1 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:03,960 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Lily. 2 00:00:04,840 --> 00:00:07,120 Speaker 2: I'm talking you off from the northwest suburbs of Illinois, 3 00:00:07,360 --> 00:00:10,640 Speaker 2: one hour out from Chicago. I live here with my family, 4 00:00:10,680 --> 00:00:12,879 Speaker 2: and here's where I've been spending the pandemic so far. 5 00:00:13,840 --> 00:00:15,760 Speaker 2: I'm out to the house right now. My dad's gardening, 6 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:18,080 Speaker 2: ripping up the grass while his YouTube music is playing 7 00:00:18,120 --> 00:00:19,320 Speaker 2: from the phone in his pocket. 8 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:22,520 Speaker 1: He has his favorite baseball head on. 9 00:00:22,760 --> 00:00:24,560 Speaker 2: It has an image of a horse in the front 10 00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:26,920 Speaker 2: and the hair of the horse's yarn so it blows 11 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:29,880 Speaker 2: when the wind hits it. He actually just got off 12 00:00:29,920 --> 00:00:31,840 Speaker 2: the phone with my grandpa, who is quarantine with my 13 00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:35,400 Speaker 2: grandma in Chicago. He's quiet and he's sighing a lot. 14 00:00:36,159 --> 00:00:37,599 Speaker 2: It's a way that I can tell that he's kind 15 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:42,839 Speaker 2: of worried. I've never really known him to express his worry. 16 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:49,760 Speaker 2: My dad emigrated in the seventies from Mohaka, Mexico, which 17 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:54,040 Speaker 2: is where all my family's from. They're from t Asapotka 18 00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:57,560 Speaker 2: indigenous community of about five thousand residents. We call it 19 00:00:57,560 --> 00:01:02,320 Speaker 2: a pueblo. My grandpa first came to the US in 20 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:05,440 Speaker 2: the forties as of Braciro. The Brasilo program was a 21 00:01:05,520 --> 00:01:09,000 Speaker 2: labor contract that brought millions of Mexican workers to US farms. 22 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:12,840 Speaker 2: He made multiple trips between Mexico and California so he 23 00:01:12,880 --> 00:01:16,479 Speaker 2: could send money to his family. The second family member 24 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:19,160 Speaker 2: to head north was my uncle Vin Nustano. In the sixties, 25 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:22,840 Speaker 2: Diotiano as we call him, made several trips to California, 26 00:01:22,959 --> 00:01:26,039 Speaker 2: where a young Francisco my dad followed him to work. 27 00:01:27,240 --> 00:01:29,600 Speaker 2: Once they realized how far the dollar went in Wahaka, 28 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:32,360 Speaker 2: they returned to a pueblo and convinced the rest of 29 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:35,800 Speaker 2: my family, including my very stubborn grandma, to make the 30 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:37,000 Speaker 2: journey across the border. 31 00:01:40,520 --> 00:01:41,479 Speaker 1: Didano had heard there. 32 00:01:41,440 --> 00:01:43,840 Speaker 2: Were a lot more jobs in Chicago, and so my dad, 33 00:01:43,880 --> 00:01:47,080 Speaker 2: Dios and grandparents headed to the Windy City in nineteen 34 00:01:47,120 --> 00:01:49,680 Speaker 2: seventy four and on a cold as day they set 35 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:52,920 Speaker 2: up brutes. Nobody had jackets and it was below freezing. 36 00:01:53,560 --> 00:01:56,040 Speaker 2: My dad he actually still has that geene jacket that 37 00:01:56,080 --> 00:01:59,280 Speaker 2: he wore that day. It's skinny, it's thin, and it's 38 00:01:59,320 --> 00:02:02,080 Speaker 2: also worn out the elbows, and it was a pretty 39 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:03,040 Speaker 2: horrible experience. 