Avon Magazine March 2021

MARCH 2021

MAGAZINE

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Cheri & Mike Freeman

“Besides helping him physically, the mental and emotional benefits of being outside and around horses was evident,” Cheri says.

PAT ’ S PA L S T H E R A P Y R A N C H A S S I S T S THOSE WITH DISABILITIES Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided by Amy Payne and Pat’s Pals

In 2013, Mike and Cheri Freeman received a phone call that would forever change the trajectory of their lives. Their 23-year-old son Patrick had been struck by a car and sustained a traumatic brain injury that left him requiring

round-the-clock care. Since the accident occurred in California, the Freemans spent several years out west working with various rehabilitation centers, and found that their son responded positively to hippotherapy, which involves the movement of a horse as a therapeutic treatment to improve coordination, balance and strength.

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After several years, the family moved back home to Indiana. They wanted to continue hippotherapy as a treatment but couldn’t find anywhere nearby that offered what Patrick had been getting. In November of 2019, they came across a piece of property in Plainfield and Mike got the idea to build their own nonprofit therapy clinic that Patrick and others in the community could use. The Freemans weren’t looking to make a profit - they simply had a passion to help the disabled. Plus, the pair knew all too well what it’s like to be thrown into the world of disability without a moment’s notice.

“You become isolated from everyone else

"IT’S GREAT TO HEAR HOW EXCITED PARENTS ARE WHEN THEY WITNESS WHAT THEIR CHILD CAN DO AFTER JUST A FEW WEEKS WITH A HORSE.” - CHERI FREEMAN because it’s a unique situation,” Cheri says.

“We wanted to create a place where the family can just enjoy being together.”

In the summer of 2020, they opened Pat’s Pals Therapy Ranch, formed a board of directors and became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Board Member Lesley Lautenschlager also serves on the board of the American Hippotherapy Association (AHA) and has been a national trainer for decades.

“She’s the one who helped us get started with finding therapy horses and getting them trained,” Cheri says.

One of the buildings on the property is a therapy clinic, and sessions are conducted by skilled physical, occupational and speech therapists. Each one-hour session incorporates hippotherapy in some way, though the time spent on the horse may vary depending on the patient. Therapists also incorporate various tools and instruments into therapy such as exercise bikes and parallel bars. Pat’s Pals recently added an adult bionic exoskeleton that is used especially for brain and spinal cord injuries, and stroke recovery.

“That’s something we look forward to incorporating into therapy sessions, because to combine hippotherapy with bionic exoskeleton training can be a huge benefit,” Mike says. “In fact, there are only three in Indiana for outpatient use.”

Hippotherapy dials into the mechanics of 8 / AVON MAGAZINE / MARCH 2021 / AvonMagazine.com

the body. The movement of a horse’s pelvis is similar to the human pelvis, so it replicates what it’s like for a human to walk. That can help patients with their balance and sensory organization.

“There’s something about that connection that’s fascinating to watch,” Cheri says. “It’s great to hear how excited parents are when they witness what their child can do after just a few weeks with a horse.”

“You cannot design a machine to replicate the movement of a horse, so therapists carefully choose the horse to use with their patient, as some horses create more forward and backward movement while others create more side-to-side movement,” Mike says.

Sometimes a child won’t respond to regular therapy but will respond when a horse is involved.

“I’ve seen a patient start facing forward, then change to facing sideways, then backwards, and then get up on hands and knees on the back of the horse.”

Each way of positioning the patient creates different reactions between the horse and the patient. Some patients need to strengthen their limbs while others need to strengthen their core. Throughout the entire process, an emotional bond is created between the horse and the patient.

“One little boy literally jumps out of the car when he arrives and runs into his therapy session,” Cheri says. “An autistic boy who volunteers with us went from being afraid of any animal larger than a guinea pig to now riding a horse. The first time it happened I asked him how he felt, and he said, ‘Severely happy!’”

and she’s babbling, saying words she had not previously,” the 2-year-old’s mother says.

Every therapy session takes money. Besides paying therapists, there is the cost of feeding and caring for the horses. Plus, each session must include a therapist, a horse handler, a walker and a volunteer to fetch necessary items.

“We want someone on either side of the patient when they are on the horse to ensure safety,” Cheri says. “This is crucial since our patients are fragile.”

Pat’s Pals also works with a 2-year-old whose parents are thrilled with the response they have seen in just a couple of months.

The Pat’s Pals team relies heavily on volunteers who do everything from side walking to mucking stalls, grooming, cleaning hooves, painting fences, training, and exercising the horses. Though all volunteers must be at least 15 years old, they need not have prior horse experience.

“Since starting at Pat’s Pals, my daughter’s core is exponentially stronger, she sits up straighter, she finally holds onto handles,

Currently, Pat’s Pals employs five parttime therapists and three horses. Those numbers may change in the future depending

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on patient load. Though the Freemans are eager to provide this service to those in the community who will benefit, they want it to grow organically at a pace that’s comfortable and safe.

