Cobbler Loses Thumb, Replaces It With Toe, Keeps His Dream

A cobbler who lost his thumb in a workplace accident got it replaced with his big toe and says his only real problem now is finding gloves that fit.

David Lee was trimming a shoe heel in his Nottinghamshire shop in 2019 when his jumper caught in the machinery. The machine pulled in his hand and sliced off his thumb completely.

His first thought wasn't about the pain or the blood. Lee worried about losing his livelihood and the shoe repair shop that was his passion.

"I cried my eyes out when I thought about it, as I thought I was going to lose my shop," Lee said. "I was more concerned about that than my thumb because this is my passion."

After the accident, Lee went outside for a cigarette while waiting for the ambulance. He says he barely felt any pain at all.

Doctors at Royal Derby Hospital's Pulvertaft Hand Centre offered him an unusual solution. They could create a new thumb using one of his big toes through a complex surgical procedure that's only been performed a handful of times at the hospital.

Five days after the accident, surgeons spent 10 hours completing the delicate operation. The procedure is only considered for patients who've lost most of their thumb close to the knuckle, according to consultant hand surgeon Jill Arrowsmith.

"Not having any of the thumb can be very disabling, especially for those who do a manual job," Arrowsmith explained. "This type of injury could mean that these patients are not able to remain at work."

Sunny's Take

Seven years later, Lee is back to doing what he loves in his Sutton-in-Ashfield shop. The toe-turned-thumb works so well that his biggest complaint is needing larger gloves to accommodate his new digit.

When Lee reunited with his surgeon on BBC Radio Derby this week, he shared how completely the toe has become part of him. He suspects people might notice his unusual thumb, but nobody has ever said anything.

"I've got to the stage where, you know what? It's a part of me and I just don't care," Lee said.

Arrowsmith praised Lee's determination during recovery. She noted he's the first master cobbler she's ever met, making it especially meaningful to see him return to his craft.

Lee's journey shows that sometimes the path back to our passions takes unexpected turns, but determination and modern medicine can work together to make remarkable things possible.