Yes, it is partially true. My medical chart says "partially amputated thumb" and yes, the deed was done by my mash tun. I have a 10-gal mash tun with a circle cut out of the bottom. I place a perforated false bottom over that and the whole thing sits inside a 15gal BK. I works a little like a Speidel Braumeister. I've been saying for the last year that the edges were sharp and needed to be ground smooth.
I had just finished brewing a batch of Pliny The Elder and was cleaning. My new brewery is setup so I don't have to lift anything heavier than the grain I"m about mash. I can brew for hours now and my poor old back is fresh as a daisy. Thursday evening was no different. I had taken a few days off and one of the things on the project list was brew a new batch of Pliny. Mission accomplished. So, I had my full mash tun lifted and dangling from the hoist. I perched it on the edge of the large rolling trash bin as I've done many times before. All I had to do was tilt it and all the grain would come right out. Well on Thursday, that was not quite the way it went. The MT slipped and was dangling over the trash bin instead of resting on the side. I maneuvered it back into position on the edge and for some stupid reason, I reached in and was holding it by the bottom cut out when it slipped again. In a split second, I knew something was wrong. Blood went everywhere. The pain then hit. Then it went to a cold burning sensation. I grabbed my roll of paper towels and put pressure on it. I somehow made it inside and filled a zip lock bag with ice. I knew it was bad and stitches were going to be required. Then, because I was concerned about the stench that was likely emanating from my body, I took a quick shower. By this time, it was almost numb.
After getting dressed again, I drove to a nearby urgent care facility. I must have looked pretty white or blue or green when I entered. Because the receptionist simply said is your thumb gone. I said I think it's still there. I did not even have to sign in. She immediately called back to the doctor and said we have have an emergency and the patient is going to faint. I don't know how I remember that, but for some reason, I do. The doctor said who placed this pressure bandage on this? I said me and she said "Great job!" She then unwrapped it partially and immediately re-wrapped it. She said you have to go to the ER now. I was home alone and my wife was in a cross country runners booster meeting at my 17-yr old daughter's high school. Fortunately, my 21-yr old daughter who was just back from Europe, got me to the ER.
That mash tun cut through my left thumbnail, and then made a circular cut around the thumb just taking a small chunk of the bone. So, that's how I wound up with a partially amputated thumb. I have lots of stitches, a splint for the bone and an appointment with a hand surgeon. I hope that damn Pliny turns out nicely. I looked in the fermentation cabinet and it is bubbling away today.
Now I have to move my thumb saving daughter into a new apartment for her senior year a UGA.
Here is the perpetrator:
I had just finished brewing a batch of Pliny The Elder and was cleaning. My new brewery is setup so I don't have to lift anything heavier than the grain I"m about mash. I can brew for hours now and my poor old back is fresh as a daisy. Thursday evening was no different. I had taken a few days off and one of the things on the project list was brew a new batch of Pliny. Mission accomplished. So, I had my full mash tun lifted and dangling from the hoist. I perched it on the edge of the large rolling trash bin as I've done many times before. All I had to do was tilt it and all the grain would come right out. Well on Thursday, that was not quite the way it went. The MT slipped and was dangling over the trash bin instead of resting on the side. I maneuvered it back into position on the edge and for some stupid reason, I reached in and was holding it by the bottom cut out when it slipped again. In a split second, I knew something was wrong. Blood went everywhere. The pain then hit. Then it went to a cold burning sensation. I grabbed my roll of paper towels and put pressure on it. I somehow made it inside and filled a zip lock bag with ice. I knew it was bad and stitches were going to be required. Then, because I was concerned about the stench that was likely emanating from my body, I took a quick shower. By this time, it was almost numb.
After getting dressed again, I drove to a nearby urgent care facility. I must have looked pretty white or blue or green when I entered. Because the receptionist simply said is your thumb gone. I said I think it's still there. I did not even have to sign in. She immediately called back to the doctor and said we have have an emergency and the patient is going to faint. I don't know how I remember that, but for some reason, I do. The doctor said who placed this pressure bandage on this? I said me and she said "Great job!" She then unwrapped it partially and immediately re-wrapped it. She said you have to go to the ER now. I was home alone and my wife was in a cross country runners booster meeting at my 17-yr old daughter's high school. Fortunately, my 21-yr old daughter who was just back from Europe, got me to the ER.
That mash tun cut through my left thumbnail, and then made a circular cut around the thumb just taking a small chunk of the bone. So, that's how I wound up with a partially amputated thumb. I have lots of stitches, a splint for the bone and an appointment with a hand surgeon. I hope that damn Pliny turns out nicely. I looked in the fermentation cabinet and it is bubbling away today.
Now I have to move my thumb saving daughter into a new apartment for her senior year a UGA.
Here is the perpetrator:
