Jose Mestre: The man with no face
Jose Mestre is a man who suffers from a very serious facial tumor. The tumor started when he was a teenager and has since grown to a size of 15 inches long and weighing in at 12 pounds!
For years, Jose refused proper medical treatment because of specific beliefs prohibiting him from having a blood transfusion. Jose is a Jehovah’s Witness.
Jose’s condition, haemangioma, stems from abnormalities in the capillaries and veins in his face. In effect, what should be a river carrying blood back to his heart has turned into a lake, which has now expanded to obliterate the rest of his features.
The Discovery Channel UK will be featuring a video segment on Jose Metres and his rare condition tonight at 9PM (and with repeats on the 9th, 10th, and 18th of December).
Thanks DJ!
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December 6th, 2007 at 4:57 pm
HERMAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I MISS YOU BUDDY!
December 9th, 2007 at 10:19 am
Isn’t there a way you can use his own blood again? Like a kidney dialysis that takes his blood out, puts it back clean?
how about every month he gives a pint of blood for storage and then at the end of the year he has 12 pints of his own blood?
I read where a 12 year old boy just died because his religion prohibited transfusions.
Load of crap. We have the technology we know how to fix simple problems like this. Instead of fixing it, simpletons figure God must be ‘testing’ them.
idiots
December 11th, 2007 at 5:06 am
This story has been misunderstood: this man had NO access to medical treatment when the growth started to blight his face in Portugal (which was at the time a fascist dictatorship where no money was spent treating this kind of problem). And, then, there was no easy medical solution in any case - with or without money.
Over the years, the poor guy became accustomed to living with no hope and hid behind the religious mantra that he learned during his childhood to justify his decision. In other words, he appears to have been gravely affected psychologically… He has known no other life for nearly 40 years..
When I lived in Lisbon, 15 years ago, I used to see him begging in Praca do Rossio, and even then, he looked almost as bad as he does now.
Fortunately, he has now agreed to submit to a new technique for hopefully removing the tumour (it’s now so bad that radical treatment could be very high risk)
December 13th, 2007 at 7:49 am
It was so frustrating watching these shows on Discovery!! - They don’t show what happens or how the situation is finally concluded! Does anyone know what has happened to this man since the program?
December 31st, 2007 at 9:38 pm
down with dictatorship and bigotry! Those things made this guy look like this.
January 11th, 2008 at 11:47 am
would really like to know what happened to Jose, the documentary didnt show the outcome of his decision.
January 18th, 2008 at 4:10 am
I only saw the program this evening. It does become upsetting when, because of religious beliefs people should live like this. It makes me humble to think of sister looking after him for so long and being able to help. I sincerely hope the surgery in London helped.
Good luck Jose.
I too would like to know what happened to him after the operations.
February 7th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
I just watched the story on TV, and was touched.
I do hope the surgery helped Jose, he deserved the chance to see, and enjoy the next 40 years!
I too would like to know what happened after the surgery.
February 7th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
I was glad to watch Jose’s moving and heartfelt story. He is a kind man that, like a lot of us, want to have a normal life without name-calling. I hope DC keeps the world posted on his progress.
Jose, you are an amazing man.
Cape Coral, FL
February 7th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
I just watched the documentary.
Reply to SSS: If it was me, I would definitely take the blood, even if it came from a murderer. But people are different in their values. I learned to accept peoples choices, when I realized everything will come to an end one way or another. Some choose to walk this path towards death with their dignity. It shouldn’t matter to you how a man chooses to come to his end. Try to have some respect. You don’t want to die with your dignity? :)
Moving forward, Yes, I also would like to know what happens after surgery. I am disappointed the documentary left us hanging.
February 7th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Unfortunately whole blood has a limited shelf life which is why he wouldn’t be able to bank his own whole blood for a long period of time. Different blood components (like platelets) have different shelf lives. This is why it’s so important to donate blood.
