STEPHEN'S HAND ACCIDENT STORY
The Accident
In January 2023, a moment of ordinary DIY changed my life. Using a circular saw I had always used confidently, the tool suddenly jumped and struck my right hand. Within a fraction of a second, all four fingers were severed at the bases, attached minimally by skin, and my little finger was completely detached. Blood was flowing rapidly, and my body went into shock.
I was alone, but I managed to get my neighbour’s attention, and within minutes the ambulance arrived. I was taken to Wexham Park Hospital, a specialist centre for hand and plastic surgery. Every minute counted and the chance of saving my fingers depended on how quickly I received care.
Surgery and Early Recovery
The surgery that followed lasted eight hours. My bones were wired, flexor and extensor tendons repaired, and blood vessels and nerves reconstructed. While some fingers were successfully saved, my little finger could not be preserved and was amputated after five days. The index finger only just survived due to failing circulation, but after 13 days of leech therapy, the vessels could finally sustain themselves. However, it was left with permanently reduced feeling due to nerve and tendon damage.
From the beginning, I understood that recovery would be more than medical, it would be emotional and mental, and with uncertain outcomes. I didn't know if I would ever play the piano again in the early stages.
Intensive Therapy and Relearning the Piano
When I was discharged, I began an intensive hand therapy programme with my occupational therapist, Gaby Willis. Sessions often lasted 3–6 hours a day, focusing on movement, strength, scar tissue management, and retraining neurological patterns. At first, I could barely press a piano key. Slowly, step by step, I regained dexterity, touch control, and independence in my fingers.
Relearning the piano was both challenging and inspiring. I grieved the loss of a finger, and the sudden disappearance of years of repertoire. Music has always been more than a career; is a core part of who I am. Accepting that I would never play exactly as before was difficult, but I also recognised the opportunity to explore new possibilities, to create music in a different way, and to believe that I could play better than before.
Emotional Journey
Recovery was not only physical. Losing part of my hand and years of work brought profound grief and uncertainty. There were moments when I questioned whether I could continue my career. But alongside the grief, I felt overwhelming hope and curiosity about the music I could still play and the ways I could reinvent my artistry.
At first, I thought recovery meant getting back to where I was before. But along the way, I learned it’s not about going back at all. It’s about how we create something new from what’s left. I was starting to witness the effects of consistent daily efforts compounding over time, both in hand function and piano playing, which gave me motivation and positivity. I came to understand that we don’t choose what breaks us apart, but we do choose what we create from the pieces.
Support and Wider Audiences
I was fortunate to work with specialists who understood music as well as medicine. Gaby, herself an amateur pianist, guided my rehabilitation with exercises tailored to piano technique. E.g. finger independence, span, and touch control. Her support helped me rebuild not just my hand, but my confidence as a pianist.
My recovery has also contributed to the wider medical community. My case has been used in multiple journals and training programmes internationally, and techniques like CMMS plaster casting, which retrains joint movement and neurological control, have been shared with therapists around the world.
Where I Am Now
Today I continue, with a focus on presenting programmes that reflect resilience, reconstruction, and continuance. My journey has taught me that music can carry the weight of life’s fractures and help re-form something beautiful from what remains.
Sharing this story through performance and talks allows me to inspire others facing sudden loss, while continuing to explore my own artistry in new ways.