40 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:04,880 Speaker 1: They were all like, why are we here. 41 00:02:08,720 --> 00:02:11,000 Speaker 2: The Altano died suddenly at the age of thirty five 42 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:14,800 Speaker 2: because of health complications after a lifetime of drinking. It 43 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:17,440 Speaker 2: was an event that devastated my family, but for almost 44 00:02:17,480 --> 00:02:21,640 Speaker 2: forty years, we didn't lose anyone else. I mean, look, 45 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:24,679 Speaker 2: Grandma and Grandpa are a pair of healthy ninety three and 46 00:02:24,800 --> 00:02:28,839 Speaker 2: ninety five year olds. The pandemic brought with it a heaviness, 47 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:32,600 Speaker 2: a threat that I recognized like everyone else. I just 48 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:34,640 Speaker 2: never thought it would impact my family the way that 49 00:02:34,680 --> 00:02:35,200 Speaker 2: it did. 50 00:02:40,919 --> 00:02:44,600 Speaker 3: From Futuro Media, It's Latino Usa. I'm Maria yo Josa. 51 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:49,040 Speaker 3: Today another side of the pandemic. We go deep into 52 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:53,600 Speaker 3: an indigenous Mexican community as a Sappatech family from Chicago 53 00:02:53,720 --> 00:03:03,840 Speaker 3: and Wajaka battles COVID. To me, Lily Rees is an 54 00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:08,280 Speaker 3: incredibly special human being. I've known her for several years. 55 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:10,920 Speaker 3: I met her first when she was my student at 56 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:14,840 Speaker 3: De Paul. Then she became my teacher's assistant, and then 57 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:18,240 Speaker 3: earlier this year, she moved to New York City to 58 00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:21,920 Speaker 3: come and work at Futuro Media. But then the pandemic happened, 59 00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:24,840 Speaker 3: and Lily picked up in the middle of it and 60 00:03:24,919 --> 00:03:27,440 Speaker 3: drove back to Chicago to be close to her family. 61 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:32,320 Speaker 3: Lily was escaping the then epicenter of the pandemic but 62 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 3: little did she know that the pandemic would follow her 63 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:40,520 Speaker 3: and her family all the way to Chicago and then Wahaka. 64 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:43,960 Speaker 3: With the help of recorded check ins and phone and 65 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 3: video calls, Lily is going to take us through her 66 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:51,480 Speaker 3: family's fight to survive this pandemic and also how they 67 00:03:51,560 --> 00:03:56,360 Speaker 3: found hope in the wake of irreparable loss. Lily is 68 00:03:56,400 --> 00:03:57,840 Speaker 3: going to pick up the story from here. 69 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 2: It's the middle of May and we're at my house 70 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:06,960 Speaker 2: in Chicago. My mom, Maria is in the kitchen cutting 71 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:10,200 Speaker 2: up pieces of fruit to make our morning licuados or smoothies. 72 00:04:11,520 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 2: My dad is pacing around in one of the bedrooms. 73 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:17,239 Speaker 2: He's practicing a Sapoteco, an indigenous language spoken by about 74 00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:20,200 Speaker 2: four thousand people in Mexico. He's going to record an 75 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:23,880 Speaker 2: explain your video about COVID nineteen in Sapoteko. Some of 76 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:26,680 Speaker 2: my relas have speak it, along with Spanish and English. 77 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:29,279 Speaker 2: It's like sapotechs Eannglish. 78 00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:40,080 Speaker 4: Shandad shanman na A La Francisco, Greece, Abhamm Greece, Nilus, Chicago. 79 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:43,680 Speaker 2: That's my dad in the video, saying hi and introducing 80 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:47,880 Speaker 2: himself as the son of Benjamim Bah, my grandpa's nickname 81 00:04:47,880 --> 00:04:48,440 Speaker 2: in Pueblo. 82 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:51,240 Speaker 1: My dad was there in early March, right at the. 83 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:54,080 Speaker 2: Beginning of the pandemic in the US, and saw that 84 00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:56,920 Speaker 2: most people either didn't know about the virus or had 85 00:04:57,040 --> 00:04:59,680 Speaker 2: just heard rumors about it, so he decided to try 86 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:03,159 Speaker 2: and help fill that gap. He's never done an explainer video. 87 00:05:03,680 --> 00:05:06,040 Speaker 2: He just loves talking and he loves YouTube. 