February 7th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
I lived in Portugal in 1989-1991 as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I met many Jehovas Witness. I never had the blessing of meeting Jose. It saddens me to think he has had to bear this burden in his life. I believe it is our choices on earth we make that will determine our eternal destiny…A loving god wants only for Jose to be happy and return to Him. Thank goodness for medical advancements to be such that he can be healed and may the surgeons who attend Jose be blessed to do it within Jose’s parameters. God Bless You Jose!
February 7th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
I know that there have been studies on synthetic blood that Jehovah’s Witnesses would be able to take as part of a blood transfusion. I wonder if that option was explored. In any case, when I saw this story I felt quite sheepish for complaining about my pimples.
February 7th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
I just want to know if he ever got the surgery and did he live?
February 8th, 2008 at 3:52 am
This is such a sad story. Poor guy. I hope the treatment helped him. As for religious beliefs I do not know how someone could accept a ’synthetic’ blood vs real blood. It seems like bending the rules and you would have to ask why a God would wait thousands of years before allowing the advancement of a synthetic blood to allow a Jehovah’s Witness to partake in surgery.
This condition, untreated, will soon enough kill him. By not allowing action to be taken or himself not accepting a chance to rectify the problem would be akin to slow suicide. Which is also against his religious beliefs. But this is how religion works, you can say I am knowingly going to kill myself by not accepting a medical procedure, but then you’re breaking the rules by allowing yourself to die. I guess, if you want to muddy your life up with such inanity, be my guest.
I wouldn’t blame Jose directly really on this. He’s dealt with it for so long and living in a disadvantageous area & not having the money probably played a big part in him not being able to seek or obtain treatment. Also conditions like this do have grave psychological effects. He may have become accustomed to being some kind of “monster” and has lost any hope of being able to lead a different life.
February 8th, 2008 at 4:01 am
I looked into it and from this news story:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/12/03/wface103.xml
It appears the doctor is awaiting contact from his family to setup a time for the operation. This was back in December. It could still very well be many months before any actual action can be taken. Also while it appears the surgery will be free, I would wonder if accommodations would be free as well. It may not be cheap to arrange for someone to stay with him for a few months while surgery, recovery & rehab take place.
February 8th, 2008 at 7:46 am
I am from titcacca
February 8th, 2008 at 8:02 am
This proves that Jehovah’s Wittnesses do not contradict their beliefs like other religions. If there is life after death then Jose should have nothing to worry about right? If you read and believe in the Bible, God strickly prohibits blood sharing……….maybe you should look it up????
February 8th, 2008 at 10:04 am
dam that shits nasty!!! that nigga needs surgry or sum other tipe of medikal help. and quik!!!
February 8th, 2008 at 10:21 am
good bless u and he loves u the lord would not but u through nothing that u canot bear god bless u keep on praying and i would try to keep u in my prayers
February 8th, 2008 at 10:48 am
The only thing thats nasty is your stupid blog, Maybe you should learn how to spell you uneducated nigga this man as been through hell and thats all you could say, no wonder niggas like you have a 40 percent drop out rate. pull you head out your ass, stay off the grass and don’t you ever make a comment like that about anyone who suffers from eflictions of this sort. Maybe 50 cent has rotted you brain or you were pissed on by R Kelly one to many times. Now you know why your people get no respect. Burn in hell ASSHOLE……….
February 9th, 2008 at 4:56 am
While some comments here may be offensive, I am frankly more offended by what seems to me to be an ugly racist attack. The responder to Tyrones comments proved himself ignorant and racist, and while we are on the subject, in need of God.. Jose’s story teaches us many things, being respectful of others and not passing judgement are only 2 things that in a broader sense make us all better people and unite us in humanity and humility. I only wish for him to get the help he needs so he can lead a happy and healthy life
February 11th, 2008 at 4:38 am
Jose is a devoted JW. JW’s believe that receiving blood will violate their chance of everlasting life after the “armageddon”. Whereas this seems bizarre to most Christians, this is thier belief and they defend it 100%. They will watch thier own child die, rather than allowing them to recieve bllood, with the hopes that they will see them again in the “New System”. It is their right to believe in what they want, even if it goes against most of the populations beliefs.
