A New Beginning
/We met Tracy in the summer of 2022. She is a single mother of 2, and a resident of Long Beach for the past 22 years. Earlier in the year, she was diagnosed with long COVID and has been unable to work.
During our site visit, we discovered an outdated electrical system that was not only a hazard, but could also not keep up with the demands of a modern household.
As we continued our walkthrough, we discovered major leaks in the water supply to the kitchen sink, requiring the family to empty a catch bucket twice daily. The bathroom sink and tub valves were non functioning, leaving only the small shower enclosure working.
The Rebuilding Together team got busy looking for funding to be able to provide Tracy and her family with a safe and healthy home. Wells Fargo provided a grant, and with the generous donations from you during our Long Beach Gives 2022 donation drive we had enough to start with the most desperate need – the electrical.
In early October, we met with TJ, from AAA Calvert, an electrical, heating and air conditioning contractor located in Long Beach. With a quote including a generous labor discount, we were ready to begin Tracy’s home’s transformation.
In late October, Tracy and her family faced a medical tragedy. Kevin, her 22 year old son, was brought down by a brain aneurysm that ruptured, leaving him unable to breathe on his own, and loss of control of his limbs.
In 2021, Kevin was Air Force bound until his mom’s long COVID diagnosis. He postponed his future to support his mom, and help out with his younger sister, Morgan. With his mom scheduled to return to work in January 2023, he again set his sites on joining the Air Force.
During a conversation with his mom, he complained of a headache, and then collapsed. He has been in the hospital since. He will be relocated to a rehabilitation facility and will need months of rehab. The extent of the damage is still unknown as is his return to home.
AAA Calvert started rebuilding the electrical system, now with the understanding of the urgency. The old service panel was replaced with a new panel, additional receptacles are being added, and the old outdated wiring replaced with new. The new system will be grounded, and new lighting fixtures will be installed.
With the changes brought by Kevin’s injuries, the design of the bathroom remodel has changed to include ADA accessibility features and is expected to start early spring 2023.
Be a part of Rebuilding Together Long Beach through volunteer work, donation, or as a board member.