Shock- Did you know there is a man that is half man, half tree!?

@kiran1978 (4134)
Australia
May 28, 2008 5:52am CST
I just saw on the tv tonight that they are going to have a documentary on this guy that is actually half man and half tree. His arms were like braches and they were all curled up. I would never even in my wildest imagination think this was possible. How on earth does this happen? I have not watched the documentary yet, if I can pull myself away from mylot tonight I will have to watch it. So what do you think about this, half man, half tree? How can this happen? Have you heard about this before?
9 people like this
28 responses
@lilaclady (28207)
• Australia
28 May 08
Yes I saw him on the news, very strange, I thought at first it might have been his fingernails that had grown so long but I don't think so, it would be interesting to how this happened...
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
28 May 08
They'd be really long fingernails, lol. Imagine the poor guy living his life like this? Wonder why we are only hearing about it now when he has lived like this all his life?
3 people like this
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
28 May 08
Here is a video of him on youtube if your interested in seeing more about it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJLG85gn0bc
3 people like this
@dpk262006 (58673)
• Delhi, India
28 May 08
It appears very amusing, strange and incredible. You please see the documentary and let us know, how real it was and what were the reasons narrated for such kind of a half man?
2 people like this
@dpk262006 (58673)
• Delhi, India
29 May 08
Many thanks for sending me the details and link, I will definitely check this out.
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
28 May 08
Hello dpk, this is real, just read up on it and watched youtube video on him. It all started when he was about 15 years of age, after he but his knee in an accident, warty roots began to appear on his arms and feet. It then spread everywhere. A doctor said his condition was called Papilloma Virus, which is an infection that causes small warts. Unfortunately his immune system can't fight this condition and this is what has caused tree like growths to grow from his hands and feet. The poor guy has to make a living by going in freak shows to support his kids. (Moore,2008) Here are links for you to check it out: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1569156/Tree-man-'who-grew-roots'-may-be-cured.html
1 person likes this
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
28 May 08
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJLG85gn0bc
1 person likes this
@checapricorn (16061)
• United States
28 May 08
wow! I hope you can give us the site, I am interested to read and learn more about that, I have not heard anything like that and I can't imagine it exists!
2 people like this
• United States
29 May 08
wow! I hope the government will help the family to start a business or whatever livelihood, SO sad for him! I have not seen any like that in real!
@twallace (2675)
• United States
28 May 08
Now if that is really half man and tree that is somethign that I would have liked to see and here the explanation that they would have for that. Do you remember what channel it came on last night? I hope that you got the chance to see the show and not miss it.
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
28 May 08
I looked up about him on the internet, he has a skin condition called papilloma that causes warts, however his immune system could not fight this infection therefore it has caused tree like growths to come out of his arms and feet. It says in the article that it all started when he was a teenager after cutting his knee in an accident. I will give you the links to watch him on video and read up about him, it is pretty interesting but sad. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJLG85gn0bced
1 person likes this
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
28 May 08
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1569156/Tree-man-'who-grew-roots'-may-be-cured.html
1 person likes this
@cortjo73 (6498)
• United States
28 May 08
I have seen the documentary about him once and, I saw something on YouTube or something else about him. I thought it was weird. And, I feel bad for him and his family because, it is hard for him to touch anything. If I remember correctly, his kids don't live with him anymore and, they struggle to deal with his affliction. I don't think I saw the entire documentary as I caught it already in progress so, I don't remember but, I think they don't have an answer as to why or how it happened to him. Only that it is real and not a hoax.
2 people like this
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
28 May 08
A doctor has found out what condition he has it is called, papilloma Virus, it is an infection that causes small warts. However his immune system could not fight this infection and that is what has caused tree like growths to appear from his hands and feet. It is so sad. Here is a link if you want to read more about him again. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1569156/Tree-man-'who-grew-roots'-may-be-cured.html
3 people like this
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
29 May 08
I am glad that someone now knows what he has, hopefully a doctor can now work out how to fix this awful condition. Thanks for your response. I was wondering why we haven't heard about this guy before on tv, but obviously they have shown his story in the past.
1 person likes this
@cortjo73 (6498)
• United States
28 May 08
Oh my Gosh! That is crazy! That'll keep you going to the doctor to make sure you don't have the potential for that! Sheesh! That is really sad. Thank you for the update on that. I think during one of the documentaries they had on him back a few months ago, when I saw it, that no one knew what was wrong with him or how it started happening. I do remember seeing that he didn't have it all his life. He wasn't born that way. Wow! papilloma Virus! Yikes!