I would think blood options are available for Jose, there must be some medical reason why using his own blood isn’t an option, which IS allowed by JW’s.
Please update us on his progress.
March 2nd, 2008 at 10:22 am
we’ve only just received the program here, in the States. A horrifying affliction, to be sure but one which can be remedied through surgery. If Jose chooses to subscribe to the J-W laws, he should go right ahead and quit making such an international spectale of himself…as well as a massive burden to his family, bless them. My father is a physician and, not long ago, he had to make a young girl a ward of the State in the wake of a car accident as her parents were JW and refused her life-saving blood. After he saved the child, the parents were allowed to adopt her back…strange, no? I, for one, truly hope that be has the surgery and gets well. I believe in God but do not believe He purposely afflicts us with hemangiomas, nor that he would want us to suffer. I’d like to think that God wants you happy… Here’s to the good English doctor and to Jose’s successful surgery…Welcome to March! - jfr
March 9th, 2008 at 4:57 am
I have just watched the documentary about jose on the discovery channel. I have come online hopeing to find good news to the outcome of jose`s return visit to the hospital.
Jose you and your wonderful family you have touched the hearts of millions
wishing you all the best to a successful operation and brighter future for you and your family x
March 22nd, 2008 at 10:07 am
i feel sorry for that man
it upsetting
March 24th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
I didn’t see the documentary, but it’s so wonderful to know people still care about one another
God bless you!
miami beach, fl.
March 27th, 2008 at 9:23 am
God bless you Jose, your documentary was inspirational and moving. People out there do care. I care. You are my hero, please don’t give up. All the best!
March 28th, 2008 at 2:24 am
You are verry brave and you made the right choice to not to have blood transfusion. Jehovah will bless you today and in future. You are great example and incuragment for many.
March 28th, 2008 at 10:10 am
WELL I FEEL SO SORRY 4 U AND WISH U THE BEST IF PEOPLE START LAUGHING AT U AND MAKIN FUN OF U TELLEM TO GET A LIFE AND FUCK OFF. I WILL PREY FOR U AND HOPE U GET THE BEST OF IT OK? PLEASE DONT WORRY, IM SURE IT WILL BE JUST FINE :} :} |||| :} :} :} IM ONLY 12 ASWEL
April 1st, 2008 at 9:11 am
iliya you are a degenerate, i would love to tie you down and substitute your blood with that of a pig, that might give you more than one brain cell, which you can then share with the rest of your fellow jehova rejects.
April 1st, 2008 at 10:15 am
Does anyone know when he is going to have the operation? God bless him.
April 1st, 2008 at 10:21 am
Its from a Very Great priveleged position that we can sit behind our keyboards, have the ability to see, to function, and to type,our opinions, something that eludes jose, and how some, who have this privelege cannot even begin to understand the courage and FAITH jose has, and is continuing to display,
Admiration, for a beautiful individual is what i see,and totally HUMBLED..BY HIS COURAGE, love of JEHOVAH..(GOD) and Faith in his soon to be intervention into mans affairs.
Degenerate comments is exactly what can be expected 2 timothy 3 verses 1-5.
Revelation 21 verses 3-5 is the direction jose is looking to and with the eyes of his heart, he can see with the Faith of Job. He can take his position Bolstered by the spirit of JAH.
If there is a technique,that can be employed in this specific, challenging,surgery,not violating his stand on blood, but maybe using many alternative, non blood prodcucts, Volume expanders, cell savers, and alike, routinely used in the USA. in Major surgical operations, Then you can be pretty sure jose will elect for these.
April 1st, 2008 at 10:53 am
Christianity has a lot to answer for.
Good luck Jose!
Truthful reply on July 28th, 2008 12:24 am:
For the record, Jevovah’s Witnesses do not share the same beliefs about Jesus as Christians (i.e., “Christ-followers”) do, so in fact they are not actually true Christians. Christians are believers that Jesus Christ is the risen Son of the triune God. Jehovah’s Witnesses will argue that he is not.