“It seems to be a word-of-mouth kind of thing,” Cheri says. “When someone’s child benefits, they tell someone else.”

Pat’s Pals offers a Financial Assistance Fund, to which people can contribute. Every dollar in the fund goes specifically to help families who can’t afford a session on their own.

Strides to Success, also located in Plainfield, uses human-animal interaction to help kids and adults overcome trauma and learn valuable life skills. The two nonprofits nicely complement each other.

“Theirs is an equine learning and equine behavioral therapy, while ours is hippotherapy, which is physical, occupational and speech therapy using the purposeful manipulation of

equine movement as a tool in that,” Mike says.

wintertime.

“They are two different things that are both important.”

The Freemans are happy to do something that makes a difference in other people’s lives.

The ranch includes a barn and farm animals to create a serene atmosphere for patients and their families. Though it’s a clinic, the Freemans didn’t want it to feel like one.

“We didn’t start out in the world of disability, and it takes quite a toll,” says Cheri, adding that she doesn’t have the energy to put into the ranch what Mike and the volunteers do, because caring for Patrick taps her out emotionally. Together they heal when they go out to the farm, even if Patrick doesn’t get on a horse.

“We know what that feels like to go into a sterile hospital environment,” Cheri says.

“We wanted this to be a relaxed place where people can walk around the pond, feed the ducks or pet the cats.”

This spring they plan to build a sensory garden full of various colors and textures for patients and their families to enjoy.

“It’ll be a place that will be both relaxing and stimulating,” says Cheri, noting that Duke Energy has committed to donating to the garden, and has also donated a heater so that Pat’s Pals can offer therapy sessions in the

“He loves seeing the animals,” Cheri says.

“That’s what we want, for this to be a healing place.”

Pat’s Pals Therapy Ranch is located at 5422 East County Road 600 South in Plainfield.

For more information and to learn about how to become a volunteer, call 317-8365484, email info@patspals.org, or visit patspals.org.

New Outpatient Services Building Opening April 2021! Features include dedicated classroom, training kitchen, two gym spaces, as well as over 20 individual rooms for speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy.

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SHINE ON

NO NPRO F I T ORG A N I ZATI ON OFFE R S SUP PO RT FOR LO CA L M OM S Writer / Jamie Hergott Photography Provided

Hendricks County mom Carla Sands has a college degree in aerospace engineering, a pilot’s license and a love for all things aviation. However, her high-flying career never could have prepared her for the trials, joys and pains of motherhood and

parenting her three adventurous boys.

She is now grounded in her mission to provide support and encouragement to local moms through her organization, which is called Shine, mama.

main programs - growth groups and prayer groups.

Groups of women gather to pray in the local community, and in doing so they share authentic pieces of themselves, “The vision is that we have a community being vulnerable about their struggles, of women, not just a friend group, not just histories, pains and sufferings. a small group, but this Hendricks County community of moms where we become Growth groups are an extension of better versions of ourselves together,” Purposeful Living groups, which Sands Sands says. became involved in a couple years ago.

Purposeful Living is an Indianapolis nonprofit that aims to help women find The organization is a Hendricks County support and purpose in their marriages, nonprofit whose goal, according to the careers, motherhood journeys and lives. official website, is to encourage moms to shine the light of Jesus Christ by “sparking Sands stumbled upon the group at a very low point in her life. growth, igniting purpose, and kindling community.” This is done through two MARCH 2021

Sands grew up in North Carolina, which reveals itself in her charming accent. Her nuclear family consists of loving parents and two sisters, so she has always had female support in her life. In college she met her husband, and followed him to Georgia where she began to work full time in the aviation industry. They began their family, and Sands found she enjoyed being productive outside of the home.

When her second son turned 1 year old, she found herself struggling to balance full-time work with parenting.

“I couldn’t love my kids as well as I really wanted to,” Sands says. “It was such a big struggle.”

She began to work from home, which helped alleviate some pressure and stress. However, in 2014 she suffered what she calls the most devastating loss of her entire life. Sands experienced a

miscarriage during her third pregnancy.

She discovered this at 12 weeks along.

“It was a tremendous loss,” Sands says.

“When you get pregnant, you think constantly about what will happen, what their name will be, what the baby will be like. The miscarriage broke me down. I struggled to feel whole again after that.”

A few months after her loss, Sands’ family moved to Indiana for her husband’s job.

In addition to her pain, she began to experience isolation in a way she never had before.

“We had two kids, I just suffered a miscarriage, we came to a state far away from family, I had no friends and I was working from home,” Sands says. “I was alone.”

Sands became pregnant again. She soon realized that what should have been an MARCH 2021

extremely joyous occasion was painted with fear and anxiety due to her recent miscarriage. She sank into a depression.

