CMT Man Survives Hurricane Katrina

September 26, 2005

Hoping for Home

JOHN HEBERT

Chalmette, La.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT)

" Everything I've worked for my whole life is gone. I got out with

some clothes and my car. "

A week after Katrina struck and levees broke, Hebert ( " ay-bear " )

still is dazed by the rapid turn of events in his life. The 49-year-

old former trucker and machinist evacuated his lifelong home

southeast of New Orleans fully expecting to return in a few days

and " get on with my life. " But now his house is under water and he's

holed up in a hotel room in Birmingham, Ala., trying to figure out

where to go.

Hebert is able to walk some and uses a manual wheelchair for

distances. But he left his chair behind when he evacuated, figuring

he wouldn't need it while sitting in a hotel room for a day or two.

Now his ankle-foot braces have worn blisters on his feet from walking

around town searching for long-term housing — or at least a more

accessible hotel room.

When it became clear he wouldn't be able to go home for weeks or

months, Hebert called MDA for help. In addition to giving him housing

referrals, Regional Director Beth Grimes found him a used manual

wheelchair and made an appointment to have his braces adjusted and

repaired.

" MDA helped me back in New Orleans, and I knew they would be there

for me up here, too, " he says. " It's always good to have a shoulder

to lean on. "

Hebert says he's luckier than many because he has a monthly SSDI

(disability) check, and his flood insurance will pay for up to a year

of living expenses.

But at the moment, not even sure where the other members of his

family are, it's hard to look on the bright side.

" I've done a lot of crying, " he admits. " I don't know where I'll end

up or what I'll do. I don't know how I'm going to live day by day. I

have the want to go out and get a job and better myself. I've always

lived right. But I can't work.… Hopefully, I'll one day be able to

get back home. "

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