Keeping His Ducks in a Row
After suffering four strokes within a short time, Harbert faced multiple challenges in finding his productive life.
When the residents of Brookdale greet one of their neighbors, they are welcomed by a gentleman displaying toy ducks lined up on the arm of his wheelchair. Though others may find this amusing, the relevance of the placement of these objects carries a depth of meaning for him.
After a lifetime of personal achievements and recent debilitating health struggles, Harbert uses his ducks as a reminder to remain organized and grounded in all aspects of his life.
During his youth, he developed an exceptional work ethic and confidence in a variety of skills. He demonstrated a strong aptitude for fixing things, earning his mechanic certification at just 16 years old. Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), as it is known today, governs the certification of mechanics. They sent Harbert a sign stating that he was the youngest ever to pass the test (16 years and 2 months) and have the required two years of work history, having worked with his dad since he was thirteen. This was a remarkable accomplishment based on his childhood story.
Early educational difficulties caused him to be kicked out of school in the fifth grade. Receiving help from a family friend, he returned to school, and he ended up working for them in the summers. At thirteen, he worked on cars and participated in setting up a wrecking yard. At a gas station owned by his father, he demonstrated success as an employee, gaining the skills that led to his certification by the ASE. Becoming a classroom aid in his high school vocational technology program increased his competence and willingness to share his talents with peers.
By the time Harbert graduated from high school, he had received a full scholarship to Arizona State University. Studying business administration, he completed three years, though he did not graduate.
In 1998, his father’s gas station shut down the mechanical aspect of the business, beginning the era of Harbert’s mobile business. Traveling to parking lots around the Mesa, Arizona area proved to be a successful endeavor for him.
Waking up one morning in spring 2020, a serious health challenge occurred for Harbert. He was alone and suffered a stroke. During the subsequent year, he also suffered from three more strokes, which left him with debilitating consequences. The progression during the following months and years led to a mixture of small blessings and large barriers. Overall, deficits remain, leaving him with considerable impairment in sensation and mobility in his left arm and leg. His ability to function with the right side of his body is excellent, and he successfully uses a wheelchair for mobility in most environments.
After spending a significant period of time in post-acute care, he now resides in an assisted living setting. Although physical therapy did not resolve many challenges in his physical skills, he is experiencing a caring and community-oriented environment. Looking back on events that transpired after his health trauma, Harbert reflects on many circumstances that caused increased stress at the time.
As he states, “one day you are working hard, accumulating wealth and well-being, then become forced to distribute your wealth in ways that you have no control of.”
During a time of healing, not being able to make sound decisions is often part of the process. Third parties can become involved and make decisions that the person may not be aware of or approve of. Although Harbert had equity in real estate, automobiles, trailers, and tools, the mishandling of his assets by others did not prove beneficial to his overall financial demands.
A key component of Harbert’s well-being is related to a governmental stipulation about the financial distribution of his benefits, which leaves him with minimal funds after covering his living expenses. Governmental communication often is the cause of additional frustration.
Keeping up a profitable business did not prove to be possible post-recovery. After one of his clients discovered his health issues, the money owed to him for work completed was not paid. Among many of these kinds of disappointments, Harbert was forced to make a choice for his emotional well-being and move forward with peace and forgiveness.
Resetting life goals and finding a new purpose
Herbert has found a new life purpose focused on using his talents to serve those around him. Offering his abilities as a mechanic to identify and solve problems has proven to meet valuable needs in his community. In a residential setting where the demands span removing environmental barriers, modifying wheelchairs, and adjusting for self-care needs, he is skilled at task analysis and structuring solutions.
Something as simple as placing a small magnet on the back of doors allows people to freely move through an open path without having to hold the door. This is one example of a variety of adaptations that Harbert has created from his own resources that he uses to help himself and others. Other examples include adaptations for lockdown of wheelchairs in moving vehicles, adaptations to protect upper and lower extremities from harm when sensation is impaired, and a variety of assistive devices to improve functionality and manage tools needed while navigating daily tasks from a wheelchair or a scooter.
Through all his provision of help and devices, he has saved large amounts of money by choosing simple parts and materials, not charging for expensive labor, and offering his mechanical skills as a gift to others. Often, he may start with a simple PVC pipe, an umbrella stand, a bolt, or a parachute cord.
By demonstrating how to keep his “Ducks in a Row,” Harbert is sharing his specialized skills for the good of those he shares a home with. After a lifetime of personal achievements and recent debilitating health struggles, Harbert uses the ducks perched on the arm of his wheelchair as a reminder to remain organized and grounded in all aspects of his life.
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