Many years ago in a bad car accident......I lost my thumb, or rather it was broke off in two places and the doctors told my husband they may have to remove it and possibly use one of my toes for a replacement. They said I had to have a thumb but he told them to wait until I came out of shock and I would make the decision. Well, the decision was to mend my own thumb and let me try to work it back before they did anything else. Needless to say.....my thumb is now back working almost 100% and I am so happy that it worked out. It did take a LOT of work to get it back to where it is