By Devon Evans, Gleaner WriterOCHO RIOS, St. Ann:
MANY PERSONS in St. Ann and St. Mary are singing songs of praise for 'Cumsee' ointment, a herbal product developed by Leonard Lewis, a Jamaican living in the United States.
One such person is Fred Walker, who lives in Priory, St. Ann. Walker's case is a living testimony to the healing wonders of 'Cumsee', and even nurses at the St. Ann Health Clinic who have been treating him are amazed at his recovery over the past six months, since he began using the product.
The popular mento band leader in earlier years could be seen at Sandals Ocho Rios and other North Coast Hotels playing for lunch time or dinner guests. But for the past eight years, Walker has been suffering from a sore to his right leg and a year ago his left leg became similarly affected. His legs degenerated to the point where he could not walk or even stand on his own. His neighbours recall seeing him "drawing on his bottom" around his yard.
He told The Gleaner that he was in pain for almost 24 hours a day and that in an effort to end this pain and discomfort, he agreed to have his right leg amputated on May 29 last year.
"Sometimes I would feel like committing suicide," he said.
It was around that time he said that he met Leonard Lewis and described the occasion as the turning point in his life. Mr. Walker is walking again with the aid of a stick and is also able to travel to Dunn's River Falls daily to resume his duties with the mento band. His amazing recovery since he started using "Cumsee" is still the talking point in his community.
Walker was also very willing to reveal the story of his illness and what he confidently say was his road to recovery.
"I used to go to the clinic but all they did was to put plaster on it to cover it. Mr. Lewis was told about my case by my friends in Ocho Rios and since he started to treat me the pain has eased and I am now able to walk."
Walker admits that before he met Lewis, people used to scorn him due to the bad smell coming from his legs but said these days he can take the taxi to Dunn's River Falls and back without causing any discomfort to the other
passengers.
Asked to describe the medicine he received from Lewis, Walker said "Man! It is wonderful."
Asked if he would recommend it to other persons suffering from similar ailments he responded, "Oh, yes man. There are some other people in this area... who are using the treatment and getting good results from it."
Shortly after leaving Walker's home, The Gleaner caught up with Arthur and he readily admits that his six-year-old sore was healing. "Bwoy di t'ing good," he remarked.
It is no secret that there are quite a number of persons in Jamaica who have been suffering from large sores on the lower parts of their legs for up to thirty years or more. Most of these supposedly incurable sores are often said to be the result of an obeah attack, and so those with the illness usually abandon their doctors after failing to get any good results and resort to regular visits to an obeah man or woman in search of a cure.
But Fred Walker, Arthur and the others in Priory, St. Ann, are not the only ones experiencing the miraculous healing wonders of "Cumsee". There are others such as Felix Boswell, now 92 years old of Russell near Ocho Rios who is now walking after suffering with his sore leg for 32 years, and Clifton Martin, who resides in Mansfield Heights near Ocho Rios, who speaks of the healing wonders of 'Cumsee' after 40 years of being lame.
