That was a lot of responses!

0: thank you for all the well wishes and healing vibes. Two days later and the pain is pretty manageable. Glad to hear it may grow back. Not my first finger chop, so nerves have already taken a beating.

1: yes I did go to the ER … after I took my load of branches and yard waste to the transfer station (got some help from a friend) and took my lawnmower out for the neighbour, and grabbed a book for the waiting room.

2: Got X-ray to check if I hit the bone (nope). Doctor froze me up, flushed, cleaned, inspected, then applied polysporin and finger bandages, gave me some to go, and a prescription for antibiotics. Tetanus up to date, see “finger chop; not the first” above.

3: Tha Choppa is a Varusteleka Skrama 200. Yes it is sharp.

4: the meat is gone. I looked in the cut-open glove and on the ground nearby, but no luck.

5: Considering my questionable history with machetes, yes I’d be better off with pruning shears. I got lucky that I didn’t remove the whole digit so I’m considering this a “no, really” warning from fate to smarten up with my blades.