“I was angry and I was scared,” Sands says. “I was stuck at home with no friends, no support system, and was convincing myself I was miscarrying. It was so hard to just be a person at that time, much less a good mom or a good wife.”

Thankfully her pregnancy resulted in a healthy baby boy who completed their family beautifully, but Sands was still struggling to find purpose in her day-today work and parenting. In addition to not feeling happy, she felt guilty about not finding fulfillment as a mom. She assumed since she grew up wanting to be a mother, while also being a very nurturing person naturally, that she would feel full of purpose as a mother.

However, as many moms find out

“THAT RE ALLY SPARKED SHINE, MAMA. “GOD CRAFTED IT FROM THERE. IT CAME FROM MOMS GETTING AWAY FROM LIFE FOR A LITTLE WHILE TO REALLY BUILD A COMMUNITY OF LOCAL MOMS.” - CARLA SANDS themselves, parenting was much harder than she anticipated.

In 2018 Sands got connected with Purposeful Living, whose aim is to bring women out of isolation and into a Christlike community. Sands joined a group and found a community of women who were solely there to build her up and affirm her.

“I really started blossoming,” Sands says.

“I saw what a supportive, safe, healthy, authentic community could do.”

Around the same time, Sands took a work trip by herself to San Diego, California.

She traveled for work occasionally, but being able to escape to California’s sunny climate during a cold, gray Indiana January hit her differently.

“Every mom deserves a trip to some place sunny, to do something they want for a day and escape the madness for a day or two,” Sands says.

While she couldn’t provide exactly that for other mamas, she dreamed of a place or group where she could make a mission out of giving moms a break, and build an intimate community of support and encouragement for them.

“That really sparked Shine, mama,” Sands says. “God crafted it from there. It came from moms getting away from life for a little while to really build a community of local moms.”

Women have the option to choose between a growth group, which operates in semesters, or a prayer group, which is ongoing. Growth groups follow

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MARCH 2021

curriculums, the current topic being “My Identity.” The group then digs into who God says they are, referencing scriptures and stories that support how loved, chosen and accepted women are by God. “We talk about how we construe that as women, or even how the world construes it,” Sands says. “We try to combat the lies the world tells women with who God says we are.”

Growth group meetings take place in homes every other week. Women bring their children, who can safely play together close by. Prayer groups take place once per month. Eventually Sands would love to offer child care at in-person events so that more women have the option to come.

raising a cash flow of $5,000 per month

by August of this year. This money will be poured right back into the community of moms.

“All of our programs are free,” Sands says.

“I don’t want that to be a limiting factor.

We cannot heal and we cannot grow alone.”

For more information, visit shinemama. org, or email Sands at Carla.jo@ shinemama.org.

Sands also implements community outreach. She worked with Family Promise in 2020, organizing the delivery of flowers, cards and gift bags to moms for Mother’s Day. She also did outreach to Family Promise graduates when COVID hit, offering donations of gently used learning toys, board games, and arts and crafts supplies.

She has goals for the coming year, while also realizing flexibility is required due to COVID. She’s in talks with a Hendricks County gym about possibly organizing a play group, making sure Family Promise families are aware of the opportunity.

She is also working on a quarterly program called “In Her Words,” for which she invites people to speak on taboo topics such as miscarriage and infant loss.

Potential future topics are grief, domestic violence or special-needs parenting.

In 2020 Sands saw success, growth and hope in her organization. There was one growth group and one prayer group, and second groups will be launching in February. A total of 40 women were impacted through outreach in 2020.

Sands launched a 2021 giving campaign in January called “Be Bold. Shine Bright,” hoping to impact 100 or more moms by MARCH 2021

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EIGHT D E CADES IN LOVE 102-YEAR-OLD COUPLE FACES LIFE WITH GRACE, JOY AND POSITIVITY Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided

If 2020 taught us anything, it’s that life can throw us one difficult curveball after another. While the unknown can be frightening, disconcerting and overwhelming, there is always hope. Just ask Hendricks County locals Bob and Gerry Peterson, both 102, who have been married for 79 years. They made it through World War II, have survived two global pandemics, and through it all they have remained steadfast in their commitment to positivity.

Gerry was just 11 months old when her mother died of the Spanish flu in 1919 at age 23. Following the tragedy, Gerry, an only child, was raised by her dad and his half-sister.

“Mom never really spoke about her mother’s passing,” says Sandy Galyan, Bob and Gerry’s daughter. “I don’t think back then people dwelled on the bad. Instead, they wanted to move forward.”

And that she did. Not that she knew it at the time, but in 1923 Gerry met the love of her life, Bob, when she was just 5 years old.

Fast-forward to 1936 when the pair graduated from high school.

