Many of you already saw Dede Koswara “Tree Man” a few years ago when a picture of him circulated on the Internet has triggered a frenzy of media. Thank you for the attention, a U.S. dermatologist was able to diagnose his condition as a rare combination of conditions, and proposed to treat tumors of trees that were as consuming his body and had cost him his marriage, his work and independence.
The surgery went well, for the first time in over a decade Dede was able to use his hands again and walk without pain, and so its history was largely forgotten. But unfortunately the story does not end there.
The history of the condition of Dede began 30 years ago when he was 10 years. While in the forest near his home on the island of Java, Indonesia, Dede cut his knee while in the forest. Soon after, small warts sprouted around the wound, which eventually spread to his feet and hands.
Growing up, his warts continued to grow. Finally, the number and size meant that their ability to carry out his work as a trader has suffered, and if the warts do not hurt or itch, they gave off a foul odor. At age 28, wife Dede of 10 years, he left as he became unable to work to support her and their two children.
Dede ended up traveling with a circus for a living. It was while he was there, a picture of himself posted online has attracted the attention of a group of documentary filmmakers who requested the opinion of the dermatologist Anthony Gaspari, what was the its original state.
When he was 10, Dede cut his knee … small warts sprouted around the wound, which extended to his feet and hands.
It was discovered that Dede had contracted the human papilloma virus common, a condition that usually causes small warts as it was first developed as a child. However, a rare immune deficiency allowed the warts to grow out of control, leading to root like barnacles known as cutaneous horns that eventually covered his face and limbs. According to team leader who has treated Dede Hasan Sadikin hospital in Bandung, “he is like a patient with HIV, but it is negative. Because his immune system is so low, it is easy for web other infections to enter her body. “


Dede looking better after treatment in 2008
After a flight to visit Dede, Gaspari has designed a drug treatment program and worked with the Indonesian surgeons to cut 13 kilos of warts and decaying matter Dede’s body using an electric saw. Doctors then used chemotherapy to bring the virus under control, but treatment was cut short after Dede liver began to fail.
Unfortunately, it was shortly after this point that the political complications led to conflict between Gaspari and Indonesian officials. Even though things were finally cleared, the problems led to the departure Gaspari of the medical team treating Dede before could be completed. Indonesian doctors tried a second round of surgery, but the warts Dede returned.
Gaspari believes that full recovery would require a bone marrow transplant or other procedures are not readily available in Indonesia. “There are things I still want to do for Dede, but my hands are tied,” he says. “The government seems to see that some of the exterior stop if I do not belong.” Meanwhile, Indonesian authorities are reluctant to allow Dede to travel abroad for treatment, fearing he would become exploited as a medical research project.
All this of course leaves Dede stuck in the middle. “For a cure,” he said, “I would go anywhere in the world.” Unfortunately, all he and his family can do is hope that it will be possible to perform.