The Tree Man of Java has 4 lbs of warts removed

The Tree Man of Java has 4 lbs of warts removed

Dede Koswara, also known as the "Tree Man" suffers from an extremely rare immune system deficiency.

POSTED 10/15/2008 - In an article in London’s Telegraph newspaper on October 14, reporters Adam Lusher, Marianne Kearney, and Aji Ramyakim provided an update on the status of 37-year-old Dede Koswara, also known as the "Tree Man" in an article titled "Tree man ‘who grew roots’ hopes to marry after 4lb of warts removed."

"For 20 years Dede Koswara lived covered in warts with huge tree-like growths encasing his limbs. Today Dede, can once more use his hands and walk without pain. He can see the outline of his toes for the first time in over a decade after medics cut more than 4 lbs of warty horns from his legs and feet.

He has become a sudoko addict now medics have cut growths from his hands allowing him to hold a pen. Dede, 37, now hopes that he will resume a normal life after two more operations to graft undamaged skin onto his hands, feet and face. Speaking from an Indonesian hospital, he said: "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."  (source: Telegraph UK)

Dede's ordeal began when he was 15 and cut his knee in an accident. A small wart developed on his lower leg and spread uncontrollably. Dede's problem was that he has an extremely rare immune system deficiency, leaving his body unable to contain the warts. The virus was therefore able to "hijack the cellular machinery of his skin cells", ordering them to produce massive amounts of the substance causing tree-like growths known as "cutaneous horns"

Dede went under the knife for his first operation in January. In the most recent operation, in March, doctors removed growths on his feet. The medics are now trying to ensure that the warts don't grow back. Dede is taking vitamin A tablets to boost his immune system.

For now, Dede is passing the time in hospital doing sudoko puzzles. Skin grafts on his hands will allow him better movement in his fingers, but he can already punch numbers into a telephone and talk to friends.

 

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