Despite losing part of his hand, former Winnipeg tattoo artist determined to stay positive

WARNING: This story contains details of a severe injury.

Ernesto Romerowas tryingto turn off a short-circuited table saw when hisright hand slippeda moment that has put his livelihood in jeopardy.

Working with his hands isn't just a passion for the former Winnipegger,a seasoned hobby carpenter who hasspent countless hours working in his woodshop in Mexico as a tattoo artist, it's also something he depends on.

"The first couple of days [after] it happened, that's when it was the hardest for me," Romero told host Marcy Markusa in a recent interview withCBC Manitoba's Information Radio.

"I kept thinking, 'How am I gonna tattoo? How am I gonna provide for my family? How am I gonna play guitar?'"

His thumb was cut off in the March 19 accident andhis other fingers wereseverely injured, remaining attached only by the skin on his palm.

Over the following weeks, Romero and his family found themselves in and out of hospitals as they tried to save his hand.

Doctors initially wanted to amputate, but during a three-hour procedure,surgeons were able to reattach his four fingers.

Romero is a father of two and the sole provider for his family. Before movingabroad,he lived in Winnipeg, where he worked as a tattoo artist for over 30 years and became well known for hisartistry. In recent years, he's spenthis winters in Mexico, where he's done tattooing work.

He didn't have medical insurance atthe time of the accident, which has become problematic, he said.

To help pay his medical bills, his older daughter started a fundraiser on the website GoFundMe.Expenses for his hospital care, along withthe subsequent physical therapy he will need, "are enough to bankrupt anyone," the online fundraising page says.

As of Thursday, the fundraiserhad brought in nearly half of its $50,000 goal.

Watching people from around the world come together to support him has been amazing, Romero said.

'I'm not giving up on my life'

Chris Marshall,the president of theAmputee Coalition of Canada, says whilehealing is different for everyone, a major challenge faced by most people who suffer amajor injury like Romero'sisa feeling of losing independence.

Regaining that sense of independence is key to returning to normalcy, he said.

Finding support from family and friends is part of that. But it's also important to create relationships within the community of people who have lost limbs in order to ease feelings of fear, he said.

"It's a very healthy situation to meet those in your community, to see how they've thrived, to see how they've accepted and overcome challenges that they face," said Marshall, who has himself been an amputee for nearly 20 years. The charitable organization he leads provides resources forCanadians who have lostlimbs.

"You're not alone. There are people out there that have faced this that can help you through it."

Romerosays he's still coming to terms with his injury.His mobility is still limited, but the success of the surgery makes him hopeful.

"I can sit and cry all day, but my thumb, it's not gonna grow back," Romero said.

Positivity is the key to moving forward with healing, he said not just for himself, but also for his family.

Immediately after the accident,Romero ran to his house,next door to the woodshop. His wife and nine-year-old daughter were both home andsaw everything.

That'sbeen especially difficult for his daughter, who has been experiencing panic attacks because of it