Tracy Hurlbert cried herself to sleep Wednesday night, and expects she’ll do the same tonight.
The 48-year-old Thunder Bay woman is triplegic and uses a motorized wheelchair for mobility. On Wednesday evening, hours before sunset, an unknown thief took advantage of her disability and snatched her laptop from the wheelchair’s attached tabletop in front of her.
Not just a personal computer, Hurlbert uses the laptop daily to help overcome the routine challenges she faces. The laptop is her memory and her source of communication.
“Last night I went to bed crying because I was upset,” Hurlbert said. “Tonight, I’m probably going to go to bed crying because I’m so happy that people have been so kind to me.”
Hurlbert posted her story on her Facebook page and in less than 24 hours she received an overwhelming response.
Numerous individuals came forward to offer support.
She said a friend lent her a laptop in the meantime, while another woman had mentioned starting a GoFundMe page.
“It made me realize that Thunder Bay actually is the city with a giant heart,” she said.
While she’s grateful for everyone who has come forward to support her, Hurlbert doesn’t intend to harbour a long-time grudge against the unknown man who victimized her.
“You stole part of my life,” she said. “Not just my computer but part of my life and although I’m very angry with you right now, I’m going to work hard to forgive you.”
Hurlbert doesn’t expect she’ll ever see her laptop again. However, she hopes the thief’s conscience will lead him to donate the hardware to someone who desperately needs it.
Long-time acquaintance Barb Fraser said it was important for her to lend Hurlbert a laptop because she is such an advocate for disabilities.
Hurlbert dedicates her social media pages to providing information to other people with disabilities about sidewalks to avoid, ramps people can’t get up and parks are easily accessible.
“It’s her voice you take away a voice with somebody with a disability that’s doing so much good in our community to try and advocate disabilities, you have taken away her voice,” Fraser said.
“I couldn’t have a part of that and I don’t think the rest of Thunder Bay could either.”
Officials with the Thunder Bay Police Service are investigating the incident and are asking any witnesses to come forward.
