‘Tree man of Bangladesh’ gets hands back after 16 operations
- 7 years ago
DHAKA, BANGLADESH — It may have taken a year and an insane number of surgeries, but this Bangladeshi man couldn’t be happier to finally have his hands and feet back.
CNN reports that Abul Bajander suffers from epidermodysplasia verruciformis, a rare disease that began causing lesions to appear on his skin at age 10. The lesions worsened over time, eventually encompassing both his hands and making it difficult for him to make a living as a rickshaw driver.
Bark-like growths had also started sprouting from his hands and feet, making it impossible to do anything except scratch his neck.
The 27-year-old has been dubbed “Tree Man” by international media, and is one of only four people in the world to ever be diagnosed with the disease.
Doctors in Dhaka offered to treat him free of charge, and moved him and his family to the hospital last February to begin the first of many groundbreaking surgeries.
Sixteen operations later, doctors have removed eleven pounds of growth and restored tree man’s hands.
He’ll still need a few more surgeries for beautification, but he now can at least eat, write, and hold his 3-year-old daughter on his own.
CNN reports that Abul Bajander suffers from epidermodysplasia verruciformis, a rare disease that began causing lesions to appear on his skin at age 10. The lesions worsened over time, eventually encompassing both his hands and making it difficult for him to make a living as a rickshaw driver.
Bark-like growths had also started sprouting from his hands and feet, making it impossible to do anything except scratch his neck.
The 27-year-old has been dubbed “Tree Man” by international media, and is one of only four people in the world to ever be diagnosed with the disease.
Doctors in Dhaka offered to treat him free of charge, and moved him and his family to the hospital last February to begin the first of many groundbreaking surgeries.
Sixteen operations later, doctors have removed eleven pounds of growth and restored tree man’s hands.
He’ll still need a few more surgeries for beautification, but he now can at least eat, write, and hold his 3-year-old daughter on his own.