Storytime - How I Cut My Finger Off. Why They Couldn't Save It. 

Woo this video has blown up over the past couple of days! Thank you guys so much for all of the kind comments! It’s been a year since this happened my hand function is almost 100% what it was before my table saw bit me! A whole bunch of you guys have brought up the possibility of me suing. It’s something that has crossed my mind and a couple of my clients who are lawyers have suggested I probably should as well. I think mentally I still have some hang ups and guilt about what happened; Had I not been using the saw in the first place I never would have been in a position to need to have my finger reattached. Maybe that sounds ridiculous, I do feel a sense of responsibility over what happened to me as well. The statute of limitations for medical malpractice is two years so I still have a bit of time to think about it.

The surgeon spent 10 hours working on reattachment, knowing how important this was..... all that work ruined in minutes by the therapist. So sad.

I can’t stop looking at her hair, it’s so mesmerising.

When you said you cut your finger off with a table saw, I didn't think "Oh, she should have gotten a man to do that" but I did think "I'm never using a table saw in my life" lol.

That neighbor is a boss finding a finger in a backyard and trying to calm down a fingerless neighbor while calling 911 bless some people

Your bangs are dope af

I read "fringe" instead of "finger" and thought I was going to see a hair cutting/styling video.

My great grandfather cut off three fingers making my dad a chair for his 6th birthday. He finished that damn chair and now it’s a family heirloom.

"I did not operate the table saw with my vagina" Instant like 😂😂

My ex lost two fingers with table saw...He didn't use it with his vagina either 😂

“Hey look i found your finger” that took me out😂💀 I’m sorry

I would absolutely sue, they spent HOURS putting it back on and it was going that incredibly well only to be ruined by one person in a matter of minutes doing something that could have waited until it was less crutial for your hand to be elevated and heated.

The algorithm has chose you girl.

There's an older guy that my husband knows, probably in his late 50s maybe 60s. He lost his thumb to a table saw. He went to the hospital and they reattached it. Afterwards, as he drove himself home his thumb got caught in the steering wheel and fell off again. This guy, no joke, rolled the window down, tossed the severed thumb OUT THE WINDOW and said, "if the f*cking thing ain't gonna stay on I don't need it." lmfao!

"I didn't operate the table saw with my vagina." 🤣🤣🤣I'm dying of laughter

When I was about eight my dad was making guacamole and while cutting into a lime he cut his thumb. My siblings and I heard him curse so we asked him what was wrong and he just said something similar to this, "Well the guacamole is ruined. I got blood in it." When we asked how bad it was he told us he cut halfway into his thumb, so my siblings and I started freaking out while he was just tugging paper towels off of the roll and cursing like a sailor. I think my dad found it to be more of an inconvenience than anything, honestly he seemed to be more pissed off by getting blood in the guac. He just told us he was going to drive himself to the emergency room and he left. When he left we dashed in the kitchen to see how much blood there was, then we saw a blood puddle in the guac and on the counter top. When he got back home he showed us his thumb and we called it- "Franken Thumb" because it looked like it had eyes and a mouth. He'd stuff his thumb in our faces and chase us around while making monster noises.

Kissed all of my fingers while watching this. We truly take what we have for granted!

I can't stop staring at how beautiful your hair is.

Being in the medical field this pisses me off so much. Patients are the number one priority. In my experience ER docs are lacking in the bedside manner department. That occupational therapist is lucky she didn’t lose her job. She’s pretty much the reason you don’t have a finger. Thanks for sharing your story!

My heart broke when you said they basically messed up by not putting you back into the sling thing

for the record, I'm a "female" woodworker, and the only people I know with missing fingers are male woodworkers...I know 4.

Her story is giving me a LOT of anxiety

clicked for the bangs and stayed for the bomb personality

That color band on your bangs is the most amazing thing I have ever seen.

Bob cuts his finger off: Wow, Bob shouldn't be around power tools. Caitlin cuts her finger off: Wow, women shouldn't be around power tools. 🙄 GTFO with that mess.

As an occupational therapist, this makes my heart hurt. It’s unfortunate that the practitioner working with you didn’t seem to have adequate experience, or the sense that they didn’t have enough experience to work with you appropriately.

