Living without a big toe. Anybody out here lose one?

MikeA57 · Oct 11, 2012

This past Monday evening my granddaughters were over at our house with their Mom and my wife. We had set up a small moon bounce in our garage for a birthday party 2 days before and it was still up. The kids had been out there playing on the thing all day Saturday, Sunday and again that evening on Monday. At some point, my oldest granddaughter went over to our weight machine and pulled one of the 45 lb plate weights off the rack. Of course, when it reached the end of the rack, gravity did it's job and it landed right on her big toe, right foot. They immediately took her to the Minor Medical place down the road who cleaned it up and bandaged it, and they told her to go to Orthapedic doctor the next day. When they went there, they took one look at it and sent her to downtown Memphis to LeBonheur Children's Hospital. They prepped her for surgery and she went in at 10:30 that night. They ended up putting a rod in her toe to assist in helping the broken toe bone but they also discovered that one of the 2 blood vessels in the toe was completely destroyed. The other was damaged. The doctors told her Mom (my daughter) and Dad that there was a chance she may lose the toe.

When they came in and checked her today they said that it wasn't looking good. The toe was turning black and they reiterated that unless the toe starts getting more blood she likely will lose it. So now we're trying to find out what life will be for her without a big toe. The doctor said that since she's 5, she'll be able to adapt to not having it better than an adult would, but are there things that you cannot do or can't do as well without it? I know it will affect her balance, at least until she gets acclimated to not having it.

Oh, and any and all prayers would be greatly appreciated for this little girl. She's a beautiful, impulsive little girl who just didn't understand what could happen by doing what she did.

Mike

brin · Oct 11, 2012

Mike , truly sorry to hear about your daughter...You will have our prayers for her , you and your family...When I was in high school I worked at a Pharmacy as a delivery boy...the Pharmacist had lost both of his big toes...I don't know how but he had lost them and he got around just fine..I don't remember seeing him limp or lose his balance ever and he was always going up and down stairs and when we were busy he was running back behind the counter...I agree, with her being young , I bet she adapts well and no telling what they will come up with as she grows older...many advances now days...Best wishes ...and prayers.

TripleR · Oct 11, 2012

Mike, my oldest son caught his foot under a lawnmower when he was about fourteen or fifteen and lost most of the big toe on his right foot. He recovered, ran track, served in the Army and you can't tell he has any problems.

On September 12 of this year, my eighteen year old grandson was struck by a car while riding his motorcycle and lost three toes on his right foot. His big toe and the one next to it remain. He will have a long recovery, but the doctors expect no disability. He had done an early enlistment in the Army for Airborne/Special Forces. My son has spoken with the recruiters and they said it should not keep him out of the Army.

So sorry to hear about your grand daughter; my thoughts will be with her.

MossRoad · Oct 11, 2012

Sorry to hear of than unfortunate accident. I'll keep her in my thoughts. My dad had a big toe that had no tendon or muscle control. It just flopped around. Was of no use. Didn't seem to affect him at all. She will be O.K. :thumbsup:

MossRoad · Oct 11, 2012

I also seem to recall meeting a guy that had lost his thumb and they took one of his big toes to replace it. He didn't limp or anything that I remember.

dmccarty · Oct 11, 2012

There was a basketball player for UofL decades ago who somehow lost his thumb. The cut off his big toe and put it on his hand as a thumb. He was able to keep playing BBall .

Later,
Dan

RDrancher · Oct 11, 2012

I've had joint replacement in both of my big toes due to severe arthritis. It was either that or fuse them. Both are a lot shorter than they used to be and don't touch the floor even when I want them to. A one year old can knock me off balance going forward if I'm not ready. Other than my boot size being a full size smaller and stubbing the next toe in line now and again it doesn't bother me a bit. Kids are very resilient, I think she'll be just fine.

s219 · Oct 11, 2012

Poor thing, I feel bad for her going through this injury and experience. But I bet she will get over it and adapt just fine. Five year old kids are about as resilient as you can get.

MarkV · Oct 11, 2012

Bad thing for sure, you must be devastated. She will come through it though. I've worked with those who had much worst and you would not know it. The Doc's are right, she is still in the development years and this is just something else she with develop around. The human body is truly amazing at what it can overcome. Hang in there.

MarkV