In a tragic turn of events, a South Carolina woman lost her hand in an unexpected incident involving a hair dryer, leading to the disruption of her beloved career as a dog groomer.
Mary Wilson, residing in James Island, was in the midst of drying her hair before retiring for the night on February 7 when an unfortunate incident unfolded. According to reports from 15 News, Wilson inadvertently lost consciousness while the hair dryer was still operating at high power.
After approximately 20 minutes had elapsed, Wilson’s partner discovered her lying on the floor atop the hair dryer. Recounting the harrowing moment, Wilson stated, “She’s telling me, ‘Your hand, your hand.'” Upon glancing at her hand, Wilson expressed profound disbelief, remarking, “I don’t even register that’s a part of me. It doesn’t even look recognizable.”
Following the incident, Wilson was promptly transported to the hospital, where medical professionals were compelled to amputate her hand and wrist due to the extensive nerve damage inflicted by the intense heat generated by the hair dryer.
Wilson attributed the cause of her unconsciousness to a potential shock from the appliance. She asserted that unlike other heated hair tools equipped with automatic shut-off mechanisms, the hair dryer in question lacked such a safety feature. Reflecting on the ordeal, Wilson conjectured, “If it did [have an automatic shut-off], then maybe my injuries wouldn’t have been so bad.”
Prior to this life-altering event, Wilson pursued a career as a dog groomer, a profession she cherished deeply. However, in the wake of losing her hand, she faces uncertainty regarding her ability to continue working with canines, a prospect that weighs heavily on her mind.
In an interview with WSFA, Wilson shared her perspective on the profound impact of the incident, stating, “It really kind of puts in perspective all the other issues that I was dealing with in my life six months ago are so insignificant to things that I’m having to go through now, or challenges that I’m going to have to be going through in the future.”
Despite grappling with the physical and emotional toll of her injury, Wilson remains resolute in her determination to persevere. Anticipating the acquisition of a prosthetic hand, she affirmed her commitment to living life to the fullest, emphasizing, “I’m still going to live my life to the fullest. It’s just a hand. What is this, 10% of my body? Losing my hand may be something that changes who I am, but that doesn’t mean that it defines me on everything.”
Throughout this trying period, Wilson has been deeply moved by the outpouring of support from her community, describing it as “incredible.” Notably, a local establishment, Bohemian Bull, has announced plans to contribute a portion of the proceeds from an upcoming cornhole tournament towards aiding in Wilson’s recovery efforts.
