The Emergency Room Is Not On The Agenda

 Two weeks ago today, we had the missionaries over for dinner. I had a piano lesson immediately following the dinner, so I had taken care to plan things accordingly to make sure it would all come out on time. I was doing a pretty good job of it too... until the missionaries actually showed up. They arrived about 10 minutes early, which is no big deal. Dinner was in the oven (Honey Lime Chicken Enchiladas - amazing by the way) and I was just working on putting the cobbler together so that I could throw it in the moment the enchiladas came out. I was attempting to open a can of peaches when the can opener skipped a small section of the lid. I hate it when that happens! No matter how many times you try to go over it, it just won't cut. So what did I do? Tried to pry it open with my fingers.

I am pretty sure that's the number one no-no in can opening. I knew it was a horrible idea. I knew without a doubt how this was going to turn out. So I did the only natural thing in that situation. I did it anyway.

The lid sprung open with a thwang. Feeling successful, but suddenly worried, I looked down at my thumb. I didn't actually feel any pain, but ya know - opening a can lid that way never turns out very well... so why should it this time?

What I saw was WAY worse than I had anticipated. 

You know this guy?

This is Beaker, from the Muppets. My thumb looked just like his mouth. A giant, deep, gaping slice flapping away from the rest of the appendage. Pretty sure my face looked just like his face too. 

"Shooooooot," I mumbled. 

"What's wrong?" asked one of the missionaries. "Did you cut yourself?"

"Yeah..." I replied, as the blood started to gush. 

At this moment Ryan walked into the kitchen.

"Hey, Ryan," I began, "You wanna get in some suture practice?"

"You cut yourself?" he asked, coming to my side.

"Um, yeah." I removed the small section of paper towel I had wrapped around it and showed him the cut. He actually jumped a little and disappeared. There was no denying the cut needed stitches. Super gluing it wasn't an option. But it wasn't in a vital area or bad enough I needed the ER. Ryan was more than capable.

Thankfully it really didn't hurt. It was, however, incredibly annoying. Of course it was my right thumb. It would have been to easy to be the left. ;) I told the missionaries that the dumb thing was I knew it was going to happen - but I had ignored the prompting. 

Elder Plitts laughed. "Well tonight's lesson is going to be on listing to the Holy Ghost," he joked.

I tried to finish the last few preparations, but my paper towel was so soaked it was started to stain my other fingers, so I relented and let the missionaries finish things. (The were very willing and very helpful, and thought it hilarious that I just kept going like nothing was wrong. What else was I suppose to do? It didn't hurt and I had things to do!)

Ryan returned with sterile gloves, iodine, sutures, and equipment. We told the boys to go ahead and start eating, and Ryan put me back together. I believe that was a first for both of those Elders! :) I don't think either of them were terribly thrilled with the blood, but neither of them passed out and hey - it gave them something to write home about! It's not every day you get to see someone get sewn back together in the kitchen. Hahaha.

I tried for days to get a picture with this stitches, but these particular ones were clear, so it wouldn't have helped much. That, and I couldn't get the camera to focus. I finally did a get a few shots, though they aren't amazing. 

It is now pretty much healed. Ryan put in about 5 stitches. My guess is that if we had gone to the doctor, they would have put in more, especially considering the cut takes a turn downward, but that wasn't very visible with the blood and iodine. The outer layer or two around it is dead and is dry and flaking off. The skin (deep layer and superficial) is now totally connected again - thanks Ryan! - and I am just waiting for the outer layer to finish flaking away. It's still a little tender if I press too hard directly on the cut, but I can now use my thumb again like normal.

I am extremely grateful for my hubby for being willing to put me back together. I am grateful for the experience he had at work doing this, but also for the hours he insisted on practicing at home with materials that were going to be thrown out. (Still sterile, but if they were part of a kit that was opened but not used, they have to toss it.) There was no infection, thankfully. There was some swelling and unfortunately the middle suture did pull through, but overall, I think it turned out quite nicely. I will still have a scar, but it won't be too bad. Besides, scars are awesome! If it was on my face, maybe I would feel differently. 

For the record, dinner turned out delicious. As did the cobbler. Nothing can touch Dutch Oven Cobbler, but for regular oven stuff, it was good. I always strive to entertain - and I think I managed that quite well. Sorry Elders! I am glad you didn't pass out! Hahaha.