While eating the breakfast served to residents at Ronald McDonald House in Indianapolis by statewide Circle K groups, Janet Brcka spoke about her daughter giving birth in August to a baby with VACTERL.
Each letter stands for a birth defect, Brcka said. One of the birth defects causes the baby to have an imperforated anus.
"She has no opening," she said. "Her anus, her vagina and urethra all come together to one hole."
Brcka's daughter Michelle Cutrel spoke about the hardships presented by her daughter's condition.
"I've gotten to hold her a little bit and I knew all this was going to happen while I was pregnant," Cutrel said. "I was expecting it and I just put everything in God's hands."
Approximately 60 students in Circle K traveled to Indianapolis for the weekend from Ball State University, Purdue University, University of Indianapolis and IUPUI.
CIRCLE K
Wednesday night Circle K met to prepare for its trip to Indianapolis to feed families at Ronald McDonald House.
A gavel's bang and a pledge called the meeting to order. Group members contributed spare change to be used to fund the cleaning of drinking water for children in third world countries. The donation period also serves as an icebreaker for members because they comment on what they are happy about.
"I'm happy because my brother is getting married in a month," junior advertising major Laura Mercer said as she placed her change into the cup.
Circle K is a college version of Kiwanis, a service organization based on serving children of the world, said Ryan Harkleroad, sophomore undecided major. In addition to having a college version of Kiwanis in Circle K, there is a high school version of the organization called Key Club, he said.
"They're all about kids," Harkleroad said. "We're the largest collegiate service group in the world."
HOW IT BEGAN
Harkleroad said the weekend was first conceived after an international conference.
Circle K members from the four schools rode together to a restaurant only to get lost on the way, which gave them time to develop the idea for a joint weekend event. Because Circle K is such a widespread organization, Harkleroad said it provides group members with a special opportunity.
"Most other service organizations can't hang out with other colleges," he said.
WHY THEY DO IT
Freshman computer program and graphic design major Kimberly Heron said she entered Circle K because voluntary service is something she enjoys and because Circle K had helped her in the past.
In the second grade, Heron said her father hurt his back at work and her mother only worked part time.
"We had friends from church and my older sister's [high school] Key Club fundraise for us to buy us food and pay our bills," she said.
Heron said when she sees the smiles on the people who she serves, it's all worth it.
Sarah Buckley, a freshman pre-nursing major, said her family has had health problems in the past and that contributes to her involvement with Circle K.
"It makes sense," she said. "If you had nothing wrong with you, might as well help others with problems. You never know if it will happen to you."
Freshman psychology major Jessica Rockhill said service runs in the family.
"My grandpa is in Habitat for Humanity," Rockhill said. "I've done it since I was little."
INDIANAPOLIS
The Ball State students met and mingled at the University of Indianapolis student center and began making blankets out of fleece for the children at Riley.
"I just want to see their faces when they get [blankets]," Heron said. "To show them people other than their families care."
While making blankets, students from the various schools mingled and created friendships.
"Push out of your bubble to meet new friends and then they become Facebook friends," Harkleroad said.
"This is going to be cute for a little boy," Mercer said as she and her neighbor put their blankets together.
The weekend trip is a wonderful experience for both sides, said Janis Lynn, a junior biology major from Indiana University who serves as district secretary for Circle K.
"For the kids, it's a source for hope, inspiration and mentorship," Lynn said. "For the Circle K'ers, it's an opportunity to connect with the people they serve."
Saturday morning Circle K members from Purdue and Ball State traveled to Ronald McDonald House in hopes of feeding families.
When the group arrived, however, they were informed those who serve breakfast must bring their own food, which was a shock to the group.
BREAKFAST FIASCO
Circle K'ers from across the state rallied together and, in two minutes, accumulated $75 among themselves and went shopping for breakfast items.
"We took three cars, wrote the list on the way, we split up the list and went shopping," Heron said.
Marlene Tran, weekend manager at Ronald McDonald House, blamed herself for not clarifying that Circle K needed to supply food.
Tran also stressed the importance of organizations coming to serve those at Ronald McDonald House.
"[Residents] all have critically ill children in the hospital," she said. "So for them to have a hot meal provided, it just helps their day."
As students scrambled to prepare a breakfast for more than 10 people, improvisation shone through. Students began using napkins as coffee filters and various pots and pans to make pancakes.
After the breakfast, the Circle K members traveled to Riley Children's Hospital to deliver the fleece blankets that would be given to patients and then took a tour of the hospital.
After the tour Harkleroad said the weekend was a great experience for Circle K.
"Live to serve, love to serve." Harkleroad said to sum up the weekend.
WHO THEY MET
Cutrel said she continues to feel good about her daughter's chances at life.
"Her name is Faith," Cutrel said. "She is really strong and I have faith in her."
Julie Willmert, a resident at Ronald McDonald, said the house is a great help to her during her stay.
"We're an hour and a half away from here," she said. "We would pretty much be forced to see him on weekends."
Willmert's son is in the hospital because he was born 10 weeks premature and weighed two pounds even. She said she was trying to continue working through her eighth month of pregnancy and began experiencing blind spots.
Her husband suggested calling the doctor; it turned out that Willmert had dangerously high blood pressure.
"About three days later I had our son because they couldn't keep my blood pressure under control," she said. "The doctors said I really should have been having seizures. I wasn't, thankfully."
Ronald McDonald House assists the Willmerts' with both food and housing, she said, and for that she is eternally grateful. The Cutrel family agreed with the Willmerts' about how indespensable Ronald McDonald is.
"I can be closer to her; it's within walking distance to Riley's," Cutrel said of the benefits of Ronald McDonald House. "We don't have to worry about shopping, and it helps us bond with other people."
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