Published: October 09, 2009 12:02 am      

The spirit of giving

Like many expectant parents, Hannah Harrell’s mother and father likely prayed for their baby’s health. Yet the 9-year-old was born with a medical condition her mother, Elisa, says is too unpleasant to discuss.

Hannah’s situation has required many trips to the Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis for painful tests. The family refers to the girl’s physician as the “yucky doctor.”

Lead-ups to such visits understandably caused Hannah fear. But the girl’s mother discovered a purposeful distraction.

On trips to Riley, Hannah began bringing baggies of pop tabs to donate to the Ronald McDonald House of Indiana.

In 1995, the Ronald McDonald House began accepting pop tabs and recycling them for profit. Last year, it collected 108 million pop tabs and raised $78,000.

A while ago, on an errand for pop tabs at Mac’s Market on Webster Street, Elisa Harrell ran in to Jerry Paul, who was doing the same through Veterans for a Better Community. Hannah and the veterans group eventually teamed up.

Between them, they have collected 1.2 million pop tabs for the Ronald McDonald House.

Like many parents, Hannah’s mother and father likely pray their daughter will be compassionate, empathetic and generous of spirit – that she will help improve the lives of others.

Their prayers have been answered.