Bangladeshi ‘Tree Man’ wants hands to be cut off to relieve pain

June 24: A Bangladeshi man who’s earned the name of ‘Tree Man’ for an extremely rare skin condition, now wants his hands to be amputated in a desperate attempt to relieve the pain. Abul Bajandar, 28, has undergone 25 operations since 2016 in an effort to treat a rare genetic condition, called epidermodysplasia verruciformis, that causes a wooden-like growths on his hands and feet.

In 2017, doctors believed they had cured the disease after removing 11 pounds of growth, however a relapse in May last year saw the condition return. In January, the father of one was readmitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMC) once again with growths several inches long.

The Tree Man told newsmen, “”I cannot bear the pain anymore. I can’t sleep at night. I asked the doctors to cut off my hands so I can at least get some relief.” An extreme measure seconded by his mother who said “at least he will be free of pain [from the] hellish condition.”

Samanta Lal Sen, the chief plastic surgeon at DMC, said the board of seven doctors presiding over Bajandar’s case will consider the request, but ultimately do whatever is best for his health. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina promised free treatment for Bajandar after his plight made national and international headlines.

Less than six people in the world are known to suffer from the condition. DMC previously treated a Bangladeshi girl for the same disease in 2017. It was learnt that  though doctors at DMC declared her surgery a success, but her father later said the growths had returned in even greater numbers and the family halted the treatment and returned to their village.