Eeeeh as someone in the medical field. We’re literally taught to show no emotion. Especially in situations like this- staying calm. People suck 🤦‍♀️

“Hey look I found your finger!!!!!” That dude has probably NEVER said that before... well let’s hope so.....

"I didn't operate the saw with my vagina." I lost my shitz.

I also had my neighbor find my finger when I cut part of it off! Yay for thoughtful neighbors trying to help out.

As if the trauma of losing your finger wasnt enough...The damn splint lady. I was screaming at the screen. Lol. Thank you for sharing your experience. Looking foward to your other content!

My woodworking teacher cut his finger off with a table saw too, the saws don’t choose the gender ;)

It sucks how you felt like you had to explain yourself after losing a finger for something that's "for men"

I would have sued for negligence 😡

imagine if ur finger flew into someone else’s backyard lol

RU-vid: Me: RU-vid: Me: RU-vid: watch this weird video that’s similar to nothing you’ve ever watched! Me: okay! :)

“Hey look I found your finger” 😂😂 I could just imagine your neighbor waving it around 🤦🏼‍♀️

From the one resident acting like a child on Christmas when she should be comforting you, to the occupational therapist just taking their sweet time fitting the splint on your finger, I would totally support you suing some people. It’s so awful. I am glad that you didn’t get an infection, didn’t have necrosis on the rest of your hand, or anything worse than what you already went through.

Sounds like that therapist actually had no idea what they were doing at all

Caitlin: There are many men who cut off their fingers with a table saw... Me: Both my grandpas did that!

I’m so impressed with how you’re dealing with this. You’re a brave soul (tears and fears are ok)

Can you tattoo the nub? I lost a finger in the army and I do hair too so this video super resonates with me. I tattooed a face on my nub hahahah

No joke when I arrived at the emergency room I had three Doogie Houser‘s surrounding me and they decided it was a really good idea to straighten my leg my broken leg in the air cast broken in five places hip to ankle and I begged them please don’t straighten my leg but they did after they rolled me back out of surgery because the x-rays didn’t lineup and they realized that they had broken my leg in six more places it’s just hilarious just hilarious ... forget to mention I shit myself. Go them

Wow when you started talking about the example of the water pressure from a hose... My anxiety instantly spiked so high. This is terrifying. I am blown away by how strong you are. Seriously.

When she was talking about the rude resident, i was like... Greys Anatomy

The story is so sad yet you’re way of telling got me crying out of laughter, god bless you my lady

one of my goals in life is to still have all of my fingers, toes, and eyes when I retire.

Girl. I’m so glad I found your channel. This story is pretty traumatic, but you tell it with such grace and humor.

Honestly the hospital staff really were so unprofessional in this situation with you and I’m so sorry that you had to deal with that.

My mum had her leg amputated due to cancer, and went through multiple attempts to save it prior to the actual amputation. If we knew then what we know now - she’d have had it taken off the first time. Thankyou for being brave enough to share your story.

The best bangs I’ve ever seen. It’s blended so... perfectly... I’m just, in awe.

Who else was like mean girls day when she said she cut her finger off on October 3rd😂

You literally should have sued her.

I'd be pissed at the nurse with the splint. If she had done her job properly you may have had been able to keep the finger. I feel like she f***ked up.

I really hope you sued the OT. You didn’t “lose” your finger, your finger was murdered by a negligent healthcare provider 😡

I always had a fear of losing a finger since I was little. It happened when I was 25, but they were able to reattach it. Your story beats mine by a mile-- you're a freaking badass. Thanks for sharing your experience! Looking forward to future vids

Your bangs are giving me life.

This whole video I was just distracted by how beautiful she is and how cool her fringe is like wow

Youre gonna sue right? Your job requires your hands. Seriously get a lawyer.

Dude, I clicked this video because your hair looks like shimmer you see in crow feathers! That is so romantic 😍. But then I was like "oh no her finger"

What I learned: Don’t use power saws

Who needs that pointer finger when you have that on point fringe?!?

