Mary Blackmountain and James Etcitty on challenges of rural physical health

​On a summer day, James Etcitty collapsed at home with his grandson. He and Mary recall the experience of seeking help and treatment for his illness is a rural community.

Mary: I can't really leave James alone since he got ill. That's my concern right now. I don't want to leave him. I have to watch out for him as well. And be by his side all the time now. 

You know, it was just something that happened. We didn't see it coming, you know, in June. So in August, he was going to come out here and visit people. So we drove out in August. That's when we were here. But it was difficult for him driving up. It was OK going back. 

So, you know, since then, I have to — he gets really tired easy, you know, since then. (47:00) Something major just happened to him. So that's why I had to watch out for him. Even my grandson gets scared sometimes. Because my grandson saved his grandpa's life, calling 911. 

Yeah, but he’s (James has) been talking to him (their grandson) before this happened, just, you know, if, just in case, just if something happened ... So he knew what to do. So he saved his grandpa’s life. And he's still here with us. 

So that's why I have to be with him all the time. Even just going a little ways to town. I have to be with him, because I don't want this to happen again. (48:00)

You know, me and my daughter were on our way up here to New York, to Kelly and François, they were having — I’d never been to a moon dance. (They were having) a moon dance. 
Gwendolyn: Ashni does them.

Mary: She wanted us up here, so we were on our way. This was in June. We were on our way. For some reason, when we got to New Mexico, I was trying to call him. I was trying to text him. He wasn't responding to my call or my text. Usually he'll respond ack right away. He wasn't. We continued on even though I was worried. 

Something didn't seem right, but we just continued on. I kept thinking we should turn around, but we just kept going. I kept thinking we should turn around. We just kept going … (49:00) until we were maybe four hours away, to St. Louis, Missouri, and that’s when my grandaughter called. This was like on Father's Day too, June 16. She called and told us what happened. 

Because he called his sister and told her what happened. They were alone at home when this happened. So she told us what happened and we were … (a drawn-out sound of care and fear and love and worry.) 

So we just had to turn around and go back home. We had to lmove him out to Flagstaff, Arizona, so he was in ICU. He was in a coma for a few days. I didn't know what I would see. I didn't know what I was going to see when I arrived there. 

(50:00) So I had to go home and pack and go to Flagstaff. That’s another three, four-hour drive. So I caught up with him, and at that time, I never left his side. Until today, I never left his side, for his safety. So that's what happened. 

It's good that we're over here too. Sometimes we're just at home. We don't even want to go anywhere. It's just too many unsafe drivers. Since then we haven't reallt been anywhere. So it was an honor for you to be bringing us. You called us to come up, and we said, "Let's go." (50:45)

So we took everything, and we had to drive to Phoenix, six hours just to get to Phoenix, to the airport. 

Gwendolyn: That's a big journey. 

Mary: Yes. To come up here. So we're here. (51:00) So that's what happened. So that's why sometimes he talks low. Sometimes he doesn't remember things. We pray that he will overcome all that. So that's what's going on right now. I'm glad to be here. ​