joy to the McDonalds as they knew it was so important to Xavier to make others smile and laugh.

The amount of support from the community of Westfield has been a miracle for them since the loss of their son.

“We have unfortunately experienced what it is to learn that tomorrow is not promised,” Renee McDonald says. “We want others to be able to take full advantage of the

time with their loved ones and not miss an opportunity to tell them how much they mean to you.”

With the support of the Westfield community and its school corporation, the McDonalds have established the Xavier John Memorial Fund. This scholarship demonstrates the love that Xavier’s parents, family, friends, teachers and community had for him.

The scholarship is set up through the Westfield Education Foundation and will be awarded to a Westfield High School graduating senior. This senior will demonstrate a positive contribution to society and growth or excellence in their academic or musical path.

The senior must provide a letter of recommendation from an educator or employer and enroll as a full-time student at an institution of higher education. The first scholarship will be awarded on May 25, 2023.

In addition to providing scholarships to high school seniors, the Xavier John Memorial Fund will also be providing support to students who are in need of instruments, band equipment or any financial assistance.

“The overwhelming amount of love from the community is what inspired us to give back,” Brandon McDonald says. “This scholarship is to honor the memory of

Xavier and his love of the band.”

To apply for the Xavier John Memorial Scholarship, please visit www.wwswef.org/ scholarships. For more information on Xavier’s memorial fund or to donate, visit www.wwswef.org/xavierjohnmcdonald. Donating to the Xavier John Memorial Fund will help ensure that many other kids will be “all good” too.

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OVERCOMING AN INJURY TO TRAVEL THE WORLD

ankle and wrist were broken at the same time. Normally, people with those separate injuries would be able to go home, but since she had injured both at once, we decided to treat her ankle in a more urgent fashion.”

Dr. Smith operated on Nancy’s ankle the following day to place one plate and nine screws. Fortunately, he was able to get her wrist aligned without surgical intervention and instead was able to place her in a splint.

“Nancy was a trooper,” Dr. Smith said. “It’s tough when both extremities are hurt at the same time, but she had a great outcome. Her surgery went smoothly, and she had no complications.”

“Dr. Smith, the nurses and the therapists at rehab were all awesome,” Nancy said. After being discharged from the hospital, Nancy had home healthcare for a month, and then she began outpatient therapy at Riverview Health Rehab & Fitness in Noblesville.

Story and Photography Provided

Nancy Bottorff was looking forward to a fun-filled year. With a trip to Italy planned in the fall of 2022, the 68-year-old Noblesville resident was excited for everything the coming months had in store. But her plans came screeching to a halt.

“We were at our daughter’s house for a pool party,” Nancy recalled. “I was with my grandson, and we had our arms around each other’s waist as we both took the two steps down to the pool deck. However, I only

took one step and fell.”

It was immediately apparent Nancy’s left ankle was broken, and she could tell from the pain that her left wrist was injured.

Nancy was transported by ambulance to the Riverview Health emergency room in Noblesville, where she was seen by orthopedic surgeon Scott Smith, MD.

“I saw Nancy emergently after her injury,” Dr. Smith said. “Unfortunately, both her

“Nancy was in a walking boot and wanted to get out of that right away so she could walk in normal shoes when she went to Europe,” said Riverview Health physical therapist Kelly Byrd. “When I began seeing her, she had pain, swelling in her ankle and decreased strength and range of motion. However, I knew I needed to get her walking and ready for her trip!”

Nancy also worked closely with Riverview Health occupational therapist Lori Cain on her wrist.

“We created a home program, and I saw her twice a week to work on range of motion, strengthening and functional tasks,” Lori said. “For example, we worked on things she would be doing on her trip—such as carrying, pulling and pushing luggage.”

Nancy’s wrist healed well, enabling her to participate in a cooking class while on her trip to Italy.

Thanks to Nancy’s diligence and her therapists’ guidance, her treatment was a success—and just in time for her Italy trip.

