Octopus Man

55-year-old Filipino, Rudy Santos, is a medical phenomenon; with four arms and three legs, he has one of the rarest conditions known to man – a parasitic twin.

Rudy, know as ‘Octoman’, made a name for himself out of his condition, touring carnivals and freak shows during the 70s and 80s - but hard times forced him into seclusion where he has lived in poverty for 10 years. He has remained a local legend on the carnival circuit in spite of his mysterious disappearance for over a decade.

Now Rudy, the oldest parasitic twins in the world, is forced to confront his past and face his future for the sake of himself and his family. Cameras follow him on the emotional journey, as he faces medical opinion for the first time, in the form of the Philippines’ foremost authority in conjoined twin separation – Vicente Gomez.

Rudy undergoes a series of examinations from Vicente and his team of medical experts to find out for the first time how his twin is formed within him, and what of his twin exists – whether it has a spine, and what organs? He will also find out if surgery is possible for him at this late age. While waiting for the results of the examinations, Rudy makes the emotional journey back to his family home where his 11 brothers and sisters have been praying for his return, and he introduces his daughter to the rest of the family for the first time.

As Rudy decides if the offer of life-changing free surgery outweighs the risks such a complicated procedure brings, his compelling story reveals an inspiring character who, in spite of his disability, has never viewed his condition as debilitating. Can he say goodbye to his twin?

Related links:

-Visit Discovery Channel Web for more stories about Rudy Santos

ResourcesFrom http://www.discoverychannel.co.uk/web/my-shocking-story/episode-guide/octopus-man/

Half Man Half Tree

Image1: Dede Image


Image 2:Dede Foot



Image 3: Dede with his friends

32 year old Dede lives in a remote village in Indonesia with his two children, trying to care for them. Dede, a former fisherman, has an extraordinary skin condition: he has root like structures growing out of his body - branches that can grow up to 5cm a year and which protrude from his hands and feet, and welts covering his whole body.

He is known locally as ‘Tree Man’ and his condition has baffled local doctors for 20 years. In an attempt to earn a living to support his family, he is part of a circus troupe, displaying his Tree Man limbs along with others afflicted with skin deformities in ‘freak’ shows.

Dr Anthony Gaspari, a world expert in skin conditions from the University of Maryland travels to Indonesia to attempt to diagnosis Dede’s mysterious condition. He takes skin samples for biopsies back in the USA. What will he discover?

We go on an intimate journey with the extraordinary Dede, as he tries to seek out a living in a circus troupe to support his family, and as he is given medical help by Dr Gaspari. The identification and possible cure of his condition, could change his whole life.

Half way across the world, in Romania, farmer Ion Toader is discovered to have a similar extraordinary ‘Tree Man’ condition, with growths all over his hands. He has not been able to drive a tractor for five years. A Romanian surgeon offers to give him an operation to remove his growths.

Will it be successful, and how will it change Ion’s life?

Related links:

-Visit Discovery Channel Web for more stories about Dede

Resources From http://www.discoverychannel.co.uk/web/my-shocking-story/previous-episodes/half-man-half-tree/

Receive the Gift of Joy

Christmas is the most joyous season of the year.It's a time to thank god for all of his blessings. It is also a time, in the midst of our thankfulness, to look at the prophets and ask,"Why did they rejoice?"-or look to Mary and ask, "Why did this young woman prefer God's will to her own?" It's a time to ask Holy Spirit to give us new insights and new reasons for us to rejoice as we celebrate Christmas.
The prophets rejoiced in anticipation of a promised messiah. Mary rejoiced in anticipation of the birth of her son. And Jesus wants you and me to "rejoice in the Lord always"(Philippians 4:4). But he doesn't just want us to drum up this joy on our own. He wants to give us a spirit of rejoicing - like a Christmas present. And we will receive the gift as we ask the Holy Spirit to open our eyes and convince us to believe that everything that God has promised will be accomplished.
I'd like to wish you and your family a blessed Christmas.May God bless you all!!