Before Alex was born back in 2000, an ultrasound was performed. After the procedure, the doctor didn't want to say anything negative. The parents asked if everything was okay with the baby, but the doctor was hesitant to say anything. Ed and Julie Hurlburt knew something wasn't quite right. They finally dragged it out of the doctor. They were told that the baby's left arm (below the elbow) was missing.
"I remember the ultrasound because it was take-your-child-to-work day. The procedure was taking too long, many things went through my head," Julie said.
Ed was stunned in disbelief -- like the entire world had collapsed on him. It was very emotional for both parents -- they were both torn inside. Their baby was going to be born with a defect.
"I just wanted to be able to play catch with my son, something any dad would want. I wasn't asking for much," Ed said.
The cause was possibly amniotic band syndrome -- a congenital birth defect believed to be caused by entrapment of the fetal parts. Another possibility, the loose strands could have wrapped around his arm and caused a lack of blood circulation -- a vascular incident. It's difficult to know what exactly caused Alex's defect.
Alex was born in Portland, Oregon, but has lived in Salem most of his life. Sean is his older brother by four years. His parents, Ed and Julie, wanted the best for their son, so they started teaching him that "Can't is not an option". Over the past-challenging years, they have managed to provide a support system (people, programs, etc) for Alex. He has learned to overcome -- this is who he was and no one was about to keep him from accomplishing many things.
He attended Brush College Elementary in West Salem. During his grade school days there was once a group of kids that climbed a fence. Alex was following them and stopped to watch. They laughed and made fun of him -- daring him and yelling out that he couldn't climb the fence with one arm. Alex remembered the words, "Can't is not an option". With his determination and partly angered, he started climbing, finding a way to get over that fence, painfully using one hand to grab the fencing and his legs to push up. He managed to get over! The kids looked at him in a shocking way -- they were left speechless. Those kids became his friends after that moment.
A sense of humor started becoming natural to Alex -- he was that comfortable with who he was. One day the P.E. teacher at Brush College Elementary was warning the kids not to take the soccer balls out of the barrel. She had about thirty soccer balls that were supposed to be left alone. The teacher was unaware of her sarcastic talk to the kids, and realized it too late. She was meaning it as a joke.
"If anyone else takes another ball from the barrel, I'll cut their arm off!"
Alex responded, "You better listen to her, look what she did to me!"
Alex was not supposed to be able to climb a rope to the top of the gym, but he did. Alex was not supposed to be able to contribute significantly to any sports team, but he did. He was a determined kid with a perfectionist attitude and the words in his head, "Can't is not an option". He found a way to master the skills needed.
He played football, basketball, baseball, and in middle school he added track and field. Playing with an all-star baseball team just summed it up. Try visualizing this, he catches the baseball with the glove in his right hand as it comes zooming, removes his mitt with the ball in it, tucks it under his short limb, grabs the ball with his right hand and throws it with amazing accuracy to the baseman or pitcher. It's like watching the gears on an automatic transmission.
In 2012, Alex entered Straub Middle School. He felt a bit nervous about facing new teachers and students. He had adapted well in grade school and had a comfort zone there with the students and staff. Attending a larger school created more challenges. Interacting with teachers, playing the tuba, and sports. Making new friends was very difficult for him. Alex discovered that it didn't take him long to adapt. Because of the bullying policies the school had in place, it was more relaxing and fewer kids made fun of him or joked around.
Alex Hurlburt pitches in a game. Photo by Ed Hurlburt.
Alex went on to become a great athlete at Straub Middle School. In football he played defensive end and wingback -- in one game he had four rushing touchdowns. On defense he consistently sacked quarterbacks. In one of his basketball games he scored 18 points and it was normal for him to block a few shots every game. In baseball he played outfield and pitcher and every year he kept improving at every skill. In track and field he ran the 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters, and a was a member of the 4 x 400 relay team.
"I didn't really have any personal disappointments, but I guess one disappointment was the coaching that we had, it wasn't as great as I wished it could have been. Also the lack of energy that our team had at times. In eighth grade we did have a good coach that we learned a lot from. Our team's record was 9 - 0. We went undefeated that year," Alex said.
In 2015, Alex was promoted to West Salem High School. Coming in as a freshman his nerve-racking thoughts were back again with the uncertainty of how the new students would treat him. He was more mature and had grown to be a tall 6' 3". There were upperclassmen that Alex would have to face every day at school. Kids would say things to him, some that were very uncomfortable and others that he just joked about himself.
