‘Tree man’ ready to leave for home

Abul Bajandar, the first "tree man" in Bangladesh, is waiting to leave for his home at Saral-Bhatikhali, in Khulna, after nearly one-and-a-half years of treatment at the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). He was treated for a rare skin condition known as "tree-man syndrome".

Bajandar has recovered from the disease and can now return to normal life, said Dr Samanta Lal Sen, coordinator of the DMCH's Burns and Plastic Surgery Unit. He is likely to be released from the hospital within three to four days.

Talking to The Independent, Dr Sen said Bajandar went through his final operation on Wednesday and bandages would be opened in three to four days. “Before being released, he will be taken to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, as he bears testimony to the success of Bangladeshi surgeons for treating a rare skin condition for the first time in the country,” he added.

He, however, said that though Bajandar can return to normal life and can work with both hands, he has to undergo follow-up his treatment. “The warts removed from his hands are likely to recur,” he added.

He said they are thinking about whether Bajandar can get a job at the burns unit of the hospital so that he can lead a normal life.

Bajandar was dubbed "tree man"

because of the large wood-like warts on his body and hands, caused by a rare genetic condition called “epidermodysplasia verruciformis”.

Dr Sen said Bajandar went through about 25 operations during treatment. “By operating upon Bajandar and making him well, Bangladeshi doctors have proved that they can treat rare cases successfully, if they get the opportunity,” he added.

Replying to a question, he said such treatment requires a huge amount of money. In Bajandar’s case, the government has borne the cost of treatment.

The 28-year-old Bajandar was kept in cabin No. 515, along with his wife Halima Akhter and four-year-old daughter Jannatul Ferdous.

Bajandar, the third “tree man” in the world, said he is not aware that he would be discharged from the hospital soon. “If the doctors release me, I will have no option but to go to my village home. I am happy that the doctors have been able to cure me of the disease, and I can now return to normal life. But the treatment should continue since I still have problems with my hands and legs,” he added.

Bajandar expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister and the health minister for taking the responsibility of his treatment. He expressed hop that the government would continue to help him to ensure he leads a normal life.

“I never thought I would ever be able to hold my kid with my hands,” he said.

He also said Prof Kabir Chowdhury, one of the attending doctors, bought 3.5 kathas of land for him at his village as he had no land. He wants to lead a normal life with his parents and family members.

He further said he plans to set up a small business with donations he has received from well-wishers. Bajandar was admitted to the DMCH on January 30 last year.

Experts say the “tree man syndrome” occurs due to genetic defects and has no curative or preventive therapy. No cure for it has been found yet, but various treatment methods are being tried out. Education of the patient, early detection and removal of the tumoural lesions are being emphasised to prevent the development of cutaneous growths, they observe.

Tree man ready to leave for home

Abul Bajandar, the first tree man in Bangladesh, is waiting to leave for his home at Saral-Bhatikhali, in Khulna, after nearly one-and-a-half years of treatment at the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). He was treated for a rare skin condition known as tree-man syndrome. Bajandar has recovered from the disease and can now return to normal life, said Dr Samanta Lal Sen, coordinator of the DMCHs Burns and Plastic Surgery Unit. He is likely to be released from the hospital within three to four days. Talking to The Independent, Dr Sen said Bajandar went through his final operation on Wednesday and bandages would be opened in three to four days. Before being released, he will be taken to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, as he bears testimony to the success of Bangladeshi surgeons for treating a rare skin condition for the first time in the country, he added. He, however, said that though Bajandar can return to normal life and can work with both hands, he has to undergo follow-up his treatment. The warts removed from his hands are likely to recur, he added. He said they are thinking about whether Bajandar can get a job at the burns unit of the hospital so that he can lead a normal life. Bajandar was dubbed tree man because of the large wood-like warts on his body and hands, caused by a rare genetic condition called epidermodysplasia verruciformis. Dr Sen said Bajandar went through about 25 operations during treatment. By operating upon Bajandar and making him well, Bangladeshi doctors have proved that they can treat rare cases successfully, if they get the opportunity, he added. Replying to a question, he said such treatment requires a huge amount of money. In Bajandars case, the government has borne the cost of treatment. The 28-year-old Bajandar was kept in cabin No. 515, along with his wife Halima Akhter and four-year-old daughter Jannatul Ferdous. Bajandar, the third tree man in the world, said he is not aware that he would be discharged from the hospital soon. If the doctors release me, I will have no option but to go to my village home. I am happy that the doctors have been able to cure me of the disease, and I can now return to normal life. But the treatment should continue since I still have problems with my hands and legs, he added. Bajandar expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister and the health minister for taking the responsibility of his treatment. He expressed hop that the government would continue to help him to ensure he leads a normal life. I never thought I would ever be able to hold my kid with my hands, he said. He also said Prof Kabir Chowdhury, one of the attending doctors, bought 3.5 kathas of land for him at his village as he had no land. He wants to lead a normal life with his parents and family members. He further said he plans to set up a small business with donations he has received from well-wishers. Bajandar was admitted to the DMCH on January 30 last year. Experts say the tree man syndrome occurs due to genetic defects and has no curative or preventive therapy. No cure for it has been found yet, but various treatment methods are being tried out. Education of the patient, early detection and removal of the tumoural lesions are being emphasised to prevent the development of cutaneous growths, they observe.