Sharp Knives Dull Your Nerves

Today I have the joy of smiling, enjoying a beer and giving a thumbs up.

But yesterday, this was my face.

This is a face you never want to see on a loved one.

Last night, our friends Mike and Liz invited us over to their place for an evening of drinks on their building’s amazing rooftop.

Mike and I decided that making homemade guacamole was a great idea to enjoy with some chips and beers.

One quick trip to Whole Foods later, I was happily in the kitchen prepping the ingredients. Unfortunately, I was attempting to prepare ingredients using a very small cutting board and an EXTREMELY sharp STEAK knife. 

It seems to be one of those counter-intuitive things, bigger knives are actually safer in the kitchen.  Chopping tomatoes, onions and jalapenos worked reasonably well but once I reached the avocados, things took a turn for the worse.  Anyone who has ever made guacamole, knows the standard trick of knocking the knife into the seed and twisting to remove the seed before scooping out the delicious creamy fruit.  Without a thought, that was the technique I attempted.  The first attempt scraped off the side of the seed.  “No big deal,” I thought, as I wound up for another attempt.  Yeah right, no big deal my ass.  The second attempt glanced off the seed and the momentum of the knife continued through the fruit into my hand below.  More specifically, the knife drove itself into the outside of my left thumb.  The minute the accident occurred, I knew that something was serious.  Its an interesting experience to be injured.  Having been hurt seriously twice within the last six months, I’ve had more experience and thus more opportunity to reflect on this than most people do within the course of a half-year.  The human body works in mysterious ways, but I have to say that you KNOW, the minute it happens, that you need medical attention.  It was so strange too.  Before I saw the blood, and before I saw how deep the cut was, I knew that a trip to the emergency room was unavoidable. 

  I was right and after being examined by the plastic surgeon on-call, I learned that I had severed the digital nerve of my right thumb (seemed to make sense as half of my thumb was numb). 

That brings me to last night’s result; a painful thumb with three stitches. 

And, the future, a nerve reconstruction surgery that must happen sometime this week lest the disconnected end of the nerve die and never live to see the light of day again.  I’ll check back in later this week with a description of the surgery but suffice it to say that it is not going to be a pleasant experience.

Until then, please make sure that you have an appropriate cutting board and knife in your kitchen. They are requisite for safe and delicious kitchen creations! They also make perfect house warming or wedding gifts for your friends!