"I've heard many comments all my life, it's tough to work through that at times. To be honest, those comments don't bother me anymore -- I find a way to ignore them and work through it. Actually, it bothers my friends a lot more than it does me. They seem to want to defend me against anyone that makes mean comments -- they usually have my back," Alex said.
There are other situations that make Alex feel a little awkward, such as in the following incident which involved a Spanish teacher. At the beginning of the school year the teacher asked Alex to hold up his fingers as she counted in Spanish. When she counted "six (seis)" she asked Alex to hold his sixth finger up. Alex said, "I only have one hand." She asked him again, "Alex please hold up your other hand!" She walked over and saw that there was only one hand. Alex thought it was funny, but the teacher felt really, really, bad about the whole situation.
Alex entered the football tryouts with confidence but still a little nervous. He would have an entire new coaching staff and players to battle for a spot. He survived making the freshman football team. He would be playing for Head Coach Jay Bacus. His position would be defensive end and wingback. What a year for Alex, he had three blocked punts and three sacks in one of his games. The team went 8 - 3 for the season. He was moved up to varsity for the playoffs for the experience and he was voted Defensive Player of the Year.
Alex during a football game his freshman year. Photo by Ed Hurlburt.
Some people think of how much better Alex could be if he had both hands. How much more he could do for his teams.
"My answer to that question is, I don't think I'd be better with two hands. I strongly feel that I'm better with one hand. Especifically because I don't think I would put the hard work in the way I do now. I have to work twice as hard as most people to master a certain skill," Alex said.
Basketball season came around quickly and it didn't surprise me to see Alex as one of the members of the West Salem freshman basketball team playing for Coach Daniel Murray. Watching Alex play against the McKay Royal Scots in a packed house was a humbling experience. I can't imagine how proud his parents must be watching their son play basketball for a high school team. They don't miss any of his games -- love, loyal, and supportive. I can't imagine how proud his coaches, former teachers and current teachers must be of him.
Alex is one of the players in the playing-time rotation. In this game he had four points, four rebounds, three assists, and four blocked shots. He plays half of the game and is one of the posts on the team. He has mastered catching the ball and driving to the basket with no problems. He has a spin move that he learned from playing other sports, and he finishes well underneath the basket. His defense is strong and he rebounds well.
#10 Alex Hurlburt in a freshman basketball game. Photo by Ed Hurlburt.
"Skills that I pick up from other sports translate on the basketball court -- I figure out a way to master a certain skill on my own. Sometimes I'll watch others, but mostly it's just me figuring out what works for me," Alex said.
Along with his athletic accomplishments he carries a 3.75 GPA. He is driven to succeed in his studies as well. Alex finds time to study during school and after school -- very consistent about it.
His mom and dad have experienced so much throughout the years and observed many things. If they'd known back then, when Alex was born, what they know now, they wouldn't have it any other way. Ed wishes he could take back the thoughts he had when Alex was first born. Things came out way better than expected -- He is very proud of his son. You can see Ed taking photos of his son at games often.
"There's always comments made to him by people. I remember once there was a kid that fouled out of the basketball game. He fouled Alex and he wasn't too happy. The kid turned around as he walked to the bench looking at Alex, and said something like, good luck the rest of the game with one arm. I don't think that will ever end ... Alex has done a great job adapting and not making it a big deal. We're so proud of where he is at today and his accomplishments," Julie said.
Alex Hurlburt has a great future ahead of him, he's an inspiration to many kids that might want to give up. He is a prime example of how we should not look at our disabilities, but look at our possibilities.
This blog post is too short for the entire story, for Alex's complete detailed story which includes the people that helped him, his struggles and accomplishments, etc. please read, The Professor Grayson Boucher Plus More NW Sports Stories, this book includes eight biographies -- one of them is Alex's story.
Alex, What is your favorite subject in school?
Math is my favorite.
Favorite football team, basketball team, and baseball team?
I like the Denver Broncos, Portland Blazers, and the Boston Red Sox.
Do you have a short-term goal?
Getting to the next level in my sports career and maintaining a cumulative 3.5 or better by the time I graduate high school.
Do you have a long-term goal?
I'd love to play a college sport and go into business or law.