The Things We Don’t Think About Until They’re Gone

Sandra Tatum has lived in her home for 25 years. It’s where her life has unfolded over time, through career changes, caregiving and everything in between. She began as a photojournalist and later earned a master’s degree in counseling, building a life centered around understanding and supporting others. In recent years, that care was focused on her mother. Sandra provided home hospice care for years, showing up day after day in a way that was both meaningful and exhausting. When it ended, she was left trying to recover from the emotional and physical toll it had taken. “I was depleted,” she said.

Not long after, her water heater went out. What followed was not just an inconvenience. Without hot water, the routines that make daily life manageable started to fall apart. She could not take a warm shower at home. Washing dishes became difficult. The dishwasher sat unused. Once a week, she went to the gym just to shower. “It was just depressing.” At a time when she was already worn down, this felt overwhelming. She did not know how to fix it or where to turn. Then she found Rebuilding Together Sandoval County.

“I had no idea how I was going to regain hot water again,” Sandra said. “I was so grateful to find them.”

With their help, her water heater was repaired. The impact was immediate, but it went far beyond having hot water again. “I can now wash dishes. I can use the dishwasher again,” she said. “Getting hot water back just literally changed my life.” It was the return of small, everyday things that most people do not think twice about. It was also something bigger. After everything she had carried on her own, this was a reminder that she did not have to do it alone. “That Rebuilding Together was able to help me, it reminded me that I’m not alone in life and that help is available.”

Even the little moments feel different now. Her dog, Kavi, can have warm baths again. Her home feels comfortable again. There is a sense of ease that has been missing. “My whole perspective has shifted for the better.” Sandra does not overstate what this meant for her, but she is clear about what it made possible. She hopes others will see the impact and choose to be part of it. “If you have the ability to donate, to help other people go through the positive change that they provided for me, I hope that you’ll do so,” she said. “Because you’re actually, tangibly changing people’s lives for the better.”

Stories like Sandra’s show that something as simple as a home repair can change everything. This April,  communities across the country are coming together to ensure homeowners have safe, healthy places to live. You can be part of that impact, too. Whether it’s volunteering, donating or simply helping spread the word, there are so many ways to get involved during National Rebuilding Month.