“I’m too embarrassed to go outside… my whole body is full of lumps,” whispered 16-year-old Made.

Made Adi Gunawan, or simply Made, is a humble and hardworking boy. Every day, he helps his father clean the neighbors’ salak (snake fruit) garden. Sometimes he earns less than a dollar, and if the owner is kind, he’s given food instead. Made also takes care of two cows that belong to other people.

He and his family live in a small house with a cracked asbestos roof that leaks badly during the rainy season. He had dreams of one day having a proper home for himself and his family.

At first glance, Made looks like any other teenager. But once he takes off his shirt, his body tells a different story — his chest, stomach, and back are covered with lumps, and they’ve now started spreading to his head and face.

Doctors diagnosed him with skin tumors that require surgery. But due to his family’s lack of knowledge and financial hardship, the illness was left untreated. After graduating from middle school, Made stopped studying because of bullying over his condition. He now spends most of his days at home — a bamboo-walled house — too ashamed to go out in public.

Besides his illness, Made doesn’t even have proper clothes. The few shirts he owns are worn out and stained from working — digging soil, cutting grass, and cleaning — even after washing, they still look dirty.

Despite it all, Made dreams of continuing his studies. When asked if he wants to go back to school, he enthusiastically replied that he does — if someone would be kind enough to sponsor his education and not be afraid of his appearance.

Made also wishes someone could adopt him as a foster child. His parents are often sick and have poor eyesight, making it hard for them to work. When his father falls ill, Made tends to him lovingly — bathing him, wiping his body with a towel, and boiling water before heading out to work in the salak garden.

Most days, Made eats nothing but plain rice with chili and salt. He avoids meat and other side dishes due to his illness. Yet, he remains grateful — as long as his younger siblings can have proper meals, that’s enough for him.

#KindSouls, Made dreams of recovering from the tumors covering his body so he can return to school and live like other children again.

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