88 00:05:08,040 --> 00:05:14,560 Speaker 4: Okay, but sooner they can for Madain Healilan. 89 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:17,960 Speaker 2: When I asked him why he decided to do it 90 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:21,520 Speaker 2: into and not Spanish, he said, well, there's a lot 91 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:24,520 Speaker 2: of older people in Pueblo who don't speak Spanish, and 92 00:05:24,560 --> 00:05:28,400 Speaker 2: it's true while younger generations are learning Spanish and English, 93 00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:31,760 Speaker 2: like many other indigenous languages, is often only spoken by 94 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:38,000 Speaker 2: our elders, and it's disappearing. My dad posts explainer video 95 00:05:38,200 --> 00:05:41,400 Speaker 2: and instantly starts to get views, and they're climbing every 96 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:44,039 Speaker 2: single hour. It's pretty cool to see that our people 97 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:47,200 Speaker 2: might be getting the message. My family on both sides 98 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:49,279 Speaker 2: of the border has been able to stay safe during 99 00:05:49,279 --> 00:05:59,440 Speaker 2: the pandemic. Then Gine arrives Matia Amalia, my dad's older 100 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:03,279 Speaker 2: sister and her husbands will, both in their late sixties, 101 00:06:03,400 --> 00:06:06,400 Speaker 2: have been admitted into the hospital in New Linux, about 102 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:10,240 Speaker 2: forty miles southwest of downtown Chicago. My parents and I 103 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:12,599 Speaker 2: are cooped up in my bedroom looking at a laptop 104 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:16,080 Speaker 2: screen which is quickly filling with almost a dozen family members' faces, 105 00:06:16,480 --> 00:06:29,960 Speaker 2: to talk about my theoist condition. Okayia, Okay, everyone's on 106 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:32,839 Speaker 2: the call except for my grandparents. They still don't know 107 00:06:32,880 --> 00:06:36,080 Speaker 2: about the hospitalizations. We're afraid that if we tell them, 108 00:06:36,279 --> 00:06:39,119 Speaker 2: the news will affect them negatively and we'll be making 109 00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:40,200 Speaker 2: a bad situation worse. 110 00:06:44,560 --> 00:06:44,839 Speaker 3: Yeah. 111 00:06:48,960 --> 00:07:02,680 Speaker 2: Yes, that's my two Will and Julie talking my dad's siblings. 112 00:07:00,200 --> 00:07:00,320 Speaker 5: End. 113 00:07:03,680 --> 00:07:09,520 Speaker 2: Yes, Julius saying that my Theos in the hospital will 114 00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:11,840 Speaker 2: be okay. She believes in the power of prayer and 115 00:07:11,880 --> 00:07:13,880 Speaker 2: has an altar with saints where she has been asking 116 00:07:13,920 --> 00:07:16,600 Speaker 2: for the recovery. My mom has been receiving what's up 117 00:07:16,600 --> 00:07:19,320 Speaker 2: messages from her sister about more and more dots in Pueblo. 118 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:22,400 Speaker 1: My theo Will encourages us to get some perspective. 119 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:30,280 Speaker 2: He says, if my Theos were back in Peblo, they'd 120 00:07:30,320 --> 00:07:38,080 Speaker 2: probably be dead by now. Father's Day is here, and 121 00:07:38,120 --> 00:07:40,480 Speaker 2: so we caught your mail in the hospital. He's been 122 00:07:40,480 --> 00:07:41,640 Speaker 2: stable for the last couple of. 123 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:53,119 Speaker 6: Days, be belisail. 124 00:07:56,360 --> 00:07:58,280 Speaker 2: Every time we speak at your mail, he checks in 125 00:07:58,360 --> 00:08:01,240 Speaker 2: on us. He insists on knowing how we're doing, even 126 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:04,440 Speaker 2: though he's the one who's fighting the virus. At some point, 127 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:07,360 Speaker 2: our entire family lived in a brownstone in Chicago, and 128 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:09,800 Speaker 2: when we heard my uncle sharp whistle, we knew he 129 00:08:09,880 --> 00:08:13,080 Speaker 2: was home. He used to be a boxer and sleeves 130 00:08:13,120 --> 00:08:17,920 Speaker 2: all rolled up, but over time he became softer. His 131 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:22,280 Speaker 2: gentleness is still there. We also call my grandpa to 132 00:08:22,320 --> 00:08:28,240 Speaker 2: congratulate him. 133 00:08:33,480 --> 00:08:45,800 Speaker 1: I miss him so much. Start Grandpa. 