Man Turning Into A Tree
When you think of your family tree, you don’t usually think of a literal “family tree” do you? Well most people wouldn’t – but unfortunately for one family in Indonesia, they do.
Meet ‘Dede’ – a 35 year old father of two living in poverty in a remote village in Indonesia.
Dede grew up normal, but at 15, he had an accident where he cut his knee. From then on, warts and welts started taking over his body and have simply kept on growing to what resembles “bark like” qualities.
His wife bolted leaving him to look after his two kids. As his condition worsened, Dede became completely dependant on others for even the most mundane tasks in life – such as putting on clothing.
When he cut his knee as a teen, a virus entered his body – HPV. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the bug which commonly causes warts and other skin diseases. Those of us who had or have warts can usually fight off this bug with our immune systems.
But in Dede’s case, things get a little more complicated. He suffers from a rare genetic fault which renders his immune system void in helping stop the spread of this virus through his body. The video clip below demonstrates the shattering reality of this in Dede’s life.
An American dermatologist, Dr Anthony Gaspari of the University of Maryland, has come to the aid of Dede after being exposed to the story on Discovery Channel.
Gaspari believes daily doses of Vitamin A could drastically reverse the growth of warts to the point where Dede can use his own hands. The rest of the growth can be frozen and then surgically removed. This is great news for Dede as his greatest worry is not seeing his children grow old and not meeting his grand children.
I’m stoked for Dede and am moved by Gaspari’s determination to treat this guy. This story is about to go live as the Discovery Channel “My Shocking Story” series, and will be shown on the Discovery Channel at 9pm on Nov 15. For more details visit the programme’s website.
Already the cruel blog world is making fun of this story calling Dede a freak and using all manner of puns to put him down. He has suffered enough in his life and my hope is that one day, he will be cured of this disease.
Tags: Dede, Tree Man, HPV, Human Papillomavirus, Discovery Channel, Warts
I'm a simple lay guy delving into topics which interest me. Here you'll find my thoughts on the Bible, Church, culture and the internet. Come back often, you'll never know what you'll find!
November 19th, 2007 at 11:16 am
i feel for Dede, and glad that someone is trying to help him out, can’t wait to see the results, can’t believe the idiots who seem to degrade others, even in this world of online access.. it seems that doesn’t improve the character of some ppl.
November 28th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
this is as reminder for us, that there is something out there.
January 28th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
My heart aches for Dede. Just saw the program on TLC and it’s heartbreaking to see the plight of others. I would encourage you who are able bodied to thank the Lord for the blessing of good health.
January 29th, 2008 at 6:10 am
I saw the story. It amazes me that there is such a condition as turning into a tree. I have seen people with hairy skin, fish skin, alligator skin, but this is the worst. God bless Dede I will pray for him and his family. The TLC program says he hasn’t started the therapy. I am sure he is scared of not being completely healed and no longer being able to work as a performer and being caught in between. May God and the doctors heal him.
June 17th, 2008 at 6:39 am
I need to do a report and this has inspired me. i now want to tell the world of this and what a rairity and serious thing it actually is. Someone help me i need to know is it just a HPV virus mutation or something else.
August 14th, 2008 at 2:29 am
i think it is sad people treatin him dat way i hope they find da cure with a serious face i wouldn’t leave him i would have stayed beside him cause love cures everything and with the help of the lord everythin is possible so im showin love 4 him at least sumone is
August 18th, 2008 at 3:05 am
This is really sad and I hope that things can be made better for his man. His wife is a chicken and doesn’t deserve a man so selfless as to work at such a humiliating job to support those he loves.
Go ahead with yourelf Dede, you’re a true hero!
August 27th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
What has happened with this guy did he eventually decide to try the treatment? It is too bad if he is too scared to try. Is the Dr. under the impression that his treatment will be nearly entirely effective?
October 1st, 2008 at 12:16 am
i think that it is a very rare thing but i’m glad his kids stuck around. and that some one else in the world is helping him. i hope he does super well, and my prayers go out to him and his family.
