Man loses fingers in horrific accident but pledges to recover and dedicate life to charity

Just over week ago, last Sunday evening (April 12) Lee Goodale, a quantity surveyor with South Kesteven District Council, was at home cutting some wood when in what he sdescribes as a moment of carelessness he severed two fingers and a thumb from his left hand with a power saw.

Within seconds his girlfriend Elli Kruzliakova found him and called 999.

He recalls: “I was chopping wood, something I have done a hundred times before.”

“I truly believe I wouldn’t be here today if she had not found me so quickly and I owe my life to her.

“Over the course of the next few hours, I was treated by the first response team, the ambulance team, the doctors and nurses of Boston Pilgrim hospital and finally the Royal Derby Hospital.

“Six hours after the accident, I was being prepared for surgery by what I was told were the best hand specialists in the country. There are no words that I can express how grateful I am for every person that day who even during the coronavirus crisis, put aside their fears and did everything within their power to save me.”

Lee underwent seven hours of surgery to reattach the missing digits, but surgeons warned there was a chance it would not work.

He awoke the following morning to be told they had been able to reattach his fingers and thumb but would have to wait to see if it was successful. At this point Lee decided to propose to Elli and they are now engaged.

Last Tuesday his surgeon broke the news that the tissue had died and they would need to remove the fingers and thumb again.

The surgeon gave a couple of options and Lee said: “Even during these difficult times the staff at the Royal Derby have continued to go above and beyond their call of duty and I owe them a debt of gratitude I will never be able to repay. On Friday morning I was prepared for surgery, whilst I was anxious I knew I was in the best place and knew they would do everything possible to give me the best result.

“When I finally came out, I was told there had been complications and the team had worked tirelessly for 12 hours but they had been unable to achieve the result they were aiming for.

“The surgeons here at Royal Derby are incredible and have carried out similar operations, where they can remove my big toe, reshape it and attach it to my hand to give me more mobility and grip, this is something we’ve discussed and will look at in 3-6 months potentially along with skin grafts.”

This would involve three more operations, said Lee: “I owe my recovery so far to them, the coronavirus has made things so much more difficult but this has not affected the standard of care.

“They are true heroes.”

Lee hopes to eventually return to a semi-normal, but adapted life in the future, but his injuries are “life changing”.

He said: “Since the accident I have had time to reflect on my life and my past decisions.

“I have endured unbelievable pain this week and realised no amount of money or riches would have helped, it was only the kindness and medical support that has eased my suffering.”

He admits to dealing with depression and anxiety in the past but the accident has forced him to rapidly take stock of his future, saying: “From my fiancée to my family, to my work colleagues and every member of the NHS, I have been overwhelmed by their love and support over the last week and so it is my hope in the very near future, when I’m healed, I will be able to repay their kindness and commit a large part of my life to fundraising and charity work. Perhaps this will be something that will become my career for the rest of my life.

“I realised very quickly on at the start of the week that I will need to change my mental attitude to recover from this and become a stronger person, but with such amazing people around me I know the support is there and in turn I hope I will be the person others can turn to when they are suffering or in need.”

Lee reflected: “I’m thankful I’m alive and kicking and will learn to adapt as others do. Over the last few days I’ve sought comfort in the recovery of other people and drew from their strength which has helped. I spent a lot of time reading stories on the Help for Heroes website and it has truly helped me put things in perspective. I hope in the future that is one of the charities I will be able to support alongside the NHS.

Lee has set up a fundraising page, with a modest target of £5,000 to help him re-establish himself with an element of financial security, as his recovery is expected to take over 12 months or more and some future procedures may not be funded by the NHS.

“I don’t wish to be any more of a financial burden on them than I have already been,” he said, conscious of the situation he finds himself in during the pandemic, which has already claimed the life of a senior A&E doctor at the Royal Derby.”

You can visit his Go Fund me page here.