134 00:08:48,920 --> 00:08:50,640 Speaker 2: We've been thinking and planning on how to tell them 135 00:08:50,640 --> 00:08:54,240 Speaker 2: about my theos his hospitalization, but today is just not today. 136 00:08:54,960 --> 00:08:57,439 Speaker 2: They've been asking about them over and over again. They 137 00:08:57,480 --> 00:09:02,319 Speaker 2: know something's up. Isn't that my Grandma's favorite daughter. They 138 00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:05,120 Speaker 2: talk almost every day and my Deale tells her all 139 00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:08,080 Speaker 2: that she's made from But my Grandma's wondering why she 140 00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:17,360 Speaker 2: hasn't called. I'm super close to my family and leaving 141 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:19,599 Speaker 2: Chicago for New York for a job opportunity back in 142 00:09:19,679 --> 00:09:23,560 Speaker 2: January was not an easy decision. My grandparents made it 143 00:09:23,559 --> 00:09:26,480 Speaker 2: easier by giving me their blessing before I left. They 144 00:09:26,520 --> 00:09:28,920 Speaker 2: were surprised, but we're like, well, are you going to 145 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:31,120 Speaker 2: make more money when you're over there? And I was 146 00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:34,199 Speaker 2: like yeah, so they were like all right. Then then 147 00:09:34,200 --> 00:09:36,120 Speaker 2: they gave me the sign of the Cross and kiss me. 148 00:09:41,280 --> 00:09:43,600 Speaker 2: On the same day, Father's Day, we call. 149 00:09:49,840 --> 00:10:01,920 Speaker 7: Am Mania, are you Amalia de spiritA? 150 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:11,640 Speaker 2: Amalia spiritA mate Chatta? My dad's sister and Matio will 151 00:10:11,760 --> 00:10:15,560 Speaker 2: are imploring her to wake up. Unlike my TiO Mele, 152 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:22,480 Speaker 2: she's in rough shape. My cousins are the only ones 153 00:10:22,520 --> 00:10:25,760 Speaker 2: allowed to visit her in the hospital, so we're facetiming them. 154 00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:29,600 Speaker 2: We're taking turns telling Tia Malia that we love her 155 00:10:29,800 --> 00:10:33,520 Speaker 2: and we're waiting for her to return. It's strange to 156 00:10:33,559 --> 00:10:37,400 Speaker 2: see anyone in this condition, but especially te Malia. She 157 00:10:37,480 --> 00:10:40,080 Speaker 2: has this quiet but commanding presence that will make you 158 00:10:40,080 --> 00:10:42,960 Speaker 2: feel loved while she points out your flaws the same time. 159 00:10:43,840 --> 00:10:44,720 Speaker 1: She's the best cook. 160 00:10:45,520 --> 00:10:47,319 Speaker 2: Every time my parents and I stop by her house, 161 00:10:47,559 --> 00:10:52,959 Speaker 2: she would turn scraps into a feast. When do we 162 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:56,400 Speaker 2: tell my grandparents? That was the main question looming over 163 00:10:56,480 --> 00:11:01,440 Speaker 2: us every single day. Chat that tells us my grandparents 164 00:11:01,480 --> 00:11:06,280 Speaker 2: aren't doing so good. My grandma can't sleep. She has 165 00:11:06,360 --> 00:11:10,359 Speaker 2: like these weird chest pains, like she can't breathe. Sometimes 166 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:12,920 Speaker 2: she would wake up in the middle of the night. 167 00:11:13,720 --> 00:11:18,600 Speaker 2: My grandpa too, He started having dreams. He dreamed off 168 00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:23,160 Speaker 2: my theos on several occasions. It's like they already kind 169 00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:35,160 Speaker 2: of knew. We only pray for Mytha at church. We 170 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:40,680 Speaker 2: do petitions before and aftermass, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 171 00:11:41,559 --> 00:11:43,760 Speaker 1: The prayers are for her. 172 00:11:43,679 --> 00:11:48,320 Speaker 2: Not for deal. He's healthy, he's strong. His favorite nurse 173 00:11:48,360 --> 00:11:52,600 Speaker 2: sees him every day. She's helping him with exercises, moving 174 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:56,120 Speaker 2: from the bed to the chair, chair to the bed. 175 00:11:57,679 --> 00:12:09,680 Speaker 2: He's getting out soon. I meaning with my primas this afternoon. 176 00:12:10,520 --> 00:12:12,840 Speaker 2: But then my dad calls Vienna, my oldest cousin. 177 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:21,240 Speaker 4: Come come on to Papa, critical critic. 