They tied the knot five years later in April of 1941. Not only did they go on to raise three children (Dave, Sandy, and Bob), but they also helped care for Gerry’s dad and Bob’s brother Raymond, a quadriplegic confined to a wheelchair.

That kind of commitment is bound to add stress to any marriage, but Bob and Gerry took it all in stride. It may have something to do with the fact that they faced turmoil early on in their union as they married in the midst of World War II. In 1944 Bob went to enlist in the Army, but when he got to the front of the line, he was met by a relative on Gerry’s side of the family who asked Bob what he was doing.

“I’m joining the Army,” Bob replied.

The man shook his head and handed Bob his papers, then instructed him to get in the line for the Navy.

“Although he didn’t say it outright, he was indirectly telling dad that if he joined the Army, chances weren’t good that he would return from the war,” Sandy says.

Bob joined the Navy and served until 1946. He was sent to Pearl Harbor where he worked in communications as a typist under Admiral Chester Nimitz. While he was serving, Gerry gave birth to

MARCH 2021

their firstborn son, Dave, whom Bob didn’t meet until Dave was 2 years old. Through all of these hardships, however, Bob and Gerry embraced the goodness in life. As for Sandy and her brothers, they learned about commitment, patience, kindness and empathy simply by watching their parents interact.

“As we knocked on doors, I remember feeling so excited about bringing joy to someone else,” says Sandy, who for years has regularly volunteered to feed the homeless because she learned early on the satisfaction that comes from helping others. “I was also proud of my dad for being so caring.”

“In our house, affection was always shown - lots of hugs and kisses,” Sandy says.

Though the pandemic has been especially tough for the senior population, Sandy says that she and her brothers have continued to speak positively when interacting with their parents.

There was one particular way that Gerry showed her husband she cared. Every evening she would start making dinner, then stop what she was doing before Bob got home and retreat to the bedroom to fix her hair and makeup, and put on a fresh dress and apron. One day Sandy asked her mom why she went to such trouble.

“I love your dad, and he happens to work in an office with lots of pretty secretaries,” Gerry replied. “I just want to always look my best when he comes home.”

Though Gerry was never particularly athletic through her kids’ younger years, she was always game for going camping, ice skating, roller skating, and anything the family did because she wanted to join in the fun.

For Bob’s part, he often brought home cards for his wife, and whenever he bought her a nice outfit, he had it wrapped.

“Their love was evident just in the way they spoke to each other, with such kindness and respect,” Sandy says.

Bob went to work dressed in a suit and tie, and Gerry laundered and pressed those clothes so that he always looked his best.

“She would do those loving things for him because he was out providing for her,” Sandy says. “It was a continual circle of doing for each other.”

In April the pair will have been married for 80 years, so it’s not surprising that they are often asked about their secret for making love last. The couple insists that it’s very simple.

“We are blessed by God, we treat each other as equals, and we don’t entertain negative thoughts,” Bob says. “A good life is all about positive thinking. Negativity doesn’t get you any place except in trouble.”

“Mom and dad have not only loved each other, but have always been in love with each other,” Sandy adds.

They also spread that love to others. For instance, when Sandy and her brothers were growing up, her parents had a greenhouse on their property. Every Easter, Bob would take a flower, complete with foil and a bow, to widows at their local church. Sandy often helped in this annual endeavor and vividly recalls the feelings it stirred inside of her.

“We’re using what they taught us to navigate this time,” says Sandy, who every Friday takes her folks dinner from the Coachman, one of their favorite restaurants. “I call mom and dad on Thursday and ask them what they would like for their Friday date-night dinner.”

Sandy has a theory about her parents’ longevity.

“I think that God said to mom and dad, ‘A long time ago, I asked you to care for your parent and your brother during your early

Gerry, 1943

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married life, so now in your later years, I’m going to give you extra time together,’” Sandy says.

Being 102, the couple has plenty to reminisce about.

“Mom is more forgetful now, but what helps them stay connected is the fact that any given time, one of them can go back and say, ‘I was just thinking about so-and-so,’ and they can have a conversation about it,” Sandy says.

Not long ago Sandy asked her mom how far back she could remember knowing her dad, and there was a long pause that tugged at Sandy’s heart as she worried that perhaps the memories were starting to fade. Gerry sat and stared for a bit, and then all of a sudden looked up and said, “Well, maybe the first recollection I have at the moment would be in the fifth grade.”

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It’s also rather remarkable to still be able to draw stories from two living, breathing history books, as Sandy and her siblings gather details about their ancestors. For instance, Gerry’s Swedish grandparents put their 15-year-old daughter (Gerry’s mother) on a ship that went from Sweden to Belfast to America. She sat in steerage in the bottom of a ship where half the people couldn’t even talk to each other. When she arrived at Ellis Island, she registered as a servant.

“More than anything, I just have to say that it’s a privilege to have mom and dad as parents,” Sandy says. “They’ve taught us to be grateful and kind. They are honestly just so much fun.”