2 people like this
@muralirv (572)
• India
28 May 08
WOW!i havent heard such an isuue.now am getting eager to watch that.how am i supposed to join with you for this matter
2 people like this
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
28 May 08
I watched him on youtube last night, so sad. My partner watched him on tv, he said he has to work in the circus for a living, he also has other friends like him who work in the circus. This skin condition of his started when he was just 15 years old. Here is the link of video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJLG85gn0bc
1 person likes this
@muralirv (572)
• India
30 May 08
hello kiran;thanks and i will follow the link.
• United States
28 May 08
I have never heard of this before. I feel sorry for the man. What he must feel like not being able to support his kids. I went to the link you supplied and it is sad. I hope there is a doctor somewhere that can help him with this. Thanks for sharing this.
1 person likes this
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
29 May 08
I hope too that a doctor can help him, he has had to put up with it now for 20 years now. Don't know how he has coped with it for this long.
1 person likes this
@twallace (2675)
• United States
29 May 08
Yes i got to check it out from commenting to you and another person that put it on as a discussion. I want to send it to my family for them to check it out too. I know that they would be like wow. It's something that you would have to see.
1 person likes this
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
29 May 08
Yes I think they would be shocked, it is not something you see everyday that's for sure.
• Bahamas
28 May 08
I saw this on the Discovery channel I felt so sorry for this guy and his family. He has some kind of virus i can't remember exactly what it is. What has happened to him is from the lack of treatment, the virus went untreated and took over his whole body. Things like this happen in remote places where medical attention is not easy to acsess.
2 people like this
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
28 May 08
It is really sad I have checked out more about him. He had a virus called papilloma, it is an infection that causes small warts. Because his immune system could not cope with this infection it led to tree like growths on his arms and feet. The poor guy, I hope doctors can find a treatment for him, he has kids to look after.
1 person likes this
@fizanali (478)
• Pakistan
28 May 08
that's amazing ! i can't believe that's true , it's impossible! unless some scientists were experimenting on him.
2 people like this
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
28 May 08
It's true, check out this youtube video on him. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJLG85gn0bc
1 person likes this
• United States
28 May 08
Wow! I just saw the clip on this and can't believe he is like this that's amazeing. I have heard of some weird things befor in my life time but never this kind of thing. He said it started when he was young and when he cut it-it grew back faster. He has two kids that seem to except him like he is and love him. He states how he wants to live long enough to see his grand children. I hope he lives a long life to share his story w/ many I wish him the best of luck.
2 people like this
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
28 May 08
I know I would never have imagined anything like this would ever happen. I feel really sad for him. I am glad his kids have accepted his condition and love him unconditionally. I hope they can find a cure for this condition papilloma Virus.
2 people like this
@maclanis (2354)
• Belgium
28 May 08
I looked him up on youtube as well. This is so weird! I know he's not actually a tree but I really feel sorry for the guy.
2 people like this
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
28 May 08
Oh cool, I was just about to look online for ya, seems like you have found him. I feel sorry for him too, it's no way to live. I think they said on tv that there may be a doctor that can help him. I hope so for his sake.
2 people like this
@maclanis (2354)
• Belgium
28 May 08
That is so weird! I have only seen things like this in cartoons and fictional tv shows. I have read it in a book once, but for real?! I didn't think it was actually possible in real life. Do you have any pictures? Or maybe an online article or something like that?
2 people like this
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
28 May 08
It is real, I saw it on tv, my eyes weren't playing tricks. The documentary is on Australian tv tonight. I will have a look online see if I can post a link. I am sure there will be something about it online. Get back to you soon.
2 people like this
@wongchoiyee (7413)
• Malaysia
29 May 08
shock.what happen to him? is he contracted disease or what?
1 person likes this
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
29 May 08
Yeah he has a skin condition called papilloma virus it started when he was 15 when he cut himself. His immune system could not handle this virus that is what led tree like growth to come out of his arms and feet. I feel really sorry for him.