Congregation Elder reply on August 3rd, 2008 8:58 am:
Regarding the comment stating that Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t believe that Jesus Christ is the risen Son of God. You are incorrect sir. I am one of Jehovah’s Witnesses and that’s exactly what we believe.
Understandably there’s a lot of negative talk about our beliefs in these comments. I say “understandably” because most people don’t know the Bible and even fewer believe in it. When the apostles and older men of the congregation of Jerusalem tell the conregations to abstain from blood (Acts 15:28.29), doesn’t that seem to conflict with blood transfusions? Some people think that it refers only to consuming blood as a food (blood sausages, etc…), but really, is that logical?
Returning to the comment about Witnesses belief in Jesus as the risen Son of God. It is this firm conviction that makes us confident that we too will be resurrected if we show the same faith and obedience that Jesus did.
April 1st, 2008 at 5:50 pm
I watched this programe last night I was mortified by what I saw poor man….has Jose had his surgery it would be nice to know perhaps a follow up program to see what has happend to him now.
April 1st, 2008 at 10:15 pm
I’m a big ‘live & let live’ person and I see alot of people getting alot of spiritual guidance, life direction and a great deal of life satisfaction and fulfillment from religion. It’s a life choice though, as it should be. But religion DOES have alot to answer for – good and bad, but Jose’s decision appeared to be made on brainwashing from his mother, not his own strong religion. THAT is the issue here. To put his religious views ahead of his need to have medical surgery is selfish in my view and unfair on his long-suffering sister who loves & cares for him. If he feels THAT strongly about it, he should live alone somewhere and not put his poor family through it for his own brainwashed beliefs. Like millions of others, I also had massive sympathy for him, but ultimately, there’s a choice here he’s made and he chooses to sit all day in the town square, don’t expect people not to stare and don’t rely on your family in my view.
April 2nd, 2008 at 4:24 am
Would be nice to see everyone drop the religion thing. I’m sure JW’s can find many bible laws that anyone’s religion in this blog is not following… Need I bring up the Catholic support of the Nazi era.
Seems like those racist punks posting Feb/8 *were probably raised that way - and I bet they’re baptized Christians too! You too Dan!
The issue is a mature person who made a choice based on what he “Learned” not “Brain-washed”. If that were the case - then why is his Sister now a Jehovah’s Witness since she’s hoping he does take a transfusion.
Bottom line we love people (those who actually have a heart) and we all want the best for others.
We don’t know the facts - but medically the face capillaries bleed more than other areas. But with or without blood - you just don’t know. Blood is not tissue that works like water… His blood is coded to support his body. Other blood could fail in itself.
So hopefully things go well - support his choices. Golden Rule is a nice principle. Sadly most people don’t know who the originator of that statement is - and they claim to worship him.
April 2nd, 2008 at 4:30 am
*correction “Sister “NOT” a JW from what I read.
April 3rd, 2008 at 7:02 am
did jose have the surgery ? and what happened ? i give my heart felt love out to the family and wish them luck and well done to jose sister for taking care of him ,,,,,
April 10th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
ok ok, so the ‘brainwashed’ term only serves to offend. I apologise.
But actually, from what we saw (and that’s all we can base an opinion on, and thereafter have a discussion), religion is fairly & squarely why he is still like this - his decision or not. So ‘dropping the religion thing’ is hardly condusive to the discussion, since it’s a pivotal part of it and in my view, responsible. I don’t claim to know the facts of his chosen faith including blood transfusions but actually it’s irrelevant which faith it is! I would never criticise anyone’s ‘level’ of faith as it’s not my place to do that not being one of faith myself His sister choosing to ignore this side of her religion to help her brother is her personal choice, but the FACT is that he has chosen his religious beliefs over and above anything else in choosing not to have a major operation - his appearance for one, but more importantly, the upset to his family. Look, don’t get me wrong, I’m pro-choice with this and anything else. It’s up to him, but accept the consequences of this and don’t expect other human walking past not to stare and live with the upset you’re causing your nearest & dearest.
BTW Dr Rick, risking starting a tangent discussion here, yes I was brought up and christened, but not by my choice. My two children will quite definitely NOT be christened.
