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- May 3, 2006
http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/article.html?in_article_id=142852&in_page_id=2
A man dubbed 'iTree Man of Java' is planning to get married after 4lb of bark were cut away. Dede Koswara, 37, says he plans to gethitched now that he can use his hands and walk without pain. Speaking from an Indonesian hospital, he told the Daily Telegraph website: "What I reallywant first is to get better and find a job. But then, one day, who knows? I might meet a girl and get married." Dede's first wife left him and helost his job because of his bizarre affliction. At one point to feed his two children he joined a freak show with other victims of peculiar diseases. But now,following a series of operations to cut away the tree-like growths, he can see the outline of his toes for the first time. He has also become a sudoko addictnow he can hold a pen. He said he hopes that he will resume a normal life after two more operations to graft undamaged skin onto his hands, feet and face.Since Dede cut his knee as a teenager, strange roots have been growing out of him. A small wart developed on his lower leg and spread uncontrollably. But lastyear US dermatology expert Dr Anthony Gaspari took up his case. He concluded Dede's odd affliction was caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), a fairlycommon infection usually causing only small warts. But in Dede's case he had an extremely rare immune system deficiency, leaving his body unable to containthe warts.