MARCH 2021

Peterson Family, 2020

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Bob at Pearl Harbor, 1943

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Embracing Abilities Staff & Friends

EMBRACING A BIL IT IES LOCAL AGENCY HELPS THOSE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided

For years, Traci Gibson worked as a home intervention specialist for First Steps, an early intervention program that provides services to young children who have developmental delays or disabilities. With a master’s degree in special education and applied behavioral analysis, she was trained for such work and thrived in her field. When she and her husband Jon had children, two of whom had developmental disabilities, she was well aware of what they needed.

The problem was that so many others in the community were also in dire need, and after being put on various waiting lists for therapies, Gibson decided to do something about it.

“A lot of agencies are enormous and it’s hard to get your calls answered,” says Gibson, who opened Embracing Abilities in October of 2018. “I saw a need for a more familyfocused provider agency. “We put faces to the services. We have direct connections to those who provide the services for their loved ones.”

The organization started with a handful of people and a goal of working with 30 families. They added therapy services the following year and rented an office space in Plainfield, but outgrew it by April of 2019 so the following month they moved to a location in Avon between the Town Hall and Avon United Methodist Church.

The leaders took the old house on the hill down to the studs and rebuilt it to create an MARCH 2021

outpatient clinic with musical, recreational, behavioral, occupational and speech therapy.

“Our little 30-family goal was great, but we grew exponentially and surpassed that in two months,” Gibson says. “When we hit our two-year mark last October, we were serving more than 700 families.”

The staff members are currently gearing up to renovate the back part of the lot to build an inclusive and adaptive playground for the community this spring or summer.

“Typical playgrounds don’t fit every child,” says Gibson, noting that it will not be a playground strictly speaking, but rather an “experience ground” with outdoor musical instruments, as well as sensory and balance improvement activities.

Embracing Abilities serves a wide age range, from babies to elderly clients. Currently, their youngest is 2 and their oldest is in his 70s. Gibson shares how rewarding it is to provide caregiver support so individuals can focus their energies elsewhere from time to time and have a break. For example, perhaps a parent wants to attend another child’s basketball game but they have an autistic child who can’t handle bright lights and

loud noises. Maybe a mom and dad haven’t enjoyed a date night in months because they are constantly tending to their child’s behavioral and medical needs.

“Having someone come in and allow caregivers to take a break is so important,” Gibson says. “It’s a wonderful feeling in your heart to know you are impacting people in a positive way.”

Embracing Abilities offers a number of programs, including the Reach program, Summer Camp, Winter Camp and Parents’ Day Out. Last summer, due to COVID-19, they offered a hybrid virtual option for summer camp, but in normal times children meet up with their counselors to swim, go to a movie theater, attend a play, or visit a honey farm - different activities that are not always possible for families to participate in when they have other children because the excursion proves to be too overwhelming.

Throughout the pandemic, the staff has been pleased to offer therapy virtually.

“They still sing, dance, do art, talk about their feelings and do interactive things MARCH 2021

Gibson family

on the screen,” says Gibson, whose own daughter lives for the one-on-one interaction with her therapist at Embracing Abilities. “As a parent, it’s nice that our kids still have that connection because they have lost so many connections over the last year.”

Though the pandemic presented its challenges, Gibson is thankful for the way her staff and families were able and willing to adjust.

“It’s just learning a new world, but I feel positive about the ways we’ve been able to support people even with the curveballs that kept coming,” says Gibson, who felt a lot of pressure with 300-plus employees and 700plus families all counting on her to make the right choices.

She often hears from family members who express their gratitude for the way Embracing Abilities has positively affected their entire family’s life.

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“I’ve gotten messages that say, ‘I want to let you know that I’m in tears. I couldn’t do this without you guys,’” Gibson says. “That’s what makes it all worthwhile.”

Gibson is quick to acknowledge that she couldn’t have gotten this far without the outpouring of community support.

For instance, when the staff members were building their clinic kitchen and had ordered IKEA cabinets that needed assembly, she posted a plea on social media, asking for volunteers.

“A number of people showed up who had no connection whatsoever to our organization,” she says. “They sat on the floor of the gym and helped us build.”

In November, they collected bottle caps in order to turn them in to a plastic plant and purchase buddy benches and picnic tables.

When they posted the request on their marquee, individuals began dropping off hundreds of bottle caps daily.

Gibson’s favorite part of the job is seeing and hearing how their services affect clients.

When the children come to the office or are dropped off for camp, their faces are beaming with enthusiasm - and they’re not the only emotional ones. Parents sometimes cry because they are so moved by the love and commitment on the part of the staff. One mother told Gibson, “I’ve tried multiple summer camps and have never seen staff that is so excited to work with my son.”

Founder, Traci Gibson

One family from Hamilton County makes the drive every day so their boy can attend summer camp at Embracing Abilities.