178 00:12:22,360 --> 00:12:24,839 Speaker 3: I get it, I hear me. 179 00:12:27,280 --> 00:12:34,480 Speaker 2: Okay, my uncle has had two cardiac arrests, and all 180 00:12:34,480 --> 00:12:36,600 Speaker 2: of a sudden, the rules have changed. 181 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:40,000 Speaker 1: We were blindsided. He was fine. 182 00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:54,080 Speaker 8: I wouldn't pray for him. Okay, what are we going 183 00:12:54,120 --> 00:12:54,360 Speaker 8: to do? 184 00:13:04,760 --> 00:13:09,880 Speaker 3: Coming up on Latino, USA, Lily's family receives news about 185 00:13:09,880 --> 00:13:14,280 Speaker 3: the condition of Tiomel and dia Amalia. Her uncle and 186 00:13:14,400 --> 00:14:03,320 Speaker 3: aunt stay with us, notes, Hey, we're back before the break. 187 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:07,520 Speaker 3: The condition of Lily's uncle took a sudden turn for 188 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:14,200 Speaker 3: the worse. Meanwhile, her dear Amalia remains unconscious and Lily's 189 00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:18,800 Speaker 3: grandparents have grown uneasy. Soon the family is going to 190 00:14:18,840 --> 00:14:22,000 Speaker 3: be forced to tell them just what's been going on. 191 00:14:22,960 --> 00:14:24,440 Speaker 3: Lily is going to take it from here. 192 00:14:26,080 --> 00:14:29,000 Speaker 2: Over the next three days, since his two cardiac arrests, 193 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:35,360 Speaker 2: my dear miscondition continues to deteriorate. On that third day, 194 00:14:35,520 --> 00:14:39,080 Speaker 2: my cousins are together. They decide to have dinner at 195 00:14:39,160 --> 00:14:41,520 Speaker 2: one of their houses. They let the kids go to 196 00:14:41,560 --> 00:14:44,520 Speaker 2: the park. A phone call comes in to one of 197 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:49,000 Speaker 2: my cousins. It still not doesn't answer, It's an unknown number. 198 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:54,520 Speaker 2: But then that same phone number calls my other cousin's phone, Vivienna. 199 00:14:54,640 --> 00:14:57,600 Speaker 2: When she picks up, she realizes that it's my uncle's 200 00:14:57,600 --> 00:15:00,760 Speaker 2: favorite nurse. She says they must go to the hospital. 201 00:15:01,120 --> 00:15:06,240 Speaker 2: Things aren't looking good. They drive to the hospital. They 202 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:08,840 Speaker 2: passed through the COVID checks and are able to enter 203 00:15:08,840 --> 00:15:12,120 Speaker 2: the room with just enough time to talk to my uncle. 204 00:15:13,880 --> 00:15:17,480 Speaker 2: Everyone's crying, Everyone is saying their goodbyes. 205 00:15:22,760 --> 00:15:33,160 Speaker 5: He's gone. 206 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:45,480 Speaker 2: These go by, and this feeling creeps inside, a feeling 207 00:15:45,480 --> 00:15:48,880 Speaker 2: of helplessness what's gonna happen when my aunt wakes up. 208 00:15:49,800 --> 00:15:51,560 Speaker 2: What's she going to say when she realizes that my 209 00:15:51,640 --> 00:16:02,760 Speaker 2: uncle passed away? Can she handle it? We would not 210 00:16:02,840 --> 00:16:08,320 Speaker 2: find the answers to those questions. Eleven days go by 211 00:16:08,520 --> 00:16:14,240 Speaker 2: and my aunt passes away peacefully due to complications with 212 00:16:14,320 --> 00:16:30,000 Speaker 2: the coronavirus. We cann't keep postponing telling my grandparents. My dad, 213 00:16:30,040 --> 00:16:31,640 Speaker 2: my mom, and I drove to their house at the 214 00:16:31,640 --> 00:16:35,440 Speaker 2: center of Chicago to tell them in person. By the 215 00:16:35,440 --> 00:16:38,120 Speaker 2: time we got to the neighborhood, my grandpa had just 216 00:16:38,160 --> 00:16:40,440 Speaker 2: gotten off the phone with my cousins. 217 00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:41,720 Speaker 1: They had broken the. 218 00:16:41,760 --> 00:16:45,280 Speaker 2: News to him, and he had already told my grandma. 219 00:16:45,960 --> 00:16:49,440 Speaker 2: They received the news calmly, better than any one of 220 00:16:49,520 --> 00:16:54,360 Speaker 2: us expected. My Grandpa cried, but Grandma just sat there stoic, 221 00:16:55,120 --> 00:16:58,280 Speaker 2: like one of those Native American statues an indigenous woman 222 00:16:58,320 --> 00:17:03,520 Speaker 2: were her threand sounds around her head, gestoic, silent, no tears. 223 00:17:04,680 --> 00:17:08,600 Speaker 2: I was like, man, of course, they've lost four toddlers 224 00:17:09,840 --> 00:17:14,960 Speaker 2: and one thirty five year old son during the pandemic. 