That Was Fun

I would say that most everybody knows about Rick and his finger. For the person or two this side of the Rockies who hasn't heard, Rick tried his best to get rid of a finger....or at least part of one. While at work Wed morning, he was up in the air in one of those bucket/lift thingies cutting a pipe. He had both hands on the saw, but the bucket dropped a little and he grabbed the rail with his left hand...therefore the saw dropped and sliced through part of his left middle finger. He was taken to St. Joseph East where one of the best hand surgeons magically appeared. They took him right into surgery to reattach the finger. The doctor told me it was hanging by a thread. Apparently there are pictures.....not sure I want to see them. I guess we'll have that option when we go back to the doctor next Wed. He had to prepare the bone (not sure what that means), then reattach muscles, tendons and artery. Niiiiiice. I mean, if you're going to chop your finger, you might as well do a good job of it! Thank the Good Lord it was just a finger. He could have very well sliced off his hand.

At this point it seems to be healing nicely. Only the very tip end is showing, but he has feeling in that part, so that is a good sign. The doctor did say that it would never be the same. He probably won't be able to bend it at the top knuckle. Oh well, the boy will just have to make due!

He has had quite a bit of pain to go along with it. And of course, night time is the worse. It hurts and he absolutely freezes at night. He hasn't gotten much sleep for the past 2 nights. But tonight we are armed with an electric blanket!! Hopefully that will take care of the freezing part. His pain medicine is on schedule to be taken right at bedtime, so that will help too. Pain medicine is a good, good thing!!

He has been at Toyota for 20 years and this is his first major accident. He's had several close calls, but thank goodness has never been severely hurt. I hope this is the one and only!! Maybe they should think twice about letting the boy operate a power tool!