Meet Dede Kosawa, an Indonesian man with a very rare condition. He has been known as "Tree Man" for the bark-like growths on his body and root-like projections on his hands and feet. His condition is a perfect storm -- he has an inborn immune defect and he caught the papillomavirus, the same virus that causes warts and cervical cancer. His weakened immune system could not fight the virus that invaded his skin cells and caused it to produce massive amounts of keratin. The poor man cannot find work. He once joined a freak show so he could earn some money. He has two kids and says he feels sorry for his father.

By posting this video, I do not intend to make fun of this man.  In fact, I was outraged when I read some of the comments in YouTube. People were really being unkind. It is my hope that people who see this will feel compassion and feel compelled to at least say a little prayer for this man instead of ridiculing him.


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