225 00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:19,520 Speaker 2: They've rendered many losses from people who they knew and 226 00:17:19,600 --> 00:17:24,880 Speaker 2: family members from Elqueblo. They know what losses much better 227 00:17:24,920 --> 00:17:26,960 Speaker 2: than any of us. Holding the news of my Theos's 228 00:17:27,040 --> 00:17:40,640 Speaker 2: hospitalizations before she passed to Prima, she didn't want cremation. 229 00:17:41,760 --> 00:17:47,960 Speaker 2: My grandparents echoed her choice. They are adamant no cremation 230 00:17:49,119 --> 00:17:52,280 Speaker 2: for Catholics, and out of respect to our indigenous roots 231 00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:56,560 Speaker 2: and the traditions of Pueblo, we were against cremation. We 232 00:17:56,720 --> 00:17:59,040 Speaker 2: know we have a new goal to get my Theos 233 00:17:59,040 --> 00:18:03,679 Speaker 2: back to Pueblo, just as my Teamalia wanted and just 234 00:18:03,760 --> 00:18:14,520 Speaker 2: as my grandparents wanted. The biggest problem in repatriating the bodies, 235 00:18:14,880 --> 00:18:18,399 Speaker 2: I mean, it's something we've never done before. How are 236 00:18:18,400 --> 00:18:22,040 Speaker 2: we actually going to make this happen? Especially after reading 237 00:18:22,080 --> 00:18:25,240 Speaker 2: so many things in the news articles about other Mexican 238 00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:27,800 Speaker 2: families not being able to bring home their loved ones. 239 00:18:28,280 --> 00:18:29,960 Speaker 1: We wanted to basically do the impossible. 240 00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:35,720 Speaker 2: The first place we went to was the funeral home, 241 00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:40,679 Speaker 2: and when we told the funeral director, look, this is 242 00:18:40,680 --> 00:18:43,240 Speaker 2: what we want to do, and the thing that comes 243 00:18:43,240 --> 00:18:47,199 Speaker 2: out of her mouth is no, it's impossible, can't do it. 244 00:18:51,800 --> 00:18:55,400 Speaker 2: At that point we feel like we fail. My grandparents 245 00:18:55,480 --> 00:18:59,320 Speaker 2: were nagging us and they were asking when are they 246 00:18:59,320 --> 00:19:01,639 Speaker 2: going back? When are you guys going to buy your 247 00:19:01,640 --> 00:19:07,119 Speaker 2: tickets yet when is this going to happen? So what 248 00:19:07,119 --> 00:19:10,320 Speaker 2: we end up doing is calling the Mexican consulate. We 249 00:19:10,359 --> 00:19:12,879 Speaker 2: had obtained the name of an official who was in 250 00:19:12,880 --> 00:19:15,840 Speaker 2: the position to help us right away, and we asked him, 251 00:19:15,960 --> 00:19:18,960 Speaker 2: is this possible? Can we do this both of them? 252 00:19:19,160 --> 00:19:22,119 Speaker 2: He said, We were like, yes, both my aunt and 253 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:24,720 Speaker 2: my uncle passed away. We want to take them back 254 00:19:24,760 --> 00:19:31,399 Speaker 2: to the pueblo. Is this possible. He's like, yeah, it's possible. Wow, Okay, 255 00:19:31,600 --> 00:19:37,119 Speaker 2: let's start the process. We have to get a lot 256 00:19:37,119 --> 00:19:40,320 Speaker 2: of paperwork, permits from the US, permits from Mexico. 257 00:19:40,720 --> 00:19:44,960 Speaker 1: This took so much time. This took about two months 258 00:19:46,080 --> 00:19:50,240 Speaker 1: and we barely barely got the approval from Wahaka, our 259 00:19:50,280 --> 00:19:50,840 Speaker 1: home state. 260 00:19:50,880 --> 00:19:54,120 Speaker 2: By the way, we were able to cover a lot 261 00:19:54,119 --> 00:19:58,080 Speaker 2: of the costs, thankfully, but the process itself and the 262 00:19:58,119 --> 00:20:04,879 Speaker 2: waiting itself was ruling, taxing emotionally thinking about my theos 263 00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:09,160 Speaker 2: just there waiting, waiting to get home. 264 00:20:18,920 --> 00:20:20,440 Speaker 5: La times seven fourteen. 265 00:20:21,560 --> 00:20:23,520 Speaker 1: Please remain syllable your silver passions. 266 00:20:23,600 --> 00:20:24,800 Speaker 5: Did you see the science come off? 267 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:26,679 Speaker 7: I could get an old personal item. 268 00:20:27,440 --> 00:20:29,600 Speaker 2: It's a Sunday night in September and my dad and 269 00:20:29,640 --> 00:20:32,240 Speaker 2: I have just landed in Wahaka after a three hour 270 00:20:32,320 --> 00:20:34,920 Speaker 2: flight from Dallas. We're going to stay with an old 271 00:20:34,920 --> 00:20:40,679 Speaker 2: family friend, lasagur A. Lolaa's body should be arriving on Tuesday. 272 00:20:41,320 --> 00:20:45,040 Speaker 2: We make it to which is in the southeast of Wojaka. 