Carlos (29) was severely abused and mutilated as a child, now he gets artificial skin

ARNHEM - The 29-year-old Carlos Wiltink from Arnhem was severely mistreated in his first years of life, in his native Brazil, and was badly burned. After his adoption, he had to undergo about forty operations because of his mutilations. Now he is participating in an international study, in which his skin must be repaired in a more sustainable way. That can make a big difference to him.

Between zero and three years, I was burned and mutilated in Brazil," says Carlos in the Burn Center in Beverwijk, where the investigation is taking place. In files he has read, there are stories about what might have happened there. "That's pretty intense. Not human."

The large scars on his legs are caused by burns, according to research in Beverwijk. One arm is also longer than the other due to stabbings, Carlos points out. "I have injuries to my head, because knives have also come on it. I also suffered brain damage, which can give me epilepsy."

In the end, young Carlos was found by the side of the road by two children. "They sounded the alarm. Then I was in hospital for a year and a half. My life hung by a thread."

My mother gave me away to the wrong people. She herself did not have enough money

Carlos is convinced that his biological mother wanted to give him a good future, but made the wrong decisions. "She gave me away to the wrong people. She herself did not have enough money." In the police reports, several people accuse each other of the assaults, Carlos knows.

He is currently looking for his biological parents and siblings. This includes crowdfunding . "I want to look for my roots and find the truth. That would give me peace."

'A Little Terrorist'

After he got out of the Brazilian hospital, Carlos was adopted by a Dutch family. According to Carlos, that took care of him well, but communication was a problem with the Portuguese-speaking boy, among other things. "I also had an attachment disorder. My mutilations and abuse in Brazil did not work at home. I was a small terrorist."

The upbringing of his Dutch brothers and sisters was also jeopardized as a result. "So after two years they decided to put me out of the house." He then lived in institutions for about 24 years. Carlos has been living on his own for six months and he is doing better. "I've learned to survive, even if I make mistakes."

Carlos is proud that he fought to be where he is now. "For that, the right people also have to believe in you and have confidence in you."

'Prevent wheelchair'

Because of his injuries, Carlos has already undergone many operations. "We had to, because scars don't grow with them. To prevent you from ending up in a wheelchair." The last operation on his foot was less successful, the wound reopened. He decided, in consultation with his doctors, to participate in an international study.

Carlos is one of eight Dutch people who participate in it. It is intended, among other things, for people with acute major burns, explains his doctor, Professor Paul van Zuijlen. "Like Carlos has had in the past." We work with an 'artificial skin'. "We make new skin in the lab with cells from the different layers of human skin."

'Really a breakthrough'

This new skin is grown in collaboration with a lab in Zurich. "The idea is that you can make a lot more skin that way. Someone who has been badly burned has very little skin left to transplant. So if you can make skin in a lab, you can do bigger burns with someone else. treat skin." According to him, that would be a real breakthrough for this target group.

The method should also lead to more beautiful and smoother scars. The first results are promising, according to the doctor. But it will take at least another year before the concrete figures can be released. "Although the truth is that it always takes longer than you think, so maybe two years."

'Paper thin and vulnerable'

So the investigation with Carlos is still ongoing. "We hope to determine that he will have a better scar where the artificial skin is placed." Although the applied artificial skin is still wafer-thin and vulnerable, it looks good for now, concludes Van Zuijlen after studying Carlos' wound. "We have to give it some time."

Carlos hopes that the new method will ensure that he will need as little surgery as possible in the future. "The goal is that I can be without a wheelchair for another thirty or forty years."

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