This is James Byrne, it is hishands, James lost his left thumb in a carpentry accident. Doctors unsuccessfully tried to re-attach it, so they proposed an alternative: "Why don't we use your dominant left toe instead?" He said yes. "Apparently, James' thumb was vital for his work, paver and plant operator, so the answer was easy for him. The operation was a success, although he still can't fully move the thumb naturally: "I can't bend it yet but I hope to be able to do so soon. It rotates and I can give it a good wiggle. I am so, so pleased that I had it done. It is just such a relief that I'll be able to get back to work soon." He would have to return to surgery to remove the wires that currently secure the bones in place, but otherwise everything seems perfectly fine." 'James will have to learn to re-balance, without his left great toe, on to the ball of his foot but he will be able to walk and jog normally. 'The thumb is the dominant digit. Without it, James would not be able to do the things that we take for granted, like holding a pen or opening a door.
My Father-in-law and his father are both prostegious plastic surgeons and i have heard of many stories like this about burns, smashed appendages, reconstructed ears and noses. the grandfather even did surgery on a cleft palatte on a lion cub (it did not survive, but the odds of long term survival were very slim to begin with). take a moment and thank any docters you know because their work often goes unappreciated (especially when they are on call through holiday get-togethers with their families)
