Part Man, Part Tree... TOTALLY freaky!!

Australia
May 28, 2008 6:57pm CST
Dede, an Indonesian fisherman dubbed 'Half man, half tree' has been offered a potential solution to his peculiar and debilitating condition. http://archive.dailypicture.net/half_man_half_tree__the_man_who_grew_roots.htm Dede's condition actually has nothing to do with being part tree, but because the appearance of his symptoms looks like bark covered branches that's what people have referred to it as. According to American Dermatologist, Anthony Gaspari, the condition is being caused by the human papilloma virus (ie. warts). Because of a rare genetic genetic fault in Dede, his immune system is not able to contain the warts. The warts started to grow when he was a teenager. In the end, he was sacked from his fishing job and his wife deserted him, leaving him with two young children to be cared for. The family has been living in poverty and Dede has even been reduced to featuring in a 'freak show' to earn money to support his children. I'm glad to see that there is a chance that he can return to a relatively normal life. What do you think of this story? What freaky stories have you heard on the news? If you've seen or heard other news stories and could include a reference link to an internet site that would be great... and don't worry, Mylot doesn't mind links in posts, as long as they are NOT affiliate links, and as long as they apply and contribute to the discussion.
1 person likes this
4 responses
@julyteen (13252)
• Davao, Philippines
20 Jun 08
i have seen dede in the news. his condition was really awful to see but i felt such a sympathy for him because of his kids and only him raising them. i am glad that someone offered a help to him and send him to a dermatologist for cared for. people like them really needs a hand that helps, and a heart that understands.
• Australia
20 Jun 08
Yes, it was very sad. I can't imagine how it must have been for Dede to have difficulty expressing affection for his kids because of the state of his hands. He probably couldn't even feel anything in them anyway... so sad I'm glad they may be able to help him. It would be lovely for him to be able to live a normal life (or relatively normal) after so many years of suffering.
@mikeysmom (2088)
• United States
29 May 08
i have actually already seen this story. my niece sent it to me a few months back and at first i was not sure if it was a joke or something but as i read on and saw more pictures i realized this was real. i felt badly for the poor man. what a horrible and disfiguring disease. i hope he can get help for this.
• Australia
30 May 08
I didn't actually get to watch the television program but the trailer for it horrified me. It was the first time I'd seen it. Though if you do a search on the net for freaky or bizarre stories you'll find plenty of other similar stories out there. A woman I once knew for example gave birth to a 'lithopedian' (granite baby) about 70 years ago. A lithopedian is generally the result of an ectopic pregnancy that has burst the fallopian tubes and ended up as an intra abdominal pregnancy. of course, the baby is never born the regular way and actually calcifies in it's mothers abdomen. It's not something that would happen much now, except in countries where medical care during pregnancy is virtually non-existent.
@naty1941 (2336)
• United States
29 May 08
Wow that video is really good. I hope the medicine works well for him. Poor man have to go through life with that condition.
• Australia
30 May 08
Seeing someone so disfigured by a physical ailment makes worrying about our 'love handles' seem truly shallow doesn't it?
@grammasnook (1871)
• United States
29 May 08
That poor man, I sure hope they get him the medicine he needs to get as close to normal as possible. I can not imagine. I am sure his kids will be in heaven once this is too happen.
• Australia
30 May 08
Yes, I hate to imagine the emotional toll on both Dede and his children. It would be nice to see him returned to a relatively normal life.