A Bangladeshi father who was dubbed “Tree man” due to large bark-like growths on his hands and feet has told of how his recent surgery has given him hope.
Abdul Bajander was in surgery for three-and-a-half hours at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, and it took a team of nine doctors to remove the growths, facility director Samanta Lal Sen told AFP.
The 26-year-old has epidermodysplasia verruciformis, a genetic condition which causes the growths on his skin. The Bangladeshi government is paying for the treatment to remove the warts – some of which weigh in at least five kilograms.
Bajandar said he was determined to continue with the treatment no matter how long it took. "The first operation has given me hope," he told AFP by phone from hospital.
"I don't want to return to my village without clearing my hands and feet. I want to get back to my old life," the father-of-one said.
Reports say that his condition has given celebrity status in his hometown of Khulna, and hundreds of people came to visit him in hospital.
Speaking to AFP, Sen said: "We removed some small warts from his palm. We also did dressing of his fingers, which were operated on last week. He's now better. But Bajandar would need up to 15 operations in total to rid his body of the growths, which may take six months to one year, Sen added.
