PHOTOS: Unfortunate Man Suffers From Elephant Face Defect.

A Cambodian man plagued by a giant growth on his face may have the opportunity to have it removed after two tourists started a Facebook campaign to help get him surgery. Australians Diana Koski and her husband John Nettleton came across 34-year-old Vid while holidaying in the country’s capital Phnom Penh last week.

Vid, who is believed to be homeless and unemployed, was born with the growth that has grown to hang below his chin and completely cover the right side of his face.

“He just walked past us in the street near our hotel and it took us by surprise. I said to my husband we have to help this man,” Koski said. “I started talking to him, but it was difficult because he didn’t speak English. A few of the local people who we had seen shooing him away before came over to help translate

“I told him I’d like to try and help him.”

Vid went back to the couple’s Monsoon Boutique Hotel where the manager, Chan Southun, helped them find out how they could assist him.
“Whenever I walked with Vid, he walked seven paces behind me. Locals would try and shoo him away. Some of the locals tried to stop him walking in our hotel.

“He doesn’t beg, he just walks the streets. I imagine he has had a pretty tough life.”

The couple were granted permission by the chief of the village where Vid was born to have surgery if they could arrange it.“Vid didn’t talk about family or whether he had a place to live. He must not have parents if we had to get permission from the village,” Koski said.
“When I asked him if he wanted to have the growth removed, he said yes instantly. I didn’t know if he would be frightened to go to another country.
“I told him we would do what we can, but it could take months,” Koski said.

“He has quite a sense of humour. He said maybe the girls might be interested in him if the growth is removed.”
Caring couple Diana and John hope to cure Vid
While Vid’s right eye is invisible underneath the growth, his nose and other eye allow him to breathe and walk around unaided.

“He said the growth doesn’t give him headaches or think it’s heavy, but he doesn’t know any different,” Koski said.
The couple are waiting for Vid’s medical records to be sent to them, which they will then send on to the surgeon to see if surgery is even an option. If the surgery is possible and the surgeon agrees, Ms Koski said they will look at getting Vid a visa, passport and airfares.