“That real-life feedback is what makes everything worthwhile,” Gibson says. “In the end, that’s why we are here - to better the lives of people with disabilities and also better the life of their families.”

The Embracing Abilities office is located at 6748 East U.S. Highway 36 in Avon. For more information, call 317-825-8326 or visit embracingabilities.com.

Founder, Jon Gibson & son

MARCH 2021

KEE P YO U R BRAI N I N SHA PE W I T H T H ES E T I PS ensure that you get at least 30 active minutes each day.

Writer / Kelsey Miller, Physician Assistant, IU Health Physicians Family Medicine in Brownsburg

As human beings, our bodies are constantly developing and changing. According to Harvard Health Publishing, there is no time in our lives when our brain and its functions remain steady. As you age, it is common to see changes in your ability to remember things.

It may take you longer to remember things such as names, faces, appointments or where you put something. Help preserve your memory and keep your brain in shape with these tips.

ST I M UL AT E YO UR B R A IN Continuously stimulating our brains can help build cognitive reserve, which is our brain’s ability to find other ways to perform different tasks. A strong cognitive reserve could help preserve your brain function for longer. Stay mentally active and stimulate your brain with mental exercises such as reading, learning a new hobby and completing word puzzles or riddles.

PH YS I C A L E XE R C ISE Physical exercise is not only great for our overall health, but also for our brain health. When we exercise, beneficial proteins are released in our brain. These proteins keep our brain cells healthy.

Incorporate daily exercises into your everyday routine to help

HEALTHY DIET It has been shown that people who eat more fruits, vegetables, fish and healthy fats are less likely to develop cognitive impairment and dementia. Fuel your mind and body with healthy fat sources like nuts, unsaturated oils, and avocados, along with whole grains such as brown rice and oatmeal.

STAY SOCIAL Your mental health is important for your brain health. Strong social interactions and relationships have been associated with a lower risk of dementia. Healthy relationships with friends and family can lower stress and provide a strong support system. Connect with friends or family through tough and happy times to build a strong connection and foundation for emotional support.

LIMIT YOUR ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION Excessive drinking can lead to long-term damage to your hippocampus, which is the part of your brain responsible for learning and memory. If you’re going to drink, try to stick to the recommended amount of one alcoholic drink per day for women and two per day for men.

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MARCH 2021

HMIA000125

ach Short has wanted to be a barber since he was a little kid. He took a detour or two over the years, but now he owns a brand-new, and usually booked, business called 36 Barber Lounge in Avon.

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“I have the opportunity to do what I love,” Short says. “I sink everything into it.”

36 Barber Lounge Opens in Avon Writer / Jamie Hergott Photography Provided

36 Barber Lounge sits on U.S. Highway 36 on the south side of the road, nestled next to La Hacienda and Carl’s Donuts.

The lounge has a rustic, industrial feel to it, with a living room-type space in the waiting area with oversized couches and a TV. Down the hall there’s a game room, complete with shuffleboard, an Xbox and other games.

“You have to be at work anyways,” Short says. “I want to make it comfortable and worthwhile.”

Short likes having a space for the community to come not just for a haircut, but for a human connection. Growing up in Beech Grove, Short visited a certain barber who knew many people in the community.

“I saw how people depended on him for haircuts, and he was there for me many times growing up,” Short says. “By the time I was 12 or 13 years old, I had my mind made up to be a barber.”

AvonMagazine.com / MARCH 2021 / AVON MAGAZINE / 29

It seems to run in the family, as Short’s mother is in the hair industry. She owns a salon on the south side. His wife Megan, whom he lovingly calls his “biggest fan,” is also passionate about her craft, and works at his mother’s salon.

Then there’s Short’s son, who is four and a half months away from being done with barber school, and plans to come to Avon to work with his dad once he graduates.

“It’s more than a haircut,” Short says. “It’s people. When I build a barber relationship, people know a lot about me, and I know a lot about people.”

It’s been a long time coming, and Short doesn’t take his story for granted. He said he made bad decisions as a young man and has found many rock-bottoms throughout his life.

“I battled addiction for years, but it’s been years since I picked up,” he says. “It’s possible to overcome those things and get that monkey off your back. The more love you sink into people, the more love they’ll sink into you.”

Short brings this empathy to his job daily. As a barber, he hears of many people’s joys, sorrows, stories of financial struggles, lost jobs,

relationship tensions, and all the details in between. He finds joy in offering a listening ear or advice to anyone who needs it. He gives credit to the barber he had growing up, who invested in him.

“When I was lacking direction, he would take it upon himself to help me out,” Short says. “He came to watch me wrestle, and he gave me advice. That’s why I try and turn around and do the same thing for others. If you’re missing a little bit of family and that’s not where you’re getting love, family isn’t always blood.”

