A Sechelt Nation man is crediting the traditional healing ways of his ancestors with curing him of one of the world's most difficult diseases.
In 1981, Willard Joe was caught in a logging accident while working near Jervis Inlet. Joe was pinned under a log, his neck broken, his jaw shattered and his arm damaged beyond use.
Joe survived that accident and, six years later, had an operation to help restore some use of his arm. And that's when his troubles went from bad to worse.
After the operation, he found himself fatigued and losing weight rapidly - a situation exacerbated by unspeakable heartburn and ulcers.
"I lost my appetite. I was sleeping about 18 hours a day. I went from having three squares a day to about a quarter of a sandwich," he said.
Frequent visits with a doctor over the ensuing years showed nothing but the ulcers and bad heartburn. Joe had no idea he had contracted hepatitis C.
"They never told me until 1997, 11 years after I caught it. I got a letter in the mail from the Ministry of Health stating that I might have been given tainted blood and to go get checked out. By then I was down to 129 pounds. I was 235 pounds," Joe said. "Out of that operation, that's when I was given blood tainted with hepatitis C."
That same year, Joe's elderly uncle Steve Quaw hitchhiked to Sechelt from Vanderhoof. He made the trip to visit family and to collect ingredients for "Indian medicine" to help with his recent diagnosis of stomach cancer.
Joe offered to help his uncle collect certain plant roots and refine them into a medicinal drink. When Quaw learned about Joe's ulcers and hepatitis C, he advised Joe to take the medicine as well.
"It took around three seconds for the pain to go away. I thought 'oh man, that works good,' Joe said excitedly, remembering when the medicine first helped him.
Quaw died three years later of natural causes at the age of 90. Joe continued to make the medicine to ease his own stomach problems.
Then last December, Joe learned he had contracted hepatitis B, a less serious form of the disease, and he went from preparing the medicine twice a year to preparing and taking it regularly.
But the hepatitis B did not last long. Joe received a call from his doctor a few weeks later and learned the virus was no longer showing up in blood tests. At the time, Joe was coy about telling his doctor about the traditional medicine.
Then six weeks ago, Joe got another urgent call from his doctor and feared it might be bad news.
"I went back to see him and he said 'you don't have hep C anymore,'" Joe said. "'He said ' whatever you are doing, it's working. You're looking healthy. You're looking good, man.'"
Joe proudly produced a printout of recent blood test results.
Among other medical jargon, the results read: "No hepatitis C virus detected" and "findings consistent with resolved HCV infection or absence of HCV infection."
Joe said it was like having a big piece of his life back. He is now eating four meals a day and is back up to 210 pounds. He credits his uncle's teachings with saving his life and the knowledge of his ancestors with freeing him from "being jailed in [his] own body." He said his experience is a reminder that doctors in white coats don't always have the answers.
"I haven't had a Tums or Rolaids since 1997 and that feels so damned good, man, because this stuff is genuine. It's Mother Earth healing you," he said.
Joe is now able focus on his true passion -music. He is a member of the Xwamstut Dance Group, which recently cut their first CD.
Now Joe wants to help others. He won't say publicly what roots are used in the medicine for fear of the recipe being misused or taken over by someone with only profits in mind. While the medicine has already proved helpful to elders with stomach problems here in Sechelt, he knows there are others who could benefit "not just for other First Nations - for everybody," he said.
"Anybody in Canada who is sick with hep C, who has ulcers, who has bad heartburn. They phone me or come and see me, I'll teach them how to make this stuff," Joe said.
In return, Joe wants nothing. He said passing on the knowledge for the health of others is all the payment he needs.
Joe can be reached at 604-740-0686.
Publisher's note: Before considering any medical treatment, please consult with your physician. The treatment and opinions expressed in this story are those of Willard Joe's and not necessarily of Coast Reporter.
