Battling Back From Poverty: A Christmas Miracle

from WISC

Lancaster Family Defies Odds, Offers Hope To Others

LANCASTER, Wis. -- It's the season of giving, and no one knows that better than the Yurcek family of Lancaster.

"It's not about what you get; it's about what you give," said Ann Yurcek. "It's about making something good happen out of all the hurt."

And for the Yurceks, there has been a lot of pain.

In 1989, their sixth child, Becca, was born with a life-threatening genetic disorder called Noonan's Syndrome.

By Christmas of that year, the already financially-strapped family had racked up $1 million in medical bills on Medicaid, and Jim lost his job.

Their situation was desperate.

"We didn't have groceries in the cupboard," said Ann. "We had nothing. We had just gotten the hot water and heat turned on in our house, so there was nothing."

Jim remembers going without.

"I remember boiling water on the stove so we'd have hot water for baths," said Jim. "Going without eating so the kids could eat."

"I kept thinking, how am I going to face Christmas with nothing for my children?" said Ann. "They're going to lose their baby sister and have empty stockings; that's not fair."

On Christmas Eve, the family drove to the hospital to be with Baby Becca. If they didn't have "things," at least they would have each other on Christmas.

"She (Becca) was in heart failure with no immune system with RSV, compromised lungs and a systemic staph infection," said Ann.

When the family arrived home late that night, a miracle awaited them on their front porch: more than a dozen trash bags filled to the brim with goodies.

"There was tons of gifts, groceries, toilet paper, shampoo, all the things we were out of," said Ann. "My 4-year-old at that time said, 'Santa came.'"

Then, after midnight, the family received a second miracle -- a phone call from the hospital.

Becca had been upgraded to stable condition; she was going to make it.

Christmas had finally arrived at the Yurceks'.

To this day, the family has no idea who that secret Santa was.

But whoever it was also paid the family's utility bills and car insurance that month.

"That Christmas they showed us that we weren't alone," said Ann.

Despite their desperate situation, the family felt blessed.

That would be a great story, but the Yurceks' story goes on.

That Christmas generosity inspired Jim to make a career change to help his family and others. He decided to head to medical school.

Before he could get in, he had to take two years of prerequisites. Despite working and studying, he carried a 4.0 and entered medical school with a scholarship.

During that period in their lives, the family of six scraped by, adding early-morning paper routes to make ends meet.

To spend time together, the family worked the paper routes together.

Jim graduated near the top of his class.

"I don't wonder how we did it, because you do what you need to do to get to where you want to go," said Jim.

But, before heading to his five-year surgical residency in Kalamazoo, Mich., the family wanted to do something to give back.

They wanted to pay forward the kindness extended to them during the Christmas of 1989.

Ann began attending adoption fairs.

Soon, their family of six doubled in size, as the Yurcek's adopted a family of five siblings that had been separated in foster care.

Most of the children suffered Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, and some had other developmental disabilities.

"It's not a hand out; it's a handup until you can stand on your own two feet. Then, you pay it forward," said Ann.

The Yurceks have been paying it forward since that Christmas 17 years ago.

While in Michigan, the family organized the nationally-recognized "Backpacks For Kids" campaign. Over five years, they stuffed backpacks with school supplies for more than 5,000 needy kids.

"It's about making someone's load a little lighter because you've walked it," said Ann.

The family now lives in Lancaster, Wis., where Jim is a surgeon at Grant Regional Health Center.

The family plans to bring the backpack program to Grant County foster kids next summer. They are already collecting supplies.

When News 3 caught up with the Yurceks, they were collecting toys and supplies for the Grant County Toys For Tots program.

"Whenever we can afford it, we give back," said Ann.

"I'm not rich now, but I'm comfortable," said Jim. "I'm not worried about where my next meal is coming from. I'm not worried about being able to get my kids something for Christmas. I was at one time, and that was a big worry."

Now, the Yurceks are telling their story to the world in a new book called "Tiny Titan."

They hope it will offer at least one person hope in his or her darkest hour.

"If you give them a handup, you offer them some hope," said Ann. "And the hope is what keeps them going."

Still, it wasn't easy to write. But then again, Ann said, "It wasn't easy to live."

Still, Jim and Ann wouldn't change a thing.

"I would go through it all over again because I like who we've become and we're better for it," said Ann.