Lee reply on May 12th, 2008 5:56 pm:
Not going to lie, I have to agree with Dan the Agnostic. Religion can do good things and horrible crimes! Best of luck to Jose Mestre!!!
June 24th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
Dear Jose,
I hope you are doing well and are ecovering real soon (since there is no news if you really did proceed with the surgery). You have defintely touched my heart greatly. God bless you!
July 28th, 2008 at 1:49 am
Dear Jose,
May you find comfort in the scripture that states in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 “Therefore we do not give up, but even if the man we are outside is wasting away, certainly the man we are inside is being renewed from day to day. For though the tribulation is momentary and light, it works out for us a glory that is of more and more surpassing weight and is everlasting; while we keep our eyes, not on the things seen, but on the things unseen. For the things seen are temporary, but the things unseen are everlasting.”
Your devotion to God is an inspiration to us, as you have faith in God’s promises for the near future as outlined in Revelation 21:3-5 where it says, “With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them. And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away. And the One seated on the throne said: “Look! I am making all things new.” Also, he says: “Write, because these words are faithful and true.”
How wonderful when the scripture in Isaiah 65:17 will soon be fulfilled, and ‘the former things will not be called to mind, neither will they come up into the heart.’ Your physical and emotional wounds will be a thing of the past.
I understand your desire not to receive any blood transfusions, because the Bible clearly says at Leviticus 3:17 “It is a statute to time indefinite for YOUR generations, in all YOUR dwelling places: YOU must not eat any fat or any blood at all.” Whether by mouth or through a vein, it is still the same, we must not eat ANY blood at all to time indefinite. Acts 15:28-29 verifies that as well, where it instructs us to ‘abstain from blood’.
Please know Jose that our prayers are with you.
Corinne - Missouri, USA
david reply on July 28th, 2008 4:30 pm:
Religion and Technology - and never the two shall meet. Is it better to live an unfulfilled low quality life, and be a strict adherer to religious beliefs, or allow technology to help you live a higher quality life, and perhaps even allow one to make religious contributions. I don’t buy all this religious fanatical thinking. The man obviously needs help and no amount of religion will help here, he needs a medical solution. Somebody earlier on mentioned the life after death thing associated with Jehovah Witnesses. Well, for situations like these, where they are against blood transfusions, they should just advise the person to take their own life, rather then spend time on Earth here in a miserable state. Get on with the “next life”, which is hopefully much better. And here’s the even bigger question I have, would the God under Jehovah Witness really want this man to endure a lifetime of burden/agony. If so, that is one hellva mean God. Is this supposed to prove something, to him or others.
July 28th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
God bless you Jose, and your family, I pray for you all and wish you only the best.
July 28th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
People should not judge someone, I pray that God comforts Jose and his family. He is a very strong person who is loved by God and his family very much.
July 28th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
I must agree with David on the statement about whether or not a god would want someone to suffer so horrendously- well one could say that physical appearance is irrelevant in the eyes of God, but this is more than just a physical and cosmetic defect- the man can’t see and can barely eat at this point. So I can’t imagine a higher power punishing someone for wanting medical help no matter what it would take. If I am wrong than I don’t know if I wish to know such a god. But I wish him the best of luck with whatever he endures.
August 2nd, 2008 at 11:34 pm
It seems the doctors could use the same techniques used to minimize or obliterate varicose veins to stave off the veins that are feeding this tumorous growth that is engulfing his head. I’d try it by the mouth-lip area where the tumor began when he was a teenager. I think if the doctors could concentrate on this area and wipe out the original tumor, the rest of them would die. Yes, God loves him. He has a family who loves him, too, and he is not alone in his plight. But Jose must fight this before it suffocates him and/or blinds him.
August 9th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
While I understand that his family wants to take care of him, it is still an unfair burden. Also, I think it’s ridiculous that he would expect people not to point or take photos of him when what he does in the afternoon is go and sit in public. I still feel sympathetic towards him, but there are quite a few things about his story that strike me as a little… off.