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Subscribe to RSSA Chinese man spent 55 years with the opening to his rectum in the wrong place. That's an unusually long time to live without a normal anus.
He had a relatively common birth defect known as imperforate anus, a condition in which one out of every 5,000 infants is born with a misplaced, blocked, or missing rectal opening. The problem occurs slightly more frequently in boys than girls, and its cause is unknown.
Surgeons typically repair the abnormality during infancy. Unfortunately for Wu, a Chinese farmer from Hubei Province, he couldn't afford this operation until middle age.
So, how did he move his bowels for more than half a century?
"Wu endured a .5 centimeter diameter surgical hole, or stoma, near his urethra for excrement, through which he could squeeze stools out with his hands," according to a story originally reported in the Wuhan Morning News.
It sounds gross, but medically speaking, he had a colostomy, a procedure that created a less than 1/4-inch wide "surgical hole," which substituted as his anus. This opening was located closer to his scrotum in a more forward position on his body than rear. Colostomy is the first stage of a two-part operation needed to correct imperforate anus.
Still, it's an awfully messy -- and weird -- way to go to the bathroom. Although living this way wasn't easy, he made do. "Wu had to pay attention to the food he ate, avoid constipation and was a frequent user of laxatives," explains the newspaper account. "The dilemma left him very thin but it did not prevent him [from] getting married and having children."
This January, the poor fellow finally saved up enough money so a surgeon could give him something he had waited a lifetime for -- an anatomically correct anus.
"What I find most unique about this case is that this gentleman went for more than five decades without getting proper treatment," says Dr. Rafael Pieretti, chief of pediatric urology at MassGeneral Hospital for Children in Boston. "In developed countries, children have imperforate anus surgically repaired within the first year of life." In fact, surgery to correct a less-serious form of the abnormality can be done by any pediatric surgeon; the more complicated cases go to pediatric urologists like Pieretti.
Fortunately for Wu, within three days of the operation, he reportedly "could excrete like normal people."
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Leave a Comment:
Cari,
Your headline is childish and juvenile. More appropriate to a High school blog.
Totally with you on that one.
Totally classless headline. I suppose you have some sort of education, use it.
Maybe they'll develop a surgery to pull that stick out of your a$$, you humorless nothing.
The headline was the only reason I clicked on the story. Sadly you can't see the humor in that.
Completely agree. Cari Nierenberg you are a heartless soul - it has nothing to do with humor... no wait that's hysterical, I'm sorry. A poor Chinese man - no, Chinese 'dude' - born without an anus. So funny! Sorry I missed the joke at first but now I get it. Hahahahaha LOL, etc. This is what we find funny today, I'm sorry for ever questioning the underlying ethics/morality.
I agree, the headline looks like something a 12 year old would write. I don't dislike it from the aspect of "how dare you joke about some guy without a bunghole", I dislike it simply because it isn't funny. Elisha Frey must have a very stunted, childlike concept of humor. She probably has an impressive collection of whoopie-cushions and Laffy Taffy wrappers.
There are more important things in life than crying and complaining about the title of an article. It obviously got your attention to read the article and that was its purpose. Get over it.
Oh loosen up you tight asses,
oh, relax - it's for clicks. yes, the headline was a little juvenile, but the article wasn't mocking at all - in fact it was pretty interesting.
i'm glad everything came out alright in the end for this guy. now he can wipe away his problems and move on with life.
"There are more important things in life" than 99% of the things people do, including "crying and complaining" about people "crying and complaining". Stuff your "get over it" where the sun don't shine. Provided you have an anus, that is, as opposed to simply being one.
No comment
That's what makes him so mean!
Wow, you mean his own Family could not come up with the funds so he could of got his Ass fixed sooner?
That just goes to show you that you gotta cover your own ass!
Joel:
You must have also heard that "Croc-agator" joke also. LOL.
I think we're all forgetting that this is China, 55 years ago China was completely communist. Commoners were denied access to basic human needs and rights. So if you're looking for an explanation, there's your sign. China is now socialist/emerging capitalist, hence he can now afford the " freedom" to finance his own operation. Squeezing the perineum/taint to go #2 is...interesting, to say the least.
i think its full of crap
Imagine the smile on homey's face when he took that first proper dump.
I do not fel like this is somethng to joke about, i am happy to hear the happy ending
I agree, yet even I couldn't repress a snicker at the double entendre (unintended?) in your post. Poo was probably the first thing people joked about. Maybe it keeps us from getting overwhelmed by the gross out, idk.
For Wu it was never 2late2matter.
Only a stone hearted person would laugh about a man who suffered 55 years with an ailment easily corrected in the developed world.
Go with the flow here. Easier if you already have a colostomy....
What a heartwarming story. Imagine having to live hand to stool.
To which, Wu said "Whew".
Okay, if you can't laugh at something as absurd as this then you take life way to seriously.
What a Crappy Deal ,Poor GUY.......(_!_).............:(
At least we know he lacked the qualifications to be a U.S. politician.
He used his hands to squeeze out his stools for 55 years. I'm am truly happy for the man now, but you won't catch me "high fiving" him.
I have seen (and written) some offensive and juvenile headlines in my time, particularly when I was in high school, but must say I can't recall seeing anything as tasteless as the one that sits atop this sad story. If readers want to laugh at this man's situation, that is up to them (although a little introspection might be in order.) For MSNBC to laugh like this tells me that the guards are asleep and the inmates are in charge. Wake up out there, "dudes"!
Die.
Someone should have introduced him to my old boss. He would tear somebody a new a$$hole every single day.
Holy Crap, Batman!
Chill, the headline is funny, and it got all you to read the article. The comment about not being qualified to be a politician, priceless! But here's what I really want to know, how did he fart?
please stop cryin . joke title =BFD
I guess medical confidentiality isn't a big thing in China.
Welcome to ObamaCare
So some guy in China gets by for 55-years without an a-hole, and yet we still get subjected to Spencer Pratt every day of our lives.
ha, good one!