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
29 May 08
oh yes... it happens in my home country actually... indonesia... the man is from bandung and he is so pitiful... fortunately, there is a famous dermatologist from USA who is willing to treat him... i watch a bit of the documentary last night before i go to sleep... his conditions are getting worst and if he is not treated, he won't even be able to eat or see anymore as the virus starting to attack his face as well... according to the doctor who does a series of test on him last night, he got a kind of rare wood infections and his body's immune is very low... that's why he is attacked so badly with the virus... the doctor takes a blood test of his whole family members and also a biopsy on him that he will bring back to USA to study... and then the doctor will come back and come out with a medication to cure the man... it is so sad because i saw on the documentary that he is not the only one with that kind of rare disease... he got about 5 or 6 friends that have similar rare disease and they are doing a circus together to make a living... i feel so sad when i saw this... i really hope that he will be able to be cured... take care and have a nice day...
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
30 May 08
thanks kiran for your best responses... i just happen to know about this story as the man is from my home country... that's why i can provide more information about this man... thanks for the video link as well... take care and have a nice day...
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
29 May 08
Yes it is really sad, I hope thid doctor can cure him, I read on an article about him that they think vitamin A might be able to help him. It is sad that he has to do circus act to make a living. I really hope it is fixed soon before he won't be able to eat or see properly. Thanks for your informative response, it was interesting getting more information about this. Here is another link if you want to check it out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJLG85gn0bc
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
29 May 08
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1569156/Tree-man-'who-grew-roots'-may-be-cured.html
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
31 May 08
I've heard of different diseases like this. My Grandma was thought to have a disease called Stickman that makes your joints straighten out and become rigid. It turned out that she didn't thankfully but this may be another disease simular to that. **AT PEACE WITHIN** ~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
31 May 08
I am glad your grandmother is okay, that would have been horrible if she had this disease. This poor guy has a disease called PVM - forget out to spell it, this is the short term for it, there is more about his condition in this link below. He had a skin virus that gives him warts, his immune system could not handle this virus and this is what caused tree like growth to appear out of his hands and feet. I feel so sorry for the guy he has had this for 20 years and it keeps getting worse every year. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1569156/Tree-man-'who-grew-roots'-may-be-cured.html
@kun2349 (23381)
• Singapore
29 May 08
Yup.. I've heard about it around 2 years ago.. I too find it unbelievable and it's said to be natural.. At 1st they tot of doing surgery for him but gave up as they think it's too dangerous, as he's not really a human nor a tree.. And it's really amazing that something like this exist!!
@kun2349 (23381)
• Singapore
30 May 08
Yup.. Warts is the cause of it.. But i'm still wondering, wat does he eat?? BUt i think if he does really recover, he will be a very healthy human ^_^
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
29 May 08
I read up about it further, he is human it says that he contracted the virus when he is a teenager when he cut himself, it is called papilloma virus, which causes warts all over his body. His immune system could not handle this virus, so it caused tree like growth to appear out of his hands and feet. I hope doctors can find a cure. I also read that they think vitamin A might help him. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJLG85gn0bc
@littleowl (7157)
30 May 08
Hi Kiran-thats really a freak of nature-wish it was on over here I would love to see it-that is amazing if you can get a link would lve to see that-hugs litteowl
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
31 May 08
Hey littleowl, I feel sorry for the poor guy he has a virus that gives him warts, his immune system could not handle this virus that is what led tree like growths to come out of his hands and feet. He has had it since he was a teenager when he cut himself in an accident, he is now 35 years old. Watch this video on him. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJLG85gn0bc
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
31 May 08
Here in another link with more information about him. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1569156/Tree-man-'who-grew-roots'-may-be-cured.html
@littleowl (7157)
1 Jun 08
Hi Kiran-that is such a pity about that man-but he really does look like he growing roots of a tree-I really hope the doctor will be able to help in some way and even get the manto the usa so he will be helped a lot more-your friend littleowl
@Candee (530)
• India
29 May 08
Kiran I just saw the video. It's so shocking! I have only seen this on a movie, cant reme,ber the name though. Thanks for sharing.
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
29 May 08
I know i could not believe it when I first heard the story either, hard to imagine someone living like that, I really feel sorry for the guy.
• China
30 May 08
Thank you for your share. I have saw the documentary.It's so amazing. I have never heard anything like that and i can't imagine it exists.
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
30 May 08
Yes it is the most bizzare thing I have ever seen. Don't realise how lucky we are to be healthy and with no viruses. I would hate to go through what this poor guy has been through.