As I am driving across the Long Bridge, heading north towards Sandpoint, I look across at the snow capped Cabinet Mountains and they call to me. This brings back memories of horseback riding the mountainous divide trail between Montana and Idaho. I remember standing with my horse on top of Mount Pend Oreille, looking for elk in the mountain meadows. Riding the steep, boulder strewn trail of Mount Willard, or enjoying a cold weather campfire on Purdy Mountain while roasting smokies. Stopping to water our horses at Lake Divide, only to see a sow bear and her twin cubs scurrying away. Or our all day ride up the Strong Creek drainage to get to Round Top mountain. From the tippy-top of that mountain you feel like you are on top the world! One can look south down the whole length of Lake Pend Oreille to the cliffs of Bernard Peak, where the mountain goats hang out near Farragut State Park. This is the kind of horse back riding I love!

Hi, my name is Marcy Ott. I have lived in Sagle, ID for 25 years. My passions in life have been my kids, riding horses in the mountains, dutch oven cooking and just being outdoors. I grew up in Bellevue and Kirkland, WA. I went to the University of Idaho, got married and in a roundabout way ended up in Sagle. Within the first year here I was soon to be a single mom with the responsibility of raising my four young children, all under the age of 10. My kids went to school and grew up here. During that time I had jobs at Pend Oreille Vet, Litehouse Custom Printing, The View Restaurant, and ten years at Western Pleasure Guest Ranch. Even working full-time it was hard to make ends meet, but we all made it! My kids are all in their thirties now and live and work locally. As a result of growing up with hard work, rural values and a local education, they are all independent and successful as adults. I am very proud of them!

I have been diabetic for over two decades, starting with gestational diabetes. I was thought to be a Type 2 diabetic for many years. However, in 2000 it was discovered that I am a Type 1, which is an autoimmune disease and is very different. In 2009 and 2010 I experienced two years of off and on blindness in both eyes. After six eye surgeries, I have better eyes now than I’ve had my whole life. In 2011, breast cancer was detected. Thankfully it had not spread, but I still went through surgery and radiation. Then, in 2012, melanoma skin cancer was found and was quickly removed. Meanwhile, I was feeling EXTREMELY exhausted. In 2013 I was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease, which is kidney failure. I started a kidney dialysis schedule right away of of 3 days/week, 4 hours/day. So this has become my new “normal.” I have been on kidney dialysis for five years now. Without my faith in God I would not have been able to meet these challenges.

As of April 2017, I am now five years breast cancer free, a requirement to get on a kidney transplant list. I am currently working with the Sacred Heart kidney transplant team to get everything in order. An essential requirement in this process is raising money to cover what insurance doesn't cover. Primarily this is required for housing, in-home care, food and transportation immediately following the transplant. In addition, the funds will help cover expensive copays for lifelong anti-rejection drugs. After talking to the hospital and my insurance about what these costs may be, my goal is to raise $25,000. The average wait time to receive a kidney is four years. But if you are on dialysis, they will apply your dialysis time (mine is five years) to the wait time and bump you up the list. So it’s very hopeful that will I will be matched quickly with a kidney! In all my difficulty over the last nine years, I have been so blessed with amazing and wonderful friendships. Your prayers and your monetary help will further support me on my journey to a healthier life. I know that God has a purpose for everyone’s lives and has extended my life for a reason.

Right now I spend a lot of time with my “old timers” Bible study and reaching out to elderly people on dialysis. I totally love these people and their life stories. I call them “living history.”

William Shakespeare said, “The meaning of life is to find your gift and the purpose of life is to give it away.” Connecting and relating to people, especially elderly people, is a gift I want to keep on giving as God brings people into my life.

As a result of concentrating on my health I have had to get rid of all of my horses. I am hopeful that with God’s and your help I will be able to get back on a horse and ride a trail to a healthy life and trails that are still calling me. Boulder Mountain, Iron Mountain, Pack Saddle Mountain, the Green Monarchs and Shaffer Peak…

“Happy trails to you, until we meet again.
Happy trails to you, keep smilin’ until then.
Who cares about the clouds when we’re together?
Just sing a song and bring the sunny weather.
Happy trails to you, ‘till we meet again.”

- Songwriter Dale Evans