Help Otis Heal: 31 Years of Service

My name is Otis Williams - I am a Senior Repair Specialist at Osprey packs a position that I have held for 31 year.

I am fundraising so that possibly be be cured of a sickness through ceremony and natural medicine from my native Navajo medicineman. This is a traditional ceremony to rid me of a sickness that western medicine has not been able to find the cause. I have seen several western doctors that are not able to find a reason for my symptoms. Which include body aches, headaches, insomnia, muscle stiffness, joint pain, swelling and imobility etc. Western Doctors think it may be the results of a Lonestar Tick bite that I recieved approximately 1 year ago. Previous to that event I had no problems or symptoms. It seems that each time I have returned to a western physician my sypmtoms have changed from one place in my body to another. Elders from my traditional Navajo community feel this may be the result, not of a tick bite but other traditional taboos that may have crossed my path several times in my life such as, being in a room that was hit by lightning, viewing of a funeral prosession or crossing the path of a snake. Without knowledge of my traditional ways I was not aware that possibly the only way for me to curb future sickness without including our traditional ceremonies and medicine I failed to do so.

At this point I feel I have exhausted all resources from western culture and should move towards my traditional medicine. The ceremony that is needed and recommended by my elders is available but my Health insurance coverage doesn't pay for traditional Navajo medicine.

Over the last 12 months I have experience severe body pain, especially eating red meat. For months the only food my body could stand to eat was chicken, fish and salad. After a month I was albe injest other things without symptoms. After several months the bodyt pain started returned and other symptoms arrived such as described above. Currently I need assistance for everything! Everday task such as dressing, standing, walking, sitting etc. are difficult for me. I am still currently working but not sure how much longer I will be able to work through the pain I am experiencing. I feel the best thing for me is return to my traditional ways.