“We had a phenomenal time on our trip,” Nancy recalled.

When she was in smaller villages, Nancy was able to walk the uneven brick streets. She even participated in a cooking class—a wonderful experience she says she owes to her wrist therapy.

The last town Nancy and her husband, Richard, visited was Volterra, where they toured a beautiful cathedral. Unbeknownst to her husband, Nancy brought her wedding ring with her on the trip. Due to swelling from her injury, she had previously been unable to wear it. But with her hand now healing nicely, Nancy surprised her husband and he placed the ring on her finger again inside the beautiful church. They also exchanged wedding vows once more—a memory she said she will never forget.

Nancy credits the care she received with being able to have the trip of a lifetime.

“I’m so happy I chose Riverview Health for my care,” Nancy said. “To other patients experiencing a similar injury, I urge you to stay strong mentally and listen to your therapists. Follow their directions and be like a child with a parent. Let the therapists be your teacher and you just need to do your homework.”

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Nancy recovered in time to travel to Italy with her husband, Richard.

Carmel, Fishers, Westfield, Zionsville & Whitestown locations

Writer / Dr. Shashank Dave, physical medicine and rehabilitation physician at IU Health North Hospital

With summer on the horizon, your neck and back pain could be holding you back from fully enjoying the warmer weather. It’s important to understand what could be causing your back and neck pain as well as your treatment options.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR PAIN

Back and neck pain can originate from a variety of causes, including sprains and fractures, dislocations, stress from overuse, obesity, and infections. Back and neck pain can cause mild to debilitating discomfort that impacts your ability to function.

What causes your neck and back pain

Your spine has five sections of vertebrae: the neck or cervical spine, the mid-back or thoracic spine, the lower back or lumbar spine, the base of the spine or sacrum, and

BACK AND NECK PAIN: WHAT IT MIGHT MEAN

the tailbone or coccyx. Pain generated from each area can have different causes. Some of the conditions that cause pain in these areas include muscle or ligament strain, disc herniation (slipped disk or ruptured disk) and degenerative disc disease, sciatica, spinal stenosis, scoliosis, ankylosing spondylitis, brain tumors, spinal tumors, torticollis, or whiplash.

TREATMENT FOR YOUR NECK AND BACK PAIN

To treat your back and neck pain, your physician must first determine the cause. Your physician may use a combination of medical history, physical examination, diagnostic testing, and imaging. They may also decide to conduct more advanced tests to better understand your condition. These can include an electromyogram (EMG) to study nerve and muscle function, an MRI to study your spinal cord, and an arthroscopy

to investigate internal joint function. Once your physician determines the origin of your pain, they can work with you to develop the best treatment plan to address your specific condition and pain. There are a variety of treatment options, such as medications to reduce pain and inflammation as well as physical therapy to potentially fix your pain. If these do not work, your doctor could prescribe advanced pain management techniques. These more advanced techniques may include epidural injections, which can help with pain and inflammation, radiofrequency ablations, which deadens nerves thereby blocking pain, and nerve stimulation (either peripheral or central), which is a wire implanted that stimulates nerves and can also block pain. Another option includes surgery, which is done to relieve pressure on nerves or your spinal cord.

For more information on back and neck pain, visit iuhealth.org/spine.

Dr. Shashank Dave

matters of the mind matters of the mind

CERESET USES TECHNOLOGY TO COMBAT STRESS

Writer / Taylor Dixon Photography Provided

If you’ve ever wondered what your brain sounds like, Cereset, a global technological leader in brain restoration, is giving clients around the world exactly that. Cereset’s technology helps to combat stress, trauma and anxiety to essentially reset the brain.

Cereset’s patented BrainEcho technology uses sensors to reflect the brain’s rhythms. Sensors are used with music that is played back to the client through earbuds. By hearing itself, the brain can start on repairs that will help restore the mind and provide restful sleep, according to Brenda Hanning, owner of Cereset’s Carmel location.