273 00:20:45,560 --> 00:20:48,439 Speaker 2: It's very small. The same taxi driver that took my 274 00:20:48,560 --> 00:20:50,639 Speaker 2: dad to the airport back when he was visiting in 275 00:20:50,680 --> 00:20:59,640 Speaker 2: March is picking us up right now. In My Dad 276 00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:01,840 Speaker 2: in the teche driver are talking about how things have 277 00:21:01,880 --> 00:21:08,359 Speaker 2: been slowly stabilizing Ineblo. When we get to Lola's place, 278 00:21:08,720 --> 00:21:11,680 Speaker 2: she's at our business next door. It's a cyber cafe. 279 00:21:12,359 --> 00:21:19,160 Speaker 2: It feels surreal to be here, but they finally arrives. 280 00:21:19,560 --> 00:21:23,520 Speaker 2: We head to the house that the had Ineblo, where 281 00:21:23,520 --> 00:21:40,320 Speaker 2: we'll see them. Their caskets arrived last night. Uh Stan 282 00:21:41,040 --> 00:21:45,760 Speaker 2: it means hello. Every house in al Pueblo has a 283 00:21:45,840 --> 00:21:50,280 Speaker 2: quarter Losanos, a room of the saints. My dad and 284 00:21:50,359 --> 00:21:53,720 Speaker 2: I walk into the room. The walls are green, the 285 00:21:53,760 --> 00:21:56,600 Speaker 2: ceiling is a darker green. It's my Ta Malia's favorite 286 00:21:56,600 --> 00:21:59,560 Speaker 2: color too. My dad and I woke up to the altar, 287 00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:04,200 Speaker 2: as tradition Inablon, we kiss it, we say a prayer, 288 00:22:05,119 --> 00:22:09,320 Speaker 2: and we turn around to face all four of my cousins, Estella, 289 00:22:10,080 --> 00:22:17,920 Speaker 2: debian Nazi, and Rosie. A video calls placed to Matiachata, 290 00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:21,480 Speaker 2: who connects and has my Grandpa and grandma by her side. 291 00:22:22,119 --> 00:22:26,119 Speaker 2: They're looking into the screen squinting to see my theos. 292 00:22:26,520 --> 00:22:30,119 Speaker 2: They console my primas, who take turns holding the phone, 293 00:22:30,640 --> 00:22:31,920 Speaker 2: and they all say the same thing. 294 00:22:32,560 --> 00:22:34,600 Speaker 1: We did it slowly. 295 00:22:34,800 --> 00:22:37,720 Speaker 2: Grandpa and Grandma started to say their last words, and 296 00:22:38,520 --> 00:22:39,520 Speaker 2: Grandpa went first. 297 00:22:40,920 --> 00:22:42,560 Speaker 1: He was calm, he was collected. 298 00:22:44,720 --> 00:22:49,000 Speaker 2: But when my Grandma came on the phone, she was crying, 299 00:22:50,119 --> 00:22:52,439 Speaker 2: and I've never seen her like that, but she had 300 00:22:52,480 --> 00:22:57,040 Speaker 2: a nabcated and she was wiping away her tears, and 301 00:22:57,119 --> 00:22:59,600 Speaker 2: I felt to peace on the inside that I've only 302 00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:02,600 Speaker 2: ever well. After we'd told them what had really happened, 303 00:23:02,600 --> 00:23:06,879 Speaker 2: when my theos, they finally had their closure and they 304 00:23:06,920 --> 00:23:24,760 Speaker 2: finally said goodbye. We started gathering together to walk to 305 00:23:24,800 --> 00:23:28,919 Speaker 2: the Panteon and Pueblo, the cemetery. We walk over to 306 00:23:28,960 --> 00:23:32,920 Speaker 2: the grave sites, one for my Theo and the other 307 00:23:32,960 --> 00:23:38,400 Speaker 2: for Mathea. They were maybe a role apart because there 308 00:23:38,440 --> 00:23:41,000 Speaker 2: was no more space in the cemetery and the pantheon 309 00:23:41,760 --> 00:23:44,480 Speaker 2: to have them side by side. There were too many 310 00:23:44,480 --> 00:23:49,400 Speaker 2: people who had been dying up to that point. Every 311 00:23:49,400 --> 00:23:53,320 Speaker 2: person who's buried in the cemetery and at Pueblo are 312 00:23:53,359 --> 00:23:58,240 Speaker 2: buried with their ancestors. In this case, Mythio Mile was 313 00:23:58,280 --> 00:24:02,199 Speaker 2: buried with his father. The bones of his father were 314 00:24:02,240 --> 00:24:06,119 Speaker 2: placed right above his coffin. For Mathea, it was the 315 00:24:06,119 --> 00:24:11,520 Speaker 2: bones of my uncle Tutiano. As we're preparing to lower 316 00:24:11,560 --> 00:24:15,080 Speaker 2: Mathia into the ground, I hear somebody. 317 00:24:14,760 --> 00:24:16,639 Speaker 1: Say Lily, Hey, Lily. 318 00:24:17,080 --> 00:24:22,879 Speaker 2: I look up and it's my cousin Della. She's mouthing 319 00:24:22,880 --> 00:24:26,840 Speaker 2: at me Tiltiano, Tiutiano and pointing, and I turn I'm 320 00:24:26,840 --> 00:24:31,480 Speaker 2: like who when I see there's a wheelbarrow with a 321 00:24:31,520 --> 00:24:34,520 Speaker 2: bunch of bones on top and a skull that told 322 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:36,719 Speaker 2: my dad, come here, Dad, come here, look And I 323 00:24:36,760 --> 00:24:43,480 Speaker 2: tell him that's Tiltiano. The bones interitos no broken ones. 324 00:24:44,160 --> 00:24:47,600 Speaker 2: He walks away for a minute and comes back with 325 00:24:47,680 --> 00:24:50,960 Speaker 2: a little bowl of holy water. He takes a flower 326 00:24:51,800 --> 00:24:55,600 Speaker 2: as his tradition to bless, dips it in the holy water, 327 00:24:56,119 --> 00:24:59,600 Speaker 2: and blesses the bones of my Tutano. You can still 328 00:24:59,600 --> 00:25:00,480 Speaker 2: see his gold tooth. 