Thumbs Up

I’ve always admitted that I’ve never had a noble injury. This time was no different. I’ve been making quilts for several years without mishap –except maybe occasionally having to rip and resew seams. My mind must have wandered for just a moment while using my rotary blade, a razor-sharp disk mounted in a handheld tool that is locked when not in use. I was in the process of squaring the 120 eight-inch pieced blocks I’d been working on for my 2nd oldest grandson’s quilt. Three sets of 40, I was 10 squares short of being done with the final set.

It was Sunday. I’d been taking my time, multiple days in fact. After all I’m retired so not on any schedule other than my own. Also, the repetitive motion of squaring the squares while leaning over my dining room table caused my lower back to ache. But now that I was so close to finishing, I just wanted to get it done. Muscle memory kicked in and in one careless movement I ran the rotary blade over my left thumbnail.

My first thought was to wrap it tightly in a paper towel until the bleeding stopped. It didn’t stop. When I took a second look, I knew I was in trouble. I called my daughter and told her I needed help. Feeling woozy I didn’t trust myself to get in the car and drive to get emergency care. Fortunately, my son-in-law was already in his vehicle coming home from taking his mother to the E.R. (She turned out to be okay.) He was at my door within 15 minutes.

Long story short, after a visit to my local E.R. just a mile and a half from my home, I was patched up, no stiches required though missing about a third of said thumbnail. Sent home with instructions to keep my left hand elevated above my heart a while longer, I was exhausted. The bandage would need to be changed in a couple days, which would involve soaking it off. Unfortunately, soaking didn’t work so I ended up making a second trip, this time to Urgent Care where a kind doctor helped me finally get it off. Over the following 2+ weeks my son-in-law faithfully came every couple of days to change the bandage while not making me feel incompetently pathetic.

Two months later, my thumbnail is well on its way growing back to normal. I haven’t finished squaring the 10 remaining block squares. Sooner than later, I’ll get to it. Meanwhile, I’ve been busy trying out new veggie recipes, growing broccoli sprouts, and enjoying making fresh fruit and yogurt smoothies in my new little travel blender. My exercise schedule is on target, my cholesterol level is healthy, and my triglycerides have lowered. Spring flowers are blooming. All things considered I give life a thumbs up. Both thumbs now that my left thumb is participating again!