Grateful

I never thought I'd be thankful for the occasional pimple.

But that's my thinking after discovering an unusual news story that made me consider how grateful I am for my complexion.

But before I get into that News of the Weird nugget, let me first tell you about another event that is inspiring gratitude.

Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama is attending a rally at Cincinnati's Ault Park Thursday afternoon. The venue opens at 1 pm, and the event is expected to start two hours later.

You can find more information here: http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/ohbocincyjobs.

I am thankful I live in a country where we are allowed to exercise our right to vote. I am also grateful for the immense desire for change I sense in many, many people around this country.

Okay, back to the News of the Weird.

But first, a word of warning: you should not read further if you have a light stomach, have just eaten or anticipate eating in the near future.

The images in this story will truly disturb you.

If you are even the slightest bit queasy, I suggest you move along.

Okay, here's the story for the rest of you.

I stumbled across this story quite by accident. Well that's not entirely true, I saw the headline on CNN.com and was curious, but I had no idea how much this story would grab me.

The headline said, "Cause of 'Treeman's' Barklike Growths Revealed."

I had to peek ~ the headline made the guy sound like one of those circus freaks, and so I just had to know more, and yet my heart went out to anyone who would experience an ailment so debilitating.

I saw the first CNN.com picture, and was simultaneously captivated and disgusted.


Treeman is an Indonesian man who is experiencing the perfect storm of medical ailments. He suffers from a genetically inherited immune diffect that is unable to fight disease well - just as his flesh is attacked by a strain of HPV that involves common warts.

As you can see, this man has anything but common warts on his skin.


The extreme, bark-like growths make it hard for Dede Kosawa to distinguish his fingers and toes. Repeatedly, doctors have trimmed away the growths, prompting the gigantic warts to grow back with a vengeance.

CNN.com reports Kosawa has a hard time eating, as holding a fork or spoon is difficult for him. The man also has a tough time walking, and says the growths are very heavy on his skin.

Sensational shock is not my reason for posting this nugget. Yes, it's like watching a train wreck - you don't really want to look, but you can't turn away.

Really, gratitude is the reason why I'm posting the story and pics. After reading Kosawa's story, I was so thankful for my rosy, somewhat blemished skin. Yes, I am in my 30s and I still get pimples. In the winter, I struggle with dryness and flaking.

But my problems pale in comparison to Kosawa's, and that's something to appreciate.