January 7, 2017

"The 27-year-old former rickshaw driver is one of only four people in the world ever to be diagnosed with epidermodysplasia verruciformis... 'tree-man disease.'"

This genetic condition had huge tree-bark-like warts growing from his hands and feet. He's been relieved of these horrific growths through multiple surgeries.

Amazing before and after pictures at the link.
Speaking from his bed at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital, which has been treating him free of charge, [Abul] Bajandar said the pain of his condition had been "unbearable".

"I never thought I would ever be able to hold my kid with my hands," he said, showing a bandaged hand. "Now I feel so much better, I can hold my daughter in my lap and play with her. I can't wait to go back home."...

He met his wife Halima Khatun before he contracted the disease, but it had taken hold by the time they married, against her parents' wishes.
Because of his disease, Bajandar became a celebrity and — we are told — "probably the most loved and longest-staying patient" at the hospital.

19 comments:

tim maguire said...

I've heard of child brides, but he met his wife before he contracted a genetic condition?

Ann Althouse said...

"I've heard of child brides, but he met his wife before he contracted a genetic condition?"

I think the wrong word there is "contracted."

He had the genetic condition all along, but the symptoms did not yet manifest themselves.

I don't think we say that you "contract" your genes or "contract" what those genes predispose your body to do. I'd only say "contract" for diseases caused by outside agents, perhaps only for things caused by other life forms.

Laslo Spatula said...

Genetic? So this comes from his Family Tree?

I am Laslo.

Curious George said...

If you had tree man disease, what kind of tree would you be?

Wilbur said...

Wow, and I think I have some problems.

Bob Ellison said...

I'd be a pear tree.

Laslo Spatula said...

They made a movie with this theme of hands not being able to touch what you love.

It was called "Edward Scissorhands".

Just what came to mind.

I am Laslo.

traditionalguy said...

Genetic disease mean there is a chance from conception of benign tumor growths developing during life. They interfere with organ functions, this time the hands and feet, other times internal organs and brain development.The diseases can be tested for on the fetus with ultra sound and blood tests, which is routinely done for Downs Syndrome leading to the to suggestion of abortion.

Being so rare, the treatable population is too small to justify Big Pharma spending on research for a cure or a drug therapy. The only hope is government grant money given, or wait for the numbers to grow until a fund raising group forms among affected friends and families.

They only need about 1/1,000,000 th of the grant money being thrown away today on Climate Hoax BS by the Faked Science/Governmental Complex. Once a drug is tested to stop tumor growth, the disease is no longer the last word.

See, Tuberous Sclerosis.

Curious George said...

I think the first thing to do is find someone with pruning shear disease.

Christy said...

I'm skeptical. Why would this affect only his hands? What differentiates the skin on the hands, say the back of the fingers, from the skin on the thigh? The picture shows the warts starting up the arm, but why would it grow so hugely on the fingers before taking off to other parts of the body? I don't see how four people in the world is enough to identify it as genetic.

Freeman Hunt said...

In Kawasaki Disease, only the hands and feet swell. Very Mickey Mouse. Later, dead skin peels painlessly off the hands and feet in sheets.

RMc said...

He met his wife Halima Khatun before he contracted the disease, but it had taken hold by the time they married, against her parents' wishes.

He contracted the disease against her parent's wishes?

mockturtle said...

I once saw a TV documentary about those afflicted with this disease. Many were even worse than the one pictured in the article. Horrible disease! Glad there is help for them.

Owen said...

Prof. Althouse: are you going to start awarding Threadwinner Trophies, like Oscars? Will we get to watch Laslo go up to the podium time after time to collect the gleaming statuettes?

Susan said...

A true feel-good story for the day!

tcrosse said...

Why would this affect only his hands?
I suppose it also affects the trunk.

Bill said...

Wonderful story. I hope the other sufferers can be helped.

Gabriel said...

@Christy:I'm skeptical. Why would this affect only his hands? What differentiates the skin on the hands, say the back of the fingers, from the skin on the thigh?

It's a genetic disease. He has genes that tell his hands to grow fingers instead of fins, just like you have. Unlike you he also has genes to tell his hands to grow warts.

PatHMV said...

The article says that he may be the first person ever cured of this disease, "provided the warts don't come back." What have they done to treat the condition, as opposed to the symptoms of the condition? Are they simply saying he's the first person they've ever managed to surgically remove all warts from? Or have they done something more significant with some type of genetic therapy that is expected to prevent the tumors from reoccurring?