As most of you that are visiting this site already know, on October 4th 2010 I had a traumatic amputation of my right index finger while working on a table saw in Springville. Attempts at reattachment, though skillful, were, in the end, unsuccessful and I remain to this day without about half of that finger, having amputated it just beyond the middle joint. My hand looks a lot like what you’d do to make a “dog” shadow puppet, which is really nice because now I can entertain people, including myself, without much effort at all. (You know – without the effort of bending my index finger at the middle joint?)
I have long thought about what it would be like to amputate a finger, and have even gone to the lengths of determining which finger I would choose to have amputated, given that choice (like, say, by a ruthless loan shark or an indecisive captor sending evidence of my abduction). For those of you who were wondering, the right index finger definitely was NOT my choice. As a guitarist by profession I found myself in the difficult position of having part of my instrument amputated. This would make difficult my ability to play electric guitar as I once had, and cripple my ability to play classical guitar.
I could not go on with this story without mentioning that this amputation was one of the most important and positive events of my entire life. It opened up the door to so much learning about myself and my behaviours, my relationships, and especially my relationship to God. All of my friends and family rushed to my aid and I was inundated with love, support, and uplifting. Many of you reading this were the ones that visited me in the hospital, brought or sent gifts, expressed concern by phone or social media, made me food, made me laugh, listened to me, and made all of the other wonderful gestures that helped me through that traumatic experience. I am forever grateful for all of that love I received; thank you. As if I could presume to ask more of all of you, I’d like to ask that you make one more “gesture” in my direction.
I have not given up on my career as a musician and have continued to work toward stability in creativity. I am now even more committed to becoming a skilled and creative player of all styles of guitar, but I need a bit of help. I’ve had several discussions with doctors and prosthetists (careful how you say that one) in the area and have come up with a plan to make a detachable prosthetic for my right index finger. This will likely be most used in playing classical music, and I plan to use it to great advantage in all other styles that I play. Unfortunately this carbon-fiber finger fragment will not be fiscally feasible for me to fund without friendly furtherance of my financial “fresco”…as it were…(I know, that last one was a stretch)
You have supported me and my music so much by coming to shows, participating in online contests, buying and listening to music, and many other ways. I ask now that you please help by “giving me the finger” through your generous monetary donations. All in all I expect this prosthetic to cost $2500-3000 (much lower numbers than all of you were thinking, thankfully), and any donations I receive in excess of the total cost of my prosthetic will be donated to hand and finger prosthetic research.
The main event of this fundraiser will be a concert at the Fort Douglas Post Theater. Playing that night will be Fictionist, and opening for them will be an as yet unnamed classic- and modern-rock cover band, comprising myself, my father Richard, and the dexterous Zac Bryant of the band Sea Swallowed Us Whole. Admission is free with a suggested donation of however much you feel is appropriate. I will be happy to accept any “gestures” you make through this blog or at the concert. Click on the “Benefit Concert Info” and “Donate” links above for more information on the concert and how to donate online.
Thank you again for your support, and I look forward to giving you the opportunity to give me the finger!
-Brandon
