Missing Finger Tips

I'll send a quick prayer up for you and your hand. It takes alot of guts to admit mistakes publicly, but it really helps to get us to focus on safety.

Tim.

P.S. I hope this doesn't offend (if it does, I'll remove it) and I don't mean to slight your pain or injury, but in a way - there is a positive side to this. It sounds to me like you can make one heck of a knife.
 
Damn, why do we feel the need to do such things as chop rope or slash falling paper or slice through a free standing soda can?
I am so sorry to hear about this Andrew!!
I pray it heals quickly and you're back in the shop soon!
May I ask why they couldn't reattach the finger tip, not meaning to be morbid?
 
Andrew, I'm really sorry to hear of your accident! Hey, get well, fast, fella. Try to keep your hand elevated, also. When I read the heading of your post, I thought you had ground off a couple of finger tips, too. We are pulling for you, Andy!
 
Andrew called me the morning after it happened, I just waited for the punchline.... Not a good thing at all!!!!

I am sure with Andrews' patience and determination he will be right back in the shop once he adjusts to the changes... And once he repaints the floor so it doesnt look like a murder scene...

Hopefully things like this happen to ALL of us less and less as things get brought to our attention. It brings to mind how frail the human body is, and the means we need to take to protect it.. While testing cuts and such on "durable" objects such as 2x4's and rope and such we need to remember how easily that same knife will cut flesh and bone and ALWAYS keep that in mind...

I am not really one to talk because of the lack of safety procedures I use in the normal day. I consider myself lucky and try to remind myself every day what I SHOULD be doing but am not...

Andrew knows I will help him in any way to carry on with his hobby, familly, and normal life, and if he gives up, I got first dibs on his tools ( just kidding):).

I just want to wish Andrew luck and all my supportin this trying time, and hope everyone keeps this in mind the next time you just do something without thinking of the consequences..

Alan Folts
 
I've very sorry to hear this - I wish you a very speedy recovery. :( Thanks again for the reminder on just how dangerous our "toys" are.
 
Thank you all for taking the time to post your best wishes, and for your thoughts on the issue of safety. Accidents happen, but I can tell you that you don't want ones that you can't take back or fix up.

Michael, I put both finger tips in a bag on ice, but was told by the specialists (a plastics surgeon and a hand doctor) that the thumb tip would heal over in some fashion and the index finger cut was at too much of an angle for reattachment. They took some time in deciding this but came to the same conclusion.

I'm not dead yet Alan. :p
 
Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you that my wife thinks I should win the cutting competition this coming weekend by default. :confused: :D
 
God Bless you my friend. My good friend Bruce cut off the end of his left middle finger down to the first knuckle. The really bad news is that he's the lead guitar player in our Blues band. The good news is that in 3 minths he was back at it and actually found that his "stump" was very useful in hammer ons and slide.... We're never sure of God's plan. I am sorry for your trauma.

Best,,
PJG
 
Andrew, I am so sorry you have this to deal with. I hope you heal fast and well. Thank you for posting this. The timing is good to keep us all on our gaurd tomorrow at Goerges. My prayers are with you for a fast and total recovery.
Ed
 
You are in my thoughts and prayers for a speedy and full recovery.
 
Real sorry about that. I can invision how it could happen, holding and dropping a target with the hand just above. I would have done it the same way. Seems this is the week for hurts and near deadly hurts. I got cut, again, and then this real bad accident of yours. This knife makin stuff is not a walk in the garden. I sure hope all works out well for you as time helps heal.

Best to you and yours.

Roger
 
Things happen so quickly and a lot of times we get stuff we don't ask for.

I wish for you a speedy recovery.

What is done is done. There is no turning back, we always have to move forward. I have no idea why things like this happen but we have to make the best of what we have. You've been thrown a curve in life but please don't let this get you down. Keep peddling.

Now, go win the cutting competition!

Craig
 
Andrew McLurkin said:
Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you that my wife thinks I should win the cutting competition this coming weekend by default. :confused: :D
Click to expand...

I second that motion... :)

Andrew: I admire the fact that you were able to share this with us, both as a warning to the rest of us and also as an appeal for support. Once again I discover that this forum of knifemakers, bladesmiths and other sharp, shiny object makers willingly gives it's emotional support right away and physical support if they can.

I also admire that you can now find a bit of humor in this... that shows that the emotional healing process has started as well.

Take care Andrew and Godspeed.
 
Boy Andrew, sends chills up my spine. a couple years ago, I cut my calf during my Journeyman test, so I really do feel your pain. Best wishes and a speedy recovery.
 
Thanks Guys! It helps to know that my story hit home. I went back to the doctor yesterday to have the stitches taken out of my index finger. It looks pretty good once I get past the reality of not seeing from the last knuckle up. My thumb is healing remarkably well. It's amazing how much meat has grown back toward the tip already. The tip of the index finger is gone for good, but it looks like the tip of my thumb will be back.

It makes me happy now when I can clearly remember sitting in my kitchen that night while waiting to the ambulance and saying to my wife: "I can't believe I got two of 'em." I'm grateful that this isn't the end result.

I'm starting to see that it will be the better part of the summer before I'm able to make knives again. Thank God for the support of family and friends. Oh yeah, and pain medicine too. :D

In the world scheme the loss of my fingertip is a little thing. It has made me think more about the injured men in our conflicts in the Middle East. It is surprising how much pain this smallish injury has brought me. I feel for those who are hurting much more; I mean it.

Be careful in your shops because sometimes you can't take it back.

Thanks again for the support!
 
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