To go through something so horrific and then to continuously go through more hell, I am so sorry. You're such a strong person to be able to share your story with others on this platform. Very eye-opening. 💕

Omg I love her. Her sarcasm and sense of humor about severing a limb had me crying 😭😂

I love your hair the styling in your bangs looks like when the sun hits something shiny

Your fringe is SO cool 😍😍💗💗

Our shop teacher at my highschool was missing at least a tip of every single finger, some fingers half, some completely. He'd been teaching shop there since the mid 70's

I recently lost my finger in a lawn mower accident, comforting to hear someone going through a similar experience.

Did you ever get those shelves built?

I’m honestly so excited and glad that you started this RU-vid channel. I can never find stylists on RU-vid who I actually enjoy watching (at least the few I’ve found) so I’m glad you’re on this platform now too!

DANG your neighbor was SO clam about a finger being cut off

i was whatching Caitlin`s videos for a while and i did not pay any attention on her arms before this video. Now im like wow this is the news. She is really cool. Her work inspires me a lot. Extrimly brave woman

It's crazy, on October 4th 2010 I was in a car accident and lost most of the mobility in my index finger on my right hand. Since then I've actually wanted it amputated because of the pain and the fact that it's just in the way. I've had people for years telling me that as a cosmetologist I shouldn't get it removed because it'll mess up my ability to do my job, and I honestly believed them until I saw one of your posts on Instagram. You give me hope that I'll still be able to do things with only three fingers.

Oh my goodness I love your analogy of "two halves of an idiot sandwich." You don't know how many times my husband and I have thought that exact same thing with the emergency room staff.

"I did not operate the table saw with my vagina" 😂😂😂 Preach, girl

I remember the day this happened, you are a walking miracle oxox I’m so happy you are okay now, you are a true artist and I could only hope to be as talented as you someday xoxo

Can we just talk about how your hair looks like it has a rainbow light reflection on it! So memorizing 😍🌈

I didn’t even notice. Your personality definitely outshines your missing digit. Love your videos and thanks for sharing!

Woah! I found you literally last week, watched your update video regarding this a few days ago and decided to watch this one. You’re the second youtuber I follow now from my area! It’s so refreshing and a nice break away from the typical locations of many creators. I’m even more excited to get acquainted with your content now, and don’t worry, I won’t ask where you went to high school 😜 Also, watching your update, I’m glad you’re doing well now!

You’re strong for sharing this so recently. My uncle lost his right pinky and ring fingers to a table saw. He’s a carpenter. You did nothing wrong, kickback happens to everyone.

When I was a kid, my dad got into a bad car accident and was in a coma for 3 and a half months. He wound up losing his left hand, and he was left handed before his accident. He almost lost his right hand, but only wound up losing his pinky finger on that hand. They did a skin graft for that hand. He had his hand sewed into his belly. After he got out of the hospital, he had almost no feeling in his right hand, and he had a hook for a hand for his left hand. He was depressed for a while, but he eventually figured out that he could still play guitar, so he did. Eventually he got used to it and things were ok. After he died, I got one of his guitars. I don't play, but one of my kids may one day, and they will get his guitar.

”I did not operate the table saw with my vagina”

I got so excited when you said you're from Stl! I have a somewhat similar story, I almost cut off a piece of my thumb cutting a zip tie with a knife. I had a couple cups of coffee and was getting ready to go on a run and decided I was gonna finish setting up my rolling rack (I was at a shitty crashpad ( which is where you pay for a bed and you're not on a lease) in New York and was basically living in a closet and didn't have a closet). I noticed there were a couple of zip ties that needed cut. I couldn't find scissors so I grab a HUGE kitchen knife to cut the zip tie. I cut the zip tie and also cut my thumb. I didn't feel it, I look down and there's a HUGE cut in my thumb and blood splattered on the walls, the box of the rolling rack and it's bleeding profusely. I went back and forth with myself debating if I needed stitches as I walked to the kitchen. I turn on cool water and see if will help the stop bleeding and it does nothing. I realize I need to get stiches, so I go back to my room and look up urgent care near me since the nearest hospital was at least ten minutes driving and I didn't have a car. I don't know why I didn't call 911, probably because ambulances are expensive and I would have had to wait. I didn't get an uber because there's a charge if you throw up so who knows what would happen if you bled in an uber. The nearest urgent care was a nine minute so I felt that would have been faster and if someone attempted to not let me cross I lifted my hand and they would see the bleeding through the paper towels. I ended up having to get nine stitches and damaged a nerve for sure. I was getting my stitches and hoping my roommates wouldn't come home or the landlord would stop by and see all the blood because I hadn't cleaned it yet. Thankfully they didn't but a couple of my roommates came home later (the blood had been cleaned) and they were like what the hell did you do?! I learned the hard way not to use a knife to cut a zip tie.

