Scars and Sovereignty

The Healing Process in Photos

From Wound to Restoration: A Visual Timeline of Healing

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. In this case, a picture is worth about a thousand stitches, a five-hour surgery, a 60-minute helicopter ride, and more pain than I can describe.

This page is a raw, unedited photo timeline of my hand’s healing process—capturing the slow, painful, miraculous work that God has been doing since the accident.

Warning: Some of these photos are not for the faint of heart—there are stitches, swelling, and plenty of evidence that table saws and human hands don’t mix well. If that kind of thing makes you queasy, you may want to scroll carefully.

View from inside a medical helicopter at night, showing a patient’s legs strapped to a stretcher during an emergency airlift.

My view from inside the SkyLife Air Ambulance on the night of my accident, en route to The Buncke Clinic for emergency surgery.

A man smiling while strapped to a stretcher inside a medical helicopter at night, wearing hospital gear and noise-canceling headphones.

Moments after takeoff, wearing noise-canceling headphones and—thanks to some pretty great drugs—a big smile on my way to emergency surgery.

A patient on a stretcher inside a medical helicopter smiling with a flight nurse, both wearing headsets, with another crew member visible in the background.

Me with my incredible flight nurse, Katelyn, who took care of me during my emergency airlift.

A heavily bandaged hand in a protective splint, secured with beige straps, resting on a leg indoors.

My hand in the full splint I wore for six weeks, immobilized to protect healing grafts and repairs after surgery.

A close-up of a post-surgical hand with visible stitches, gauze, and multiple surgical pins inserted into healing fingers.

Close-up of my healing hand at 10 days post-op, showing the four surgical pins stabilizing my fingers.

A close-up of a post-surgical hand with exposed surgical pins, stitches, and healing skin grafts at 14 days post-op.

Two weeks post-op, showing the initial healing process with visible surgical pins, stitches, and scar tissue beginning to form.

A graphic close-up of a healing hand at 14 days post-op, showing exposed skin grafts, surgical stitches, and swelling.

Palm view of my injured hand at two weeks post-op, showing exposed grafts, stitches, and swelling.

A close-up of a healing skin graft donor site on the forearm, showing a long surgical incision with stitches and scarring.

The donor site on my forearm two weeks after surgery, where skin and blood vessels were harvested for grafting onto my middle finger.

A close-up of a healing hand at 18 days post-op, featuring external surgical pins, stitches, and scar tissue forming.

My hand at 18 days post-op, showing exposed surgical pins, stitches, and skin graft healing.

A close-up of a post-surgical hand at 18 days post-op, showing healing skin grafts, stitches, and early scar tissue formation.

The underside of my injured hand at 18 days post-op, showing healing skin grafts, stitches, and scarring.

A close-up of a healing hand at 28 days post-op, showing surgical pins, healing skin grafts, and scar tissue development.

Four weeks post-op, with surgical pins still in place and scars beginning to form.

A close-up of a post-surgical hand at 28 days post-op, highlighting healing skin grafts, stitches, and scarring.

A look at my healing palm at 28 days post-op, showing the grafted skin and early scar formation.

A detailed close-up of healing surgical scars and skin grafts on a hand at 28 days post-op.

A closer look at my healing graft—and the black eschar that had formed over part of it— as well as the stitches at four weeks post-op.

A close-up of a healing hand at 39 days post-op, showing peeling skin grafts, stitches, and scar tissue.

Five and a half weeks post-op, showing peeling skin grafts and scar tissue formation.

A close-up of a post-surgical hand at 39 days post-op, showing scar tissue, healing skin grafts, and pin sites.

A look at the top side of my healing hand at 39 days post-op, showing scarring, pins, and the foil stint on my pinky nailbed.

X-ray image of a post-surgical hand at 41 days post-op, showing multiple surgical pins stabilizing fractures, a significant fracture in the middle finger, and a shaved-down MCP joint in the index finger.

X-ray at 41 days post-op, showing four surgical pins stabilizing fractures, a break in the middle finger, and a shaved-down MCP joint in the index finger.

[Video] 46 Days Post-Op, just 3 days after the surgical pins came out. A small but hard-earned milestone—for the first time since the accident, I was able to pinch my index finger and thumb together. Slow progress, but progress nonetheless.

A close-up of a healing hand at 48 days post-op, showing scar tissue development, skin graft healing, and nail damage.

Nearly seven weeks post-op, with scar tissue forming and the damaged pinky nail beginning to regrow.

A close-up of a healing hand at 48 days post-op, with visible scarring and limited mobility.

A side view of the healing hand at 48 days post-op, showing swelling-induced tightness and scar tissue buildup.

A detailed look at the palm side of a healing hand at 48 days post-op, showing a darkened skin graft and mature scars.

The palm side of the healing hand at 48 days post-op, with a darkened skin graft and scar tissue.

Close-up of a recovering hand 54 days post-op, showing healing scars and residual swelling.

54 days into healing—scars fading, function improving, but still a long way to go.

Side angle of an injured hand 54 days after surgery, showing swelling and scar progress.

The most painful (and thickest) scar I have—where the saw blade went through my index MCP joint.

Palm-side view of an injured hand 54 days after surgery, showcasing healing scars and skin graft areas.

The grafted skin and scars tell a story of both trauma and healing.

Close-up of fingers 54 days post-op, showing scarred and healing tissue.

A close-up of the red granulation tissue forming in the new nail bed on my pinky.

Grant Cox and his family lighting the Candle of Light during the Christmas Eve service at Trinity Community Church, seven weeks after his severe hand injury and recovery. A testimony of God’s healing, faithfulness, and grace.

Seven weeks post-op, using the fingers God saved to light the Advent Candle of Light that represents the Son He sent to save us all. A moment of worship, gratitude, and testimony to His faithfulness during Christmas Eve services at our church, Trinity Community Church.

Hand in a protective splint 54 days post-op, helping with healing and mobility support.

The splint helps protect movement while encouraging recovery.

Healing hand at 63 days post-surgery, showing reduced swelling and scar development.

63 days post-op: Swelling has gone down, scars are forming, and healing continues.

Hand at 99 days post-surgery, showing improved scar appearance and skin recovery.

99 days post-op: Scar tissue continues to thicken, swelling continues, and—although I still have no feeling in middle finger yet—function is slowly improving.

The Photo You Won’t See Here…

Believe it or not, I have a photo of my hand just minutes after it happened.

I am not posting it here. Not because I think you’d pass out. The real reason? My daughter, Sophia, reads this blog.

And that photo? It would haunt her dreams. Probably yours, too.

So, to protect her (and, let’s be real, you), I’m keeping it off the internet.

But if you’re the type who thrives on gore and medical oddities, here’s the deal: invite me to coffee, and I’ll show it to you. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.

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