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Short has a warm affinity for Avon. He moved here five years ago to work at another local barber shop. Over the years he built relationships with families in the area at that location, and he loves opportunities to support others when he can.

“I went to Beech Grove to watch the Avon Wrestling Club wrestle recently,” Short says. “At first I felt a little strange being there with no kids, but the community knew exactly who I was and why I was there.”

During those five years, Short found that his work environment was slowly, as he puts it, “sucking the wind out of my sails.” To stir up his passion again, he attempted to move his family to St. Augustine, Florida, 18 months ago. His ultimate dream had always been to cut hair on the ocean.

“My wife and I had everything squared away,” Short says.

Due to some unforeseen family issues, they were forced to stay in Indiana. He was disappointed, but Short’s faith in a bigger picture gives him peace.

“I promised myself if we were kept here for some reason, then God had other plans for me,” Short says.

They did take a two-week vacation to Florida, during which time he prayed intently regarding what to do next.

Clarity came on the beach. He decided it was best to stay in Indiana anyway, so his son could finish school. He also began to realize that many of his issues at the barber shop where he worked stemmed from having bigger dreams.

After discussions with close friends and prayer, Short made a decision and quit his job at the local barber shop upon his return from Florida. He opened 36 Barber Lounge around Thanksgiving in 2020.

“This community is big enough for two barbers,” Short says. “I really wanted something that represented me.”

Even though 36 Barber Lounge hasn’t been open long, one of the first things Short did was reach out to Family Promise to see if he could help. He has worked with them in the past, offering free haircuts to homeless men, women and children.

One of the first things he did in his lounge was set up a Giving Tree for Christmas to benefit Family Promise families. He took on four families to start, putting tags on the tree for different items

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each family needed. He was blown away by the support the community showed - they took care of not only every single tag, but also made additional donations like underwear, socks and gift cards for local grocery stores.

“In three days, we filled up everything those families wanted,” Short says. “That’s one of the things I love most about this. It gives me a platform to help someone else in some way.”

To continue the trend of hospitality and generosity, Short offers discounts to police officers, firefighters, military members and health care workers.

“We’re going to be intertwined with the community,” Short says. “I never could have built this without them. Two families in the community came and helped me build this every night.

I left the last shop on October 15, 2020, and opened these doors November 23. My book was full from day one. It’s been a blessing.”

It’s been a big change, Short admits, but he’s more than willing to accept the challenge of adjusting to a new routine. He’s determined to continue his passion, emphasizing that he’s more than just someone who cuts hair.

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“There’s a difference between a good haircutter and a good barber,” Short says. “Barbers will build relationships with you and your family, and stay disciplined and consistent in their craft.”

He prides himself on always putting the client first. In doing so, he feels he’s gained a lot from his career, often learning from his customers as they talk during their haircut.

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“If you can just be yourself and put God first in your life, and if you can wake up every day with discipline and consistency over time, things will get better,” Short says. “You’ll become proud of yourself. Stay humble, and more than anything, have hope.”

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He also plans to introduce punch cards soon, offering the tenth haircut free once someone purchases nine. Above all, he’s willing to do whatever it takes to make his business an integral part of Avon, sharing his passion with the community. His love for his craft and the community fills him with appreciation.

36 Barber Lounge is located at 7485 East U.S. Highway 36, Suite D in Avon. For more info, call 317-268-4542 or visit 36barberlounge.com.

32 / AVON MAGAZINE / MARCH 2021 / AvonMagazine.com

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ACSC Mental Wellness Team

MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS AVO N SCH O OLS O F F E R R E SO U RC ES TO HE L P ST U D E N T S F EEL T HE I R B E ST Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided

Avon students are fortunate in that the school district offers ample support for student mental health at all levels, from elementary to high school. Three years ago, Avon was awarded the Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resilience in Education) grant, designed around increasing awareness, education and access to mental health services and support in the school setting.

the schools to break down resources into three levels. Tier 1 gives universal help to all students, offering a variety of approaches that revolve around Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) concepts. The evidence-based core competency areas for social and emotional learning include self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision making, relationship skills and social awareness. Tier 2 goes to students who need additional support. Tier 3 is available to students in crisis, as a temporary bridge to help them until they can be linked up with resources outside of the school setting.

“The triangle gets narrower at the top, but you want to make sure you have a strong base,” says Krista Fay, mental wellness coordinator with Avon Community School Corporation.

She notes that the district looks at the universal supports that go into mental health and wellness for students, and couples those with social and emotional learning, which emphasizes character traits, personal skills and emotion regulation.

The Project AWARE funds have enabled AvonMagazine.com / MARCH 2021 / AVON MAGAZINE / 35

“We want to make sure that students have a good understanding of their emotions, social awareness skills, time management skills, responsibility and decision-making skills,” Fay says. “That all sets the stage for good mental health and wellness.”