October 9th, 2008 at 12:04 am
seeing the plight of treeman i feel very sorry for this man. for every problem there is a cure but in this condition the process of this cure may not be known. but i suggest if some consult some one who is mastered in VEDAS he may able to get the cure. for this he has to consult someone in india,specially places like VARANASI,UJJAIN,KERALA. MAY BE IF I FIND SOMEONE WHO IS ABLE TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM I WILL DEFINITELY LET THIS KNOW ABOUT THAT
October 9th, 2008 at 6:09 am
Hi Sunil – thanks for stopping by. Respectfully I disagree with you. Dede needs Jesus.
October 14th, 2008 at 7:46 am
For those who haven’t seen it, there is now a follow up program being televised, Treeman: Search for a Cure, or something like that. I watched it just the other night, and it follows Dede through a series of treatments. Dr. Gaspari remains involved and travels to Indonesia. Fascinating. Though to clarify, he is not turning into a tree. It’s a severe and slightly different case of human papilloma virus, or warts. It just happens to look tree-like.
October 19th, 2008 at 7:08 am
I TOTALLY AGREE WITH “KELLY” WHEN SHE SAYS THAT HIS WIFE WAS A CHICKEN….THEN AGAIN IF I WERE HER,I WOULD BE SCARED FOR MY HUSBAND (NOT OF HIM). BUT IF SHE REALLY LOVED HIM AND THEIR CHILDREN, THEN SHE COULD NOT HAVE JUST GOTTEN UP AND LEFT LIKE SHE DID…MAYBE IT IS FOR THE BEST THAT SHE LEFT THEM.
November 6th, 2008 at 8:36 am
Hey you guys. Yeah, I saw both of the TLC shows on Dede. I’m just a little confused on the whole governmental side of it. What’s up with that? Is it a territorial thing, about money or because the help is coming from the US? Strange. Anyway, if it is about money, maybe we can set up a fundraiser to get Dede over here for treatment. Anyone else game? I completely agree with the medical treatment that Dr. Gaspari would like to help him with. Degloving his hands, like I saw for another patient, would NOT work. It has to be a treatment from the inside out. Anyway, I hope Dede knows how many people care for him and are praying for him.
December 22nd, 2008 at 2:51 am
Saw a pic of this before and thought it was fake, so i looked it up anyway, just reading about it now and watched that video. I feel for the guy, i can’t even begin to imagine what that must be like. Really hope he can be cured or at least be able to live a normal life on meds. Good luck Dede!
January 11th, 2009 at 7:52 am
Big respect to Dr. Gaspari.
February 10th, 2009 at 2:51 am
may god bless u. i prayed fr u. god is there, he will surely help though lately bt surely
February 28th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
get cured fast DD and many blessings for the doctors who are working on this..
March 29th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Nearly every comment; God bless you, God will help you, I’m praying for you, He needs Jesus…
God made him that way in the first place, he is the last thing the poor guy should be looking at for salvation.
May 18th, 2009 at 9:45 pm
To Syntax Era:
When you live your life and don’t know/believe about God then things/events happen to you that God ‘lets’ happen. If you believe in Him He blesses you and protects you. He lets certain bad things happen to you when you are wayward from following his path to heaven and forgiveness in order to make you understand or push you in the right direction to be faithfull and obedient again. There are many instances in the bible for reference to this.
I hope you understand what I’m saying and not just try to be combative.
DD, get well if it’s Gods will.
May 21st, 2009 at 7:12 am
Spawn:
The sins of the fathers come to mind. The nations where there is widespread hunger, disease and poverty. Whole nations that denounced God long ago who still today pay for their choice. But Dede needs God like the rest of the world. It’s sad to see so many turn away from their maker. The time draws near.
June 25th, 2009 at 10:37 am
I first heard about Dede by watching a tv show. I hope the doctors are able to fully help him.