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I’m sharing my personal story because leadership isn’t always about boardrooms and big decisions; it’s about how we handle small moments, too. What have you learned from an unexpected mishap?
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A couple of weeks ago, on a quiet Saturday around 1 PM, I looked around my home and felt proud of the minimalist space my spouse and I had built. We’d donated clothes, cleared out gadgets and old paperwork, and reclaimed our rooms one by one. But there was one room that still whispered, “Remember me?”, the little office where a 30‑year‑old drafting table still stood.
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I hadn’t used that table for twenty‑six years, not since getting married. It was a relic of my early creative life, complete with a few charcoal marks and the smell of graphite dust. Every time I walked past it, I felt a twinge of nostalgia. But I also felt a nagging weight. Minimalism taught me that unused things can take up emotional space, too. So I decided it was time for this table to find a new home.
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When a Drafting Table Becomes the one Lion I couldn’t tame
The table, however, had other plans. As I tried to maneuver the heavy top off its hinges, forgetting that there was a blade underneath the table, it swung down unexpectedly and wham! It came down like a guillotine and sliced off my thumb. It felt like getting swatted by a lion’s paw. In that moment I was not the poised coach you know me as. I was on my knees, seeing my thumb hanging by one centimeter over the other side of the leg, wondering how I am going to get my thumb over to my side without breaking the rest of the skin and having it fall on the floor. Without much time to think I knew I had two choices. I either yank it so it falls on the ground or I do my best to push the table up with my right hand.
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I knew that I didn't have the strength, but I had to try anyway, and at that moment, I felt very strongly some other arm helping me so that I can save my thumb. There was no one at the house so as soon as I was able to push it up with superhuman strength, I ran downstairs, while trying to put my thumb back on my hand while also calling 911.
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During the 15 minutes that I was with 911 waiting for the ambulance to come, the blood just just poured and poured out of me. I wanted to faint, but I knew that Rich would get home to what looks like a murder scene with our husky Charley after their long hike, and not find me anywhere. I knew I somehow had to stay awake until the ambulance got there so that I could call Rich to let him know what happened so that he doesn’t worry.
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As they were stabilizing me and trying to tape my thumb onto my hand, Rich came and they were able to tell him which hospital we were going to. He ran into the house to secure Charley, and cleaned up all the blood so that Charley doesn't accidentally lick it before he could drive to the hospital.
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There was another divine intervention during my hospital stay. As my thumb was dying, the surgeon decided that the best she could do because she didn't have any of the micro vascular specialties that we needed in the hospital, was to sew the skin together and just let it die. Something suddenly came over her and told her that she should put out a request for a micro vascular surgeon at UCLA Medical Center, USC Medical Center, Loma Linda, And UC Irvine health.
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The hours waiting for somebody to respond that they had that specialty and that they were available seemed like days. It was three hours later that UCI responded with the good news. Two hours after that, I was finally en route to UC Irvine health. They were so overcrowded that night that when I got there, they had me in the hallway as I waited for the surgeon to come and assess my thumb.
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The first hand surgeon that saw me seemed to think that she found some evidence of the thumb still being alive and decided to wait until the morning for me to have my surgery. It was a rough night.
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The next morning, when the actual microvascular surgeon came to check my thumb, there was no sign of blood flow and he got me into the OR right away.
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He spent seven hours trying to fix the only artery that could possibly be saved on the side where the skin was still attached.It was clear when I woke up in the ICU that there was more divine intervention as my surgeon refused to give up after trying for a few hours, and instead had the strength, tenacity and grit to hang on for seven hours until his goal of trying to save my thumb was achieved. I later found out it was the smallest artery he had ever worked on and he needed to conquer it.
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After several days in the ICU and a week in the hospital, I was finally able to go home. It will be 6 to 8 weeks before I can drive again and about the same amount of time to know if I'll be able to keep my thumb in the end, but one thing is clear: this was a gift. It could have been more than just my thumb that was hanging over the legs of the table. It could've been my whole hand or another limb. It also could've been my right hand instead of my left hand, that was another gift.
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The biggest gift was knowing that there are definitely angels, guiding the hands of surgeons, helping people have superhuman strength when their own strength isn't enough, and guiding surgeons who would otherwise make terrible decisions, to make the right ones.
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Of course, to make light of the situation, we now jokingly tell people that it was a lion that took my thumb off while I tried to tame it. These AI‑generated photos are my way of making light of a situation that was frightening at the time. Humor has helped me process the shock and continue to heal.
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I have a great record of taming situations and workplace lions, and this one will be no exception!
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Lessons in Leadership (and Home Safety)
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During brief moments of clarity in the hospital, I realized how many leadership lessons were hiding inside that accident.
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- Let go gracefully.
Clinging to old things, or old processes, can weigh you down. Sometimes literally.
- Plan before you act.
A quick risk check can prevent a lot of pain. In life, in leadership, and apparently in home projects.
- Bounce back with humor.
Laughing at ourselves builds resilience and connection. It doesn’t erase the pain, but it makes it survivable.
- Resilience is forged through setbacks.
The amputation was a reminder that accidents happen. What matters is acknowledging the pain, giving yourself time to heal, and then getting back up making sure you actually learned something along the way.
- Humor is a powerful tool.
Joking about a “lion attack” didn’t minimize what happened. It reframed it. In leadership, lightening the mood at the right moment helps people breathe again and move forward together.
- Ask for help.
Even strong leaders need a spotter sometimes. I’m independent by nature, but this taught me that strength also lives in collaboration. Sometimes you need a second set of eyes, or hands to see risks you can’t see alone.
Bottom line: I should have waited for my husband!
A Final Farewell
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I’m happy to say that my amazing husband made sure I never saw that drafting table again. He has been instrumental and helping me heal. My thumb will one day work again, God willing, and the lessons are clear: letting go isn’t just about tossing things (and in the workplace, people!) out; it’s about being intentional, understanding what we truly need and learning along the way.
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I’d love to hear your story in the comments. Your experiences help build a community where we grow, laugh and lead together.
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🧠 Coaching That Doesn’t Just Inform—It Awakens
Ever wonder what it actually feels like to work with me?
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Carol’s Books You Can Get Now!🎉📚
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The book I had the absolute privilege of co-authoring is also on Amazon, and I couldn’t be more elated to share it with you all! 💫📚
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The Lunar Book is packed with leadership lessons from many voices – a diverse collection of insights and experiences that’ll inspire and elevate your journey. 🌙
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Taming Corporate Beasts is your ultimate guide to conquering big egos and navigating difficult leaders with confidence. 💪
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Packed with real-life stories of corporate lions 🦁, this book offers powerful strategies to help you lead with authority and ease. 🎯
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Here’s a fun fact: You CAN find the perfect fit for your team every time with The Predictive Index. Tap the image below to find out more!
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About Carol:
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The Lion Tamer's Court, 16312 Highgate Drive, Riverside, CA 92503
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