Tree man's roots begin to grow back

[Ck]

The tree man of Java has suffered a setback after bark-like growths that doctors removed from his hands and feet began to grow back.

Dede Koswara, who is in his late 30s, had more than a stone of warts cut from his body earlier this year and the former fisherman hoped to live independently for the first time since the cutaneous horns sprouted when he was a teenager.

On being discharged from hospital in September, Dede showed off his new ability to grip a pen, a feat that had been made impossible by the foot-long "roots" that previously covered his hands.

But the growths have now begun to return to his hands and feet, closing up the gaps between his digits leaving him unable to carry out basic tasks.

He manages at to smoke at his village on the outskirts of Bandung in West Java by balancing the cigarette between his first and middle finger, but has lost most of his dexterity.

Dede's plight came to the attention of the world last year after Telegraph.co.uk reported on an American doctor who claimed to have identified his condition, and proposed a treatment that could transform his life.

The tree-like welts covering his body were caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) which defects in Dede's immune system left him unable to fight, according to Dr Anthony Gaspari of the University of Maryland.

After the publicity generated by the article and a television documentary, the Indonesian government intervened to fast-track his treatment.

Dede went under the knife for his first operation in January. When Telegraph.co.uk spoke to him in hospital in March he described the pleasure of being able to walk without pain for the first time in 20 years.

He also expressed his hopes for the future. "What I really want first is to get better and find a job. But then, one day, who knows? I might meet a girl and get married," he said.

When he left hospital doctors warned that the warts may grow back, but his condition is no longer life threatening.

source

[Alpha]

Oh no, poor Dede!

[Earl]

Dede's treatment doesn't appear to be working. He's back to being unable to use his hands again, the warts are all returning.

Tree Man's Warts Return | The Morningstarr*

[Earl]

Some more pics.

[Yankee]

He's going to set his bark on fire!!!!!

[Earl]

Dede's getting more treatment, from a team of specialist tree surgeons.

Tree Man Goes Back Under The Knife | The Morningstarr*

[mimseycal]

Poor sausage ...

[MrNegative]

god I'd want to die. honestly. if I ever start growing a root system, kill me. even if I beg you not to, just do it. I don't ever want to live like that. Same goes for if I'm ever crippled. Even if I'm crippled from the eyelids down but my mouth during a spastic seizure somehow grunts out the words "don't kill me" still... kill me. take me for a walk, kick me outta the chair and curb stomp me. don't ask ethical questions. just do it.

[Earl]

It's not that bad.

Although apparently he does smell a lot like mould.

[kham]

god I'd want to die. honestly. if I ever start growing a root system, kill me. even if I beg you not to, just do it. I don't ever want to live like that. Same goes for if I'm ever crippled. Even if I'm crippled from the eyelids down but my mouth during a spastic seizure somehow grunts out the words "don't kill me" still... kill me. take me for a walk, kick me outta the chair and curb stomp me. don't ask ethical questions. just do it.

..... just glad i don't have to make that decision