329 00:25:04,640 --> 00:25:05,240 Speaker 1: The return to. 330 00:25:05,280 --> 00:25:07,879 Speaker 2: Pueblo means a lot. The fact that me and my 331 00:25:08,040 --> 00:25:12,080 Speaker 2: entire family went through this across two countries. When it 332 00:25:12,119 --> 00:25:17,040 Speaker 2: finally ended, it's a feeling of lightness, almost like happiness. 333 00:25:17,640 --> 00:25:20,680 Speaker 1: Same with my primas. I can't even tell the difference. 334 00:25:20,800 --> 00:25:27,560 Speaker 2: Right now, we're blasting my Theo's favorite music from Las 335 00:25:27,600 --> 00:25:31,760 Speaker 2: Hillis to those bukis right here next to their grapes. 336 00:25:32,680 --> 00:25:35,960 Speaker 2: We're celebrating their lives in our unexpected return to the 337 00:25:36,000 --> 00:25:40,560 Speaker 2: beauty and tradition of Pueblo. Unity seems to happen in 338 00:25:40,560 --> 00:25:43,960 Speaker 2: the stranges of places. The death of my Theos showed 339 00:25:44,040 --> 00:25:49,520 Speaker 2: us that I know my cousins will miss them terribly. Prostaancijuntas, 340 00:25:50,720 --> 00:25:55,960 Speaker 2: We love you, Los queremos Kisconsin and bus mel. 341 00:26:06,840 --> 00:26:10,040 Speaker 3: Our. Thanks to Lillly Reese and her family for sharing 342 00:26:10,200 --> 00:26:24,680 Speaker 3: this personal story with us. Maria Jadillo Mio mi Ma. 343 00:26:41,920 --> 00:26:45,639 Speaker 3: This episode was produced by Lili Reese and Adrianna Tabia 344 00:26:45,880 --> 00:26:50,280 Speaker 3: with help from Genemcam. It was edited by Andrea Lopez Gruzsalo. 345 00:26:50,600 --> 00:26:55,280 Speaker 3: The Latino USA team includes Neel Marsis, Luis rees, Ulieta 346 00:26:55,320 --> 00:27:01,400 Speaker 3: Martinelli Monto, Alises Garce, and Alejandra Salasad, with help from Rawulpes. 347 00:27:01,800 --> 00:27:05,520 Speaker 3: Our engineers are Stephanie Lebau, Julia Caruso and Leah Shaw. 348 00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:10,120 Speaker 3: Our director of Programming in Operations is Natalia Fiederhortz. Our 349 00:27:10,160 --> 00:27:13,800 Speaker 3: digital editor is Luis Luna. Our New York Women's Foundation 350 00:27:13,960 --> 00:27:17,719 Speaker 3: Ignite Fellow is Julia Rocha. Our interns are Quimla del 351 00:27:17,800 --> 00:27:21,960 Speaker 3: Serro and Emil Sekiros. Our theme music was composed by 352 00:27:22,040 --> 00:27:24,959 Speaker 3: Zeya Ruinos. If you like the music you heard on 353 00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:28,480 Speaker 3: this episode, dot by Latinousa dot org and check out 354 00:27:28,520 --> 00:27:32,240 Speaker 3: our weekly Spotify playlist. I'm your host and executive producer 355 00:27:32,320 --> 00:27:35,000 Speaker 3: made no Posa. Join us on our next episode, and 356 00:27:35,040 --> 00:27:36,800 Speaker 3: in the meantime, look for us on all of your 357 00:27:36,800 --> 00:27:40,160 Speaker 3: social media. I'll see you there. Estella Proxiva cho. 358 00:27:43,840 --> 00:27:46,879 Speaker 9: Funding for Latino USA is coverage of a culture of 359 00:27:46,920 --> 00:27:49,520 Speaker 9: health is made possible in part by a grant from 360 00:27:49,520 --> 00:27:54,320 Speaker 9: the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Latino USA is made possible 361 00:27:54,320 --> 00:27:58,760 Speaker 9: in part by the Annie Casey Foundation. Creates a brighter 362 00:27:58,800 --> 00:28:02,919 Speaker 9: future for the nation's children by strengthening families, building greater 363 00:28:03,000 --> 00:28:09,360 Speaker 9: economic opportunity, and transforming communities and New York Women's Foundation. 364 00:28:10,160 --> 00:28:13,639 Speaker 9: The New York Women's Foundation funding women leaders that build 365 00:28:13,640 --> 00:28:18,560 Speaker 9: solutions in their communities and celebrating thirty years of radical generosity. 366 00:28:22,800 --> 00:28:25,240 Speaker 3: Hey, yo, this is Lily. I'm talking to y'all from 367 00:28:25,240 --> 00:28:30,040 Speaker 3: the northwest suburbs of Illinois. It's Lily. I'm Maria no Jossa. 368 00:28:30,240 --> 00:28:33,359 Speaker 3: Next time on Latino USA. The new school year is 369 00:28:33,400 --> 00:28:37,239 Speaker 3: getting started, and with that comes parents anxiety over what 370 00:28:37,359 --> 00:28:40,400 Speaker 3: comes next, the trials and tribulations of being a parent 371 00:28:40,520 --> 00:28:42,800 Speaker 3: in the times of a global pandemic. I kind of 372 00:28:42,880 --> 00:28:46,280 Speaker 3: have days where I feel like I am failing at everything, 373 00:28:46,760 --> 00:28:49,760 Speaker 3: and failing at work and failing at parenting. That's next 374 00:28:49,760 --> 00:28:51,000 Speaker 3: time on Latino USA.