[Mr. Tao Jones]

I saw a show about this guy on tv last night. Poor guy has a rare skin disease that is like a fungus covering most of his body and causing "roots" to grow from his hands and feet . I think there is something on the discovery channel about him tomorrow night.



From the discovery channel:
"The series exploring remarkable tales of human experience continues with a profile of Dede, an Indonesian man suffering from a skin condition that has left him with tree-like growths on his hands and feet. Unable to work and forced to appear in a demeaning circus troupe, Dede's only hope lies in the visit of a dermatology specialist who may be able to diagnose his condition. Meanwhile, a man in Romania with a similar affliction undergoes experimental surgery to cure.

In a remote village in Indonesia, 36-year-old fisherman Dede (pictured) struggles to live an ordinary life. He has baffled doctors with an affliction so terrible that he can no longer work or venture out in public. Dede has root-like structures growing out of his limbs - branches that can grow up to five centimetres a year, and welts that cover his body. The mystery illness has robbed Dede of his independence and he lives in the fear that the welts, which first appeared when he was 15, may eventually cover his eyes and mouth, leaving him unable to eat or breathe.

Dede's case has come to the attention of Dr A Gaspari, a dermatologist at the University of Maryland. He makes the long journey by plane, boat and foot to Dede's village in the hope of diagnosing his illness. As Dr Gaspari opts to treat Dede with a medical solution, doctors in Romania are attempting to treat a man with a similar affliction. A farmer by the name of Ion has wart-like growths on his hands and feet that have prevented him from working. But in Ion's case, doctors have decided to embark on an experimental five-hour surgery to peel off the growths on one of his hands. Will this risky operation succeed?"

[Epic Poster]

Wow, he looks like someone off of Pirates of the Caribbean.

[WARserra]

He should just dip his body in bleach.

[Stringer Bell]

Can they just remove it and disenfect the skin, or does this fungus live in his skin?

that fucking sucks. I would be scrubbing that shit everyday until either the fungus came off or my skin was raw.

[Mr. Tao Jones]

Originally Posted by Stringer Bell

Can they just remove it and disenfect the skin, or does this fungus live in his skin?

that fucking sucks. I would be scrubbing that shit everyday until either the fungus came off or my skin was raw.

They said it entered his body thru a cut when he was 15. He can actually cut the roots growing on his hands and feet but it is warts on the rest of his body. They think that daily doses of vitamin a will make them smaller but may not clear it up completely, but could possibly be fixed by surgery.

[Stringer Bell]

Originally Posted by Mr. Tao Jones

They said it entered his body thru a cut when he was 15. He can actually cut the roots growing on his hands and feet but it is warts on the rest of his body. They think that daily doses of vitamin a will make them smaller but may not clear it up completely, but could possibly be fixed by surgery.

That fucking sucks balls. I'm glad I don't live in a 3rd world country. I feel sorry for the guy.

[PhilCam]

Yea, poor guy. I hope they are able to find a cure.

[Mr. Tao Jones]

Originally Posted by Stringer Bell

That fucking sucks balls. I'm glad I don't live in a 3rd world country. I feel sorry for the guy.

No shit man. On top of just having a horrible disease that makes you look all messed up, his wife left him because of it, he can't work, he can't take care of his kids (so they live with relatives), he is subject to abuse and ridicule from other villagers, and he has resorted to traveling with a freak show because it is the only way he can support himself. Throughout the whole show though he kept a smile on his face.