My teacher cut of his thumb on a table saw during class when I was in fourth grade. Blood was pouring out, and he fainted almost instantly...

I’m a man who cut his first three toes off with a lawnmower Accidents happen.

Wow people can be such horrible bedside manner I've had that in hospitals when ive asked how come a surgery took so long he said cause i was so fat im a 10-12 no need for that... Ur a real inspiration and shows ur strong willed.. Ur story kinda reminded me of my daas story he got three fingers jammed in a escalotor motor and after the surgery reattaching hes hand was never the same hes pinky remained bent at the joint the bottom joint like he had lost the top half could never straighten it unless forced to with the other hand the next one was bent but slightly less than the his pinky and the next one his middle finger had a tiny bend in it.. He loved playing the guitar could never play it again but he learned to live with it still did hes wood/metalwork he loved so much... Shows we can do anything we set our minds too... Much love xxx

Honestly, this isn’t the first video of yours I’ve seen but this is the first time I noticed you are missing a finger. Your personality and hair are so bright, I didn’t even notice.

The way you dismiss condescending and sexist pricks at the beginning is badass! Contagious level of self confidence.

this sounds like a horror story except you don't sound sad or terrified lol

I was following you before you cut your finger of and I was SO worried for you... All my friends were really surprised to ear about a woman I didn't knew and what happened. But they were sweet about it each time I told your story, some went to follow you after my stories. I love your work a lot, I'm really glad you kept making art on hair. I dreamed to have my hair dyed by you since I followed you, and it didn't change.

You have a dry humor and I love it😂 “yeah, like I didn’t watch my finger fly off into the distance”😂😂😂💀

“I am a professional hairstylist from St. Louis, MO.” Me: *suprised pikachu face*

I can’t imagine getting a finger cut off with a table saw... that must have been so scary.

There should of been a nurse in the room when the therapist was there, I think from the sounds of it the hospital kinda sucked lmao

I just watched your latest video of the rainbow bangs, and I SWEAR I didn't notice it .. 🤯🔥🔥 I was mesmerized by your ability

She needs to sue the lady that was fiting her with the splint

wow this makes me so angry ... like I understand mistakes happen but if someone is struggling in an area why don't they ask for help instead of wasting time. I hope she apologized because it seems her lack of knowledge caused your finger to lose its pulse. My brother had a bad experience with a doctor who also didn't know what she was doing. We went to see her 3 times for the same issue my brother was having and they didn't find anything wrong and just said he's being fussy. Then there was one night where he legit wouldn't stop crying and we decided to just take him to the emergency room and it turned out he had a super bad infection in his ear that ruptured his eardrum and was traveling to his brain. The surgeon said that if they would've treated the ear infection when it started then this would've been avoided. my brother went through a really rough recovery for months after the surgery luckily he didn't lose his hearing.

Doctors don’t know how to handle someone crying- they actually get meaner, it’s appalling !

I have an ex-boyfriend who cut off THREE of his fingers using a tile saw! He had ALOT of phantom pain for years! The amazing thing? He's the most INCREDIBLE GUITARIST! I mean, Jimi Hendrix level good! They were cut down to the second distal joint and STILL crazy strong. I'm not gonna give his name, cuz I don't wanna embarrass him, but he was a VERY SPECIAL man, and we've recently reconnected, as friends! Can only imagine what YOU went through,Caitlin! Thanx for sharing!

Wow, you are one tough gal. I would have been inconsolable for weeks, possibly months. Very spunky attitude. You have my full admiration.