January 10, 2008
Carpenter Replaces Severed Thumb with Big Toe
St. Mary's Medical Center got a tip of the hat care of VH1's Best Week Ever blog. For what, exactly? Why, for acting like Dr. Frankenstein and slicing off carpenter Garrett La Fever's big toe and reattaching it as his thumb. According to to ABC 7:
The thumb is responsible for 40 percent of the function of the hand which is why when doctors proposed removing Garrett's big toe and using it to create a new thumb. Garrett felt it was his best chance of regaining the use of his hand.
Dr. Charles Lee and UCSF plastic surgeon Scott Hansen performed the procedure - osteosynthesis, for all you sexy medical geeks out there - which lasted over six hours. The surgery included dissecting the toe and thumb tendons, nerves, and blood vessels; a bone removal; dry ice plumes stemming from test tubes; an eerie castle; and a shock of lightning.
Body part reassignment and a mention on BWE? Way to go, St. Mary's.
In other news, we're changing our last name to "La Fever."
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So if he jams his finger, he's stubbed his toe?
OMG Generic...I was almost fired for laughing so hard!!!
And who paid for this?
Um, isn't like the big toe pretty important for things like balance? If he's a carpenter he's probably walking around on building frames and stuff. What good is a toethumb when you lose your balance and fall head on in to a radial saw?
Um, isn't like the big toe pretty important for things like balance?
Yes, but when the doctors told Mr Le Fever which body part they wanted to relocate to replace his now-missing big toe, he figured he'd just take his chances...
(There's a penis joke in there somewhere. I swear)
Yeah, I was reaching for a "there I go again putting my foot in my mouth" joke.
But I gave up. Thankfully.
Yeah, I was reaching for a "there I go again putting my foot in my mouth" joke. But I gave up. Thankfully.
I wouldn't have thumbed my nose at a joke like that...
Hm. No... that's not funny, either. OK. I'm done.
@BeejW: I amazed he didn't ask them to just use his other thumb. Then again, maybe he did and made the mistake of going to Kasier and got his big toe instead.
"And who paid for this?
I heard his insurance company was going to foot the bill.