Previously, Hanning used this technology to serve clients in the area under a company called Balanced Matter, for 10 years. However, after a new wave of Cereset technology, Hanning decided to bring the tech

to her own Carmel community in 2018.

Hanning says she saw results in her own life after the services were recommended to her by a family member.

“Seeing the great results of a loved one who suffered from insomnia and anxiety, I decided to have sessions,” Hanning says. “Within a month of having sessions, I was sleeping soundly, thinking more clearly, and I wasn’t carrying a constant feeling of angst. I was able to feel happy just because it was a sunny day. I decided to bring this technology to my community, so more people who want to be proactive towards stress by taking back control of their lives could have access to the Cereset technology closer to home.”

During a typical session, a client goes into a room and takes a seat on an antigravity chair. The lights are turned low as sensors are

placed on their scalp, and earbuds are provided so the client can listen to the beats of their own mind. Most clients, Hanning says, end up falling asleep during the process.

The Cereset Wellness Package includes five sessions that last about 90 minutes each. Results, Hanning says, are often seen within three weeks of the first treatment.

Hanning says the reset of the brain can often help turn off the basic fight, flight or freeze responses common in those who suffer from chronic stress, trauma or anxiety.

“Research has shown an increased risk of irritability, anxiety, forgetfulness and foggy thinking for individuals not getting enough sleep,” Hanning says. “With Cereset, these individuals can reduce stress in their brains, and achieve more restful sleep and more robust power for cognitive performance. When the brain relaxes these imbalances in the stress system, the brain can then selfcorrect the ‘stuck’ hemisphere and reset itself. A naturally reset and balanced brain can help resolve issues such as insomnia, stress, PTSD, anxiety, depression, anger, poor problem solving, lack of focus, and memory.”

To learn more, contact Cereset Carmel at 317-922-7588 or visit cereset.com. It is located at 160 West Carmel Drive, Suite 186.

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A WILL FOR WELLNESS

JRNY COUNSELING PARTNERS WITH HALL OF FAME HEALTH FOR INITIATIVE

Writer / Natalie Platt

Photography Provided

Hall of Fame Health (HOFH), a health care initiative affiliated with the Pro Football Hall of Fame, has partnered with JRNY Counseling to provide current and former professional football players and their families with mental health services.

Based in Noblesville and co-owned by Melanie Short and Holly Homan, JRNY Counseling meets the mental health needs of patients in a comfortable and safe environment.

“Historically, 30% of people meet criteria for anxiety disorders,” Homan says. “Outside of those meeting that criteria, people are able to use coping skills and support systems to manage issues that could lead to anxiety disorders. We think that people are more willing to ask for help than

ever before, but we are really only starting to understand the long-term impact on mental health.”

As professional athletes have continued to open up about their mental health struggles, HOFH was created to make mental health treatment accessible, destigmatized and widespread. The program has also been opened up so any person can call and use the concierge service to get connected to a vetted provider.

“We’re excited to welcome athletes who may not have previously felt at ease going to see a therapist,” Short says. “We work with so many people who had never sought this kind of help before, and it’s a shame they wait so long in silence.”

This partnership comes at a time of growth for JRNY Counseling as its location has

recently moved to a larger space. In addition to offering individual therapy, the practice has recently added integrative services including therapeutic massage, healing breathwork classes, recovery coaching and prevention classes. The Recovery Society, an intensive outpatient program for substance abuse that is accredited by the Division of Mental Health and Addiction, has also been added for those who need a more structured approach to early recovery. The setting is designed to provide a sense of wellness.

HOFH is honored to have JRNY

Counseling as a valued partner, as one of two Indianapolis-based practices to be selected for this initiative. The practice sets itself apart because the people who work there believe in an approach that is purposely peoplecentered and always authentic.

“This partnership expands our national

recognition but we have been collaborating with the community for years, and we are only successful because of the support of the community,” Homan says.

Homan notes that connection is important in life, and all humans need to connect in order to live fully.

