Friday morning I was sitting here on the computer working while the babies slept. DH called me around 9:00 and said he didn't know what time he'd be home because he cut his finger at work and he "thinks it needs a stitch." He said he slammed it on a machine. Ok, fine. No big deal, right?
Two hours later he called me back:
DH: Um, I need to tell you something.
Me: Ok...
DH: Are you ready?
Me: I think so. What's going on?
DH: I cut my finger pretty badly. They're talking about amputation.
Me: WHAT!?!?! (insert string of about 50 questions followed by uncontrollable SOBBING)
DH: (trying to answer my questions. this is why he didn't tell me how bad it was to begin with)
He was closing one of the bay doors on his truck when he felt his glove get stuck. There was no time to react. The 200lb door slammed down on his hand, toward the tips of his fingers. The bay door jumped back up a little and he pulled his hand out. He shook it because it hurt a little and when he did, he could feel the tip of his right middle finger flapping against the glove.
He got the glove off and there was the tip, dangling off his finger. He could see the bone. He grabbed the finger and put it back on the bone and went inside the building he was at to ask someone to call the paramedic (there was no way he could drive anywhere). The woman called and then brought him a dixie cup of ice to see if he could save the finger. DH tried not to laugh at her and knew she was only trying to help.
So they got him to the ER where they did their best to sew it back into place. They even had to sew the nail back on. The ER doctor wanted to cut the finger at the first knuckle right then, but decided he'd seek the advice of a plastic surgeon. This is when DH finally called me to tell me what really happened.
I called gig kid's mom to have her meet me at the surgeon's office. He said they did a really nice job sewing the finger back on. He said it was looking good and pink and that's what they like to see, but a lot can happen in a few days, so we have to go back tomorrow to get the final verdict: keeping the tip vs. amputation.
From there we went to the physical therapist where they made him a splint to protect the finger. They also taught me how to clean and re-dress it. After that DH had to take a drug test (routine for all work injuries) and then he had to go back to the plant to file an injury report and let them know what was going on.
If they decide the stitches are doing their job and there's no need for amputation, the stitches will have to stay in for 3-4 weeks and he'll have to wear the splint for at least a month. After that, he'll have some physical therapy.
He's doing ok, sore, but ok. He's got hydrocodone for pain and an antibiotic to keep it from infection. But you don't realize how much can't be done with only one hand (especially your non-dominant hand). He's feeling depressed about the possible amputation (as am I) and about not being able to do basic things, such as shower alone, shave his face, getting dressed alone, etc. We're just hoping for good news tomorrow.
And pics because it really happened. The first one was Friday night and the second was Saturday morning. They really did do a good job with the stitches because you can hardly see where it was actually cut.