The social and emotion learning commitment is new to Avon schools this year. For instance, elementary classes engage in 30-minute morning meetings in which students are taught the skills they need to successfully interact with one another.

There is a push to rebrand what has formerly been known as “soft skills” and call them “essential skills.”

“When you think about what you want your kid to graduate with, it’s not necessarily a deep understanding of the Pythagorean theorem,” Fay says. “You want them to be able to communicate, self-initiate, make responsible decisions, and handle ethical dilemmas.”

She calls this approach two sides of the same coin, as school leaders want students to understand themselves and one another.

When students do that, they can open up to

access more academic instruction.

“If you walk into class and you’re not regulated because you’re upset, it doesn’t matter how great that lesson is, your emotions are getting in the way of you being able to receive that information,” Fay says. “However, if a student is taught how to recognize when he is upset - and not only recognize it, but learn safe and healthy skills to help regulate himself back down to a baseline level - now he has increased his academic availability.”

Stephanie Bode, assistant principal at Avon High School (AHS), maintains that the administration regularly surveys the student population to keep a pulse on how they are doing. National statistics report that two-thirds of students cite stress as a challenge, while 40% suffer from chronic anxiety. According to Bode, social media and smartphones have contributed to heightened anxiety.

“We see a correlation between kids’ loneliness and anxiety with the advent of the iPhone,” she says. “Although kids today are safer physically, they are more vulnerable emotionally than they have ever been.”

Some students hide their pain, which can often exacerbate it. That’s why it’s smart for parents to normalize having a bad day.

“You can tell your child, ‘Today I feel bad and that’s okay. Here’s what I’m going to do about it,’” Fay says. “That shows that you’re not going to wallow in that space forever.

It also shows your kids the importance of prioritizing mental health.”

In addition, with funds from the Project AWARE grant, schools have hired social workers to work with students who may need an additional intervention. These school social workers provide both smallgroup and one-on-one services related to

mental wellness. Fay stresses that they are not diagnosing or labeling kids, but rather helping them discern how to identify and manage their feelings.

“We don’t say, ‘You have an anxiety disorder,’” Fay says. “Instead, we are helping kids understand what anxiety is, what stress is, and how that shows up for you, not just in your body but in your thinking patterns.”

Social workers help empower students to utilize skills to regain control of extreme emotions.

In 2010, actress Glenn Close co-founded the organization Bring Change to Mind (BC2M) after both her sister and nephew were diagnosed with mental health disorders. The national organization was adopted by various schools across the country as a club for students who are passionate about mental health. Two years ago, AHS started offering the student-led

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club, which is not meant to be therapy for students but rather a way to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health.

“We have a student movement around the importance of mental health, and the BC2M club is one manifestation of that movement,” Bode says.

Caleb Dowers, an AHS senior and president of BC2M, says sometimes we can’t control what happens in our minds, but we often blame ourselves for those struggles.

“You wouldn’t blame yourself if you had a genetic disease,” Dowers says. “You can’t help that. Once we equate mental illness to having the same importance as physical health, the stigma disappears.”

Dowers first attended a club meeting last year and was impressed by how real the students were with one another.

“I came away refreshed and hopeful,” Dowers says. “I just loved the atmosphere and grew to love our motto, which focuses on mental illnesses specifically, because we talk a lot more about mental health, in general, than we do mental illness. Until we humanize mental illness and its effects, and educate ourselves on these illnesses, we can’t truly appreciate or understand what mental health all is. It goes beyond stress and depression.”

He notes that while mental health is a phrase we use with some degree of regularity, people rarely enter into genuine conversations about what they are experiencing.

“Once we become vulnerable and have these conversations, we feel less stuck in our situation,” Dowers says. “It brings freedom.”

Yamana Uno, BC2M’s secretary, joined the club because she noticed increasing numbers of kids who were struggling with mental health.

“I want to raise awareness within the school and our community, and help people realize that it’s not something to be ashamed of,” says Uno, a senior.

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At their club meetings, students participate in various activities and games, incorporating a short lesson on one mental illness at every meeting. At a recent meeting, students wrote encouraging messages on bathroom mirrors around the school using dry erase markers.

challenge. Yet that’s precisely what we should do.

“We all have highs and lows when it comes to our health,” Fay says. “At some point, we move back to baseline, but by expanding

our support network and normalizing talking about our thoughts, feelings and experiences, we make it easier and more accessible to recognize when we are in those lows.”

“One way to boost your mental wellness is to simply be kind to others, and that was the goal with this activity - to spark smiles,” Dowers says. “I know the potential this club has within our school, and I’m already seeing it change the school dynamic, both in how the administration handles mental health and how students value it.”

What Project AWARE and BC2M have in common is the goal of making mental health and wellness more conversational and less scary. Leaders of both have launched various campaigns such as “Seize the Awkward” to help demonstrate that it can be uncomfortable to sit with someone when they are having a mental health

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