“It’s like that with our business too,” Homan says. “Without the support and connections we’ve had in the community through individuals and other organizations, we wouldn’t possibly be able to serve as many people as we do or be selected to partner with HOFH. We wouldn’t be able to provide the varieties of care that we do. The overall benefit to the community, when people are well-supported, is increased engagement at work, at school, and in the ability to mindfully develop our strongest assets - people. JRNY Counseling is in the business of people and everything about our communities connects to people.”

Even though JRNY is a nationally recognized private practice, the practice remains focused on impacting the people and businesses of the community first and foremost, with the biggest reward in being able to create space for people to deal with difficulties.

“We’re all in this together so it’s about collaboration, not competition,” Homan says. “We’re members of this community too, so it’s meaningful to us to have a direct impact and connection to what is happening. We are so grateful that we have been able to create an office space, staff and services that are welcoming. It was always our goal to have a practice where we would like to go, and we are happy to be in the process of making the goal happen.”

You can make an appointment with JRNY Counseling by visiting jrnycounseling.com, emailing schedule@jrnycounseling.com or calling 317-660-1818.

Melanie Short and Holly Homan, JRNY Counseling

Join Our Balloon Team

Crew opportunities—Fun, energetic people who work on the ground to help hot air balloons fly. We offer a unique experience in the Hamilton County area for individuals who have flexible schedules and enjoy adventure.

Ground crew are responsible for handling equipment, assisting with flight preparations and using a chase vehicle to follow the hot air balloon during the flight and pack up after landing. Flights at sunrise and before sunset usually require three hours of crew time.

317-414-0148

tony@midwestballoonrides.com

Literary Legacy

A GLANCE AT THE HISTORY OF LOCAL AUTHORS IN HAMILTON COUNTY

While Hamilton County produces many quality authors now, it has a long history of literary endeavors. The list includes fiction and nonfiction writers, playwrights and poets, and a few unique characters.

Perhaps the first attempted author in the county appeared in the 1830s. On May 18, 1837, a letter appeared in the Noblesville newspaper from a person calling himself Isaac Cachel, and he announced his candidacy for the state legislature. He said he would resolve the state financial issues by designating raccoon skins as the official currency. He stated his qualifications as follows: “I believe that I was the first civilized man that skinned a coon, chased a deer, caught a bear or treed a wildcat on the west side of the White River.” This statement is what got everyone’s attention. Even at that time it was an unusual resume for a politician. This caught on with newspapers around the U.S. and even went international. He wrote a series of letters and attempted to get funding for a book, but was unsuccessful. The whole effort may have actually been done as satire.

Probably the most well-known county author is Rex Stout (1886-1975), the creator of fictional detective Nero Wolfe. His father

was the editor of the Noblesville Ledger newspaper. Stout’s birthplace still stands on Cherry Street in Noblesville, but the family left town while he was an infant and he said later that he had no memory of Indiana.

Another author who left while very young was Lillian Albertson (1881-1962). She was a famous actress on Broadway who became an acting coach in Hollywood. She was very wellrespected and wrote “Motion Picture Acting”

(1947), a definitive manual for film actors.

Cyrus Colter (1910-2002) came from an old county family. His mother was related to the free people of color who established Roberts Settlement. His family moved out of state when he was young, but he would talk later of his memories of Noblesville. He took up novel writing after retirement from a business career and achieved literary fame late in life. He was known for his

Writer / David Heighway, Hamilton County Historian Photography Provided by Hamilton East Public Library

David Heighway, Hamilton County Historian

The Birthplace of Rex Stout

Lillian Albertson

Brehm Riley Booklovers

novels “The Beach Umbrella” (1970), “Night Studies” (1979), “The Amoralists and Other Tales” (1988) and “A Chocolate Soldier” (1988). His father was also a writer and served as a correspondent for the Indianapolis Recorder.

Beatrice O’Niel (1894-1941) was another correspondent for the Recorder. She started Hamilton County’s only African Americanowned newspaper in 1929. It was called The Future and unfortunately only lasted for a few issues.

Thomas Stanley (1884-1965) began his career as an advertising illustrator and became a business teacher. He wrote two books on the subject of advertising, “A Manual of Advertising Typography” (1935) and “Techniques of Advertising Production” (1940). He also created a regular comic strip - sort of a “Dilbert” for the 1920s.

Stanley and others, like the Brehm and Booth brothers, were part of a school of illustrators who worked with authors like Mark Twain, William Faulkner, Theodore Dreiser, James Whitcomb Riley, Booth Tarkington, Gene Stratton-Porter and others.

Two people experimented as playwrights at the turn of the 20th century. John Wise

(1860-1941) was a newsstand and theater owner in Noblesville who wrote short pieces for newspapers. Eventually he wrote two full-length plays, “Forsaken” (1897) and “Forgiven” (1898). Berta Jones (18771918) was the wife of a storekeeper in Hortonville. She also wrote short pieces before she wrote the play “Rashleigh” (1901). None of these plays were successful and no copies of “Rashleigh” exist today.

Poets from this area have been a fairly eclectic group. Gordon Olvey (1887-1958) was one of the most well-known. Because of his position at the city post office, he was known as the Postmaster Poet. He later became mayor of Noblesville. Allegedly, Benoni Todd was another local poethowever, it’s not certain if he was even a real person. He is discussed in an article in the New York Sun from December 2, 1904. Except for a poem in an 1881 religious journal, there is no other evidence for his existence.

An anonymous poem appeared in the Noblesville Ledger on February 3, 1888, called “Cheeseekan.” It is about a Native American using the medicinal spring that used to flow near Conner Street, and was very heavily inspired by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem “The Song of Hiawatha.”

Finally, there was one local man who served as the basis for a fictional character. James Burchem moved west to hunt for gold in the 1840s and got the nickname Bedrock Jim. He appears in several short stories by western artist and author Charles M. Russell.

The county has never lacked for literary connections.

Moving forward to today, the Hamilton East Public Library (HEPL) is excited to announce Saturday, April 15 as the date for this year’s annual Local Author Fair. It will run from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the FORUM Events Center, located at 11313 USA Parkway in Fishers.

Join more than 40 local adult, youngadult and children’s authors and literary organizations at this open-house-style event. Authors will be available for book sales and signings. There will be chances to win book bundles and other prizes. There is no entry fee and registration is not required. New this year are several free writing workshops for writers of all ages, and they will run concurrently with the fair. Preregistration is required for the workshops - see the HEPL event calendar for details. The event is sponsored in part by the Friends of the Hamilton East Public Library. Visit

John Wise

Berta Jones

Beatrice O’Niel

SERVICE AND SUPPORT

ASPIRE INDIANA HEALTH REMAINS DEDICATED TO ITS MISSION AFTER MORE THAN FIVE DECADES

Aspire Indiana Health provides care for individuals and entire families facing a multitude of challenges. Initially a mental health and addiction treatment provider, it has expanded in recent years to meet the need for primary health care while supporting other intertwined issues. For more than 50 years the system has quietly grown and changed, as it has responded to the needs of the time.

“Aspire Indiana Health began in 1966 as a behavioral health provider for marginalized individuals who were involved in the justice system,” says Christopher Lloyd, senior director of marketing and communications. “Patients were referred to the organization by the courts or Department of Child Services. Today we offer mental health care, physical health care, and provide many different programs that address issues such as employment and housing. We serve people from every walk of life, from infants to seniors. As a safety-net provider, we are funded through state and federal programs. We work with any insurance and offer a sliding scale, but the bulk of payment usually comes through Medicaid and Medicare.”

As a nonprofit, Aspire has around 750 employees, and facilities located in Anderson, Carmel, Elwood, Indianapolis, Lebanon and Noblesville. It offers family primary health care, besides treating substance abuse with one-on-one counseling and group therapy, which includes family therapy. However, it utilizes a patientcentered approach, and not just one issue is treated. The whole person as well as family members are evaluated to see if there are other issues that should be addressed to improve quality of life.

“There are tons of services we provide,” Lloyd says. “We have a

Writer / Julie Yates

Photography Provided

whole-health approach to health care. We want to know not just what is bothering a patient that day, but what is going on that might be the cause. The vulnerable populations we service might be struggling with keeping a job or have issues related to being a veteran. They may have other illnesses causing the problem they came in for. Perhaps they have diabetes. Maybe they have recently been kicked out of their apartment.”

This integrated approach has led to the development of several programs. Aspire can assist in providing housing for its clients through Section 8 apartment housing or shelter placements. Through the federal program Ticket to Work, Aspire aids patients in finding employment. It has supportive services for all ages of deaf and hard-ofhearing individuals. In addition, it helps patients address infectious disease issues associated with HIV and hepatitis. Telehealth visits are available, in addition to other programs.

In the past decade the Aspire Indiana Health team became aware that some communities were health care deserts. Boone County caught its attention five years ago, and it responded to the need. After purchasing its Lebanon building, it renovated and refurbished it. At the time, that portion of the county was very rural and access to affordable health care was lacking. Today, it is usually possible to be seen on the same day a patient contacts the facility.

“Aspire Indiana Health is an interesting and unique organization,” Lloyd says. “It does so many things that operate below the horizon of the average person. We are the unicorn within the health care space. By continually adding to our programs where we see a need, we are a gap filler.”

Aspire Indiana Health is located at 1600 West Main Street in Lebanon. To schedule an appointment or for after-hours concerns, call 877-574-1254. Also visit aspireindiana.org for more info.

There are plenty of things to do with your family right here in Hamilton County. Get out of the house and take your kids on family-friendly adventures at local parks and attractions to beat the winter blues.

IKEA AND TOPGOLF

Fun fact: Fishers is home to Indiana’s only IKEA and Topgolf. Even if you’re not redesigning your home, IKEA is a fun place to explore. You could even create your own scavenger hunt or “I Spy” challenge to keep the kids entertained. Don’t forget the iconic Swedish meatballs in the cafeteria! After all that shopping, head across the street to Topgolf, a premier entertainment venue where you can challenge each other to addictive point-scoring golf games – no experience necessary.

SPRING IS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK

Take a ride high in the sky on the 1859 Balloon Voyage, as weather permits. On a clear day, you can even see the downtown Indianapolis skyline. Then, make your way to Treetop Outpost to explore a three-story treehouse, connect with nature and see stunning views of the White River.

PARKS AND TRAILS

Hamilton County has 600+ miles of trails and dozens of great parks. Get your bikes out of the garage and pedal along the Monon Trail, connecting through Sheridan, Westfield, Carmel and south to Indianapolis. Must-see parks in the area for families include local favorites like Central Park in Carmel, Flat Fork Creek Park in Fishers, Forest Park in Noblesville and Cool Creek Park and Nature Center in Westfield.

STRAWTOWN KOTEEWI PARK

Did you know this is Hamilton County’s largest park at more than 900 acres? There’s more to explore beyond the eight miles of trails. Book a guided horseback trail ride or pony ride with K-Trails Equestrian Adventures. Or, try your hand at using a bow and arrow at Koteewi Range: Sport and Target Archery Center. If you want a thrilling adventure, visit Edge Adventures Koteewi: Aerial Adventure Park to conquer treetop trails, ziplines and your fear of heights.

CONNER PRAIRIE

Spring is when the outdoor grounds at Conner Prairie in Fishers come alive. Your first stop should be the Animal Encounters barn to visit with the baby goats and sheep.

INDOOR ATTRACTIONS

Spring weather in Indiana can be unpredictable. If the forecast calls for a rainy day, take your adventure inside and visit the indoor waterpark at the Monon Community Center, The Escape Room, K1 Speed, Laser Flash or Pinheads for all-day entertainment.

For more information, check out VisitHamiltonCounty.com/Spring and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Tag us in your spring break staycation adventures using #VisitHC.

Ever since Dr. Sam Titus was young, he loved both art and science. A selfdescribed nerd, he was drawn to the field of orthodontics because he felt it was the perfect blend for his two passions.

“There’s so much art in the field of orthodontics where I can harness that artistic drive,” says Titus, a lifelong Hamilton County resident who opened Titus Orthodontics in May of 2021.

“I always knew that I wanted to practice where my family lives and is active, and this community has been so good to me for so many years,” says Titus, who comes from a big family with 10 siblings. He and his wife, Alexandria, have five children of their own: Anthony, 9, Sebastian, 7, Zoe, 6, Dominic, 3, and Josie, 1. “We’ll never leave this city. It’s an honor and a privilege to have the opportunity to serve this amazing Westfield community.”

Not only does he love to serve the people of his local Hamilton County community, but he also has a heart and vision for serving in a bigger way. This is why his practice has partnered with Filter of Hope, a nonprofit ministry that

brings both a message of hope and access to clean drinking water to the homes of people in need all around the world.

“We realize that orthodontic treatment is a first-world benefit,” Titus says. “We are very fortunate to live in an area like Hamilton County, and when bringing the vision of this practice to life we knew we wanted to make an impact outside of our own small circle.”

For every new patient who starts treatment at Titus Orthodontics, Titus donates a water filter in the patient’s name to a family in need. Each filter is geotagged, so patients can click on the link and see exactly where in the world their filter went. They receive a photo of the family who benefited from their gift to connect the real-life faces of those whose lives were touched by their treatment.

“This is a way for us to try to help make people smile, not just in our own community, but in a much broader sense,” Titus says.

He and his team are dedicated to being a service-based, results-driven practice devoted to creating beautiful smiles. “There’s so much more to orthodontics than just straight teeth,” Titus says.

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photographer / Whitney Moore

“Aligned teeth aren’t enough. We’re meticulous about each detail of the smile, like making sure the teeth and gums are both proportional and harmonious, and positioned ideally within the smile.” Both esthetics and function are top priorities. Titus is board-certified, and incorporates the newest state-of-the-art technology into his practice, which he feels are vital for driving results.

Gone are the days of things like messy, goopy impressions; instead, his intraoral scanner can take a video of the teeth to generate a 3D model, which can be used both to create a detailed plan and for the fabrication of things like aligners, retainers, or appliances. Uniquely, he uses 3-dimensional X-rays so that he can see things that traditional 2-dimensional X-rays can’t, and leverages digital planning whenever possible.

“All of this helps us minimize the number of trips to the office for our patients. We

that everyone’s lives are busy,” Titus says. “We really aim to make the entire experience as streamlined and easy as possible for everyone.”

Most of all, he enjoys being able to build relationships with patients and families, seeing kids grow up and hearing about their lives, and getting to play a small role in each of them. “We want to get to know the kinds of things in their lives that spark their smiles. We’re not just fixing teeth, we’re about serving the people behind them.”

It is the desire for these relationships in the practice that led Titus to pursue starting a one-doctor practice. While some orthodontic practices have several doctors and multiple locations, he knew that wasn’t the style for him. “I wanted to be the hometown orthodontist with a single location, where I’d get to be the one to see the patient every time they came in.”

The patient journey from beginning to end is one of the most rewarding for Titus. “When people initially come into the office, they often don’t feel comfortable smiling

with their teeth, but to see them transform throughout treatment and embrace their smile by the end, that’s what it’s all about,” Titus says. “Some of them don’t even realize that they could smile that big! It’s humbling to have the honor of participating in creating something as personal and significant as the smile people wear for the rest of their lives.”

Titus says he particularly appreciates the small business community here in Westfield.

Dr. Titus and his family

He’s met and collaborated with several small business owners and is grateful for those relationships. Although owning a small business is not for the faint of heart, he says, “Everyone here just builds each other up and is rooting for each other’s success. I can’t imagine a better place to start a business or a better community to be a part of.”

Titus’s time outside the office is most often spent with his wife, Alexandria, and his five kids. In his free time he enjoys reading, board games, anything sports-related, and any opportunity he can take to create something. “Although, more often you’ll find me in the midst of a toddler tea party or battling a few child-sized ninja turtles.”

Titus Orthodontics is located at 719 East Main Street in Westfield. For more information, call 317-399-9293 or visit titusortho.com.

WOR L D-CLASS HOSPI TA LITY MIDWEST HERITAGE

Raegan Kingdon, an eighth grader at Westfield Middle School, recently became a National Junior Honors Society member and a leader of the school’s Dance Marathon.

She’s proud of her achievements and says she enjoyed the challenges it presented.

“I was nominated to become a National Junior Honor Society Student by a teacher at school,” Kingdon says. “I then filled out an application and was later accepted. I am now fulfilling my service hours and will be inducted into National Honor Society at the end of my eighth grade year.”

Kingdon enjoys her schoolwork.

“I enjoy English and Social Studies the most because they push me to think deeper and look at our society differently,” Kingdon says.

Kingdon also spent a lot of time on the school’s dance marathon for kids at Riley Hospital.

“The dance marathon is organized into divisions that are student run and selfmanaged,” she says. “I was a part of the division called Event Operations. We made sure everything was happening the right way

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

RAEGAN KINGDON

the microphone, announced the winner and handed the trophy to them as well.”

Kingdon also enjoyed helping other people.

“I put a lot of time and energy into the dance marathon because I knew that it was for a cause much bigger than myself and everyone around,” she says. “Knowing a few of these Riley kids and watching them fight their battles was one of the reasons I wanted to help so much. We raised $3,500 for the kids at Riley Hospital.”

Kingdon was proud of their efforts.

and coordinated everything happening with the event.”

The middle school dance marathon was on December 9, 2022, in the middle school stage and gym area.

“We were self-led for the event, and we led the way and did almost everything by ourselves besides picking up pizza for the event,” Kingdon says. “We were able to see what it takes to put on an event, and it was really cool to be able to all work as a team and not have a teacher telling us what to do but be able to do what we think was best for the event.”

Kingdon put a lot of work and effort into the dance marathon.

“My main duty was getting food donations for all the attendees but I also made the wagon trophy for the winning team and helped organize the games and crafts,” she says. “When the night of the dance marathon came, I helped set up and made sure the stations ran smoothly, talked in

“To see everyone come together to support childhood cancer is really an awesome thing, especially when kids don’t get very much funding, or research funding,” she says. “Being a part of the Dance Marathon executive team is something I will never forget. We were able to put on a two- hour event that is going to (combined with the high school students’ fund-raising total) help give kids that are fighting the unimaginable have a better chance. “

ON THE VOLLEYBALL COURT

Kingdon also plays volleyball.

“This is my second year playing for the Academy at Grand Park Volleyball Club,” she says. “We have had two tournaments so far, and have had a silver bracket win in Louisville, Kentucky, and then competed in the gold bracket at our most recent tournament at the Grand Park Event Center.”

Writer / Matt Keating Photography Provided

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SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

Kingdon is also involved in other school activities.

“I am a football manager for the Westfield Middle School football team,” she says. “I have done it for the last two years. I first started doing it in the seventh grade and then continued to be the manager in eighth grade. I have been invited by a coach to continue at the high school next year. The atmosphere and culture of Westfield football is unmatched and makes everyone want to be a part of it.”

Kingdon is also part of the Northview Eighth Grade Girls Youth Group at the Westfield campus and regularly attends the Sunday group gathering at the campus.

“I am a five-year, 4-H member at the Elkhart County 4-H County Fair, and I show Dairy Feeder steers, Swine (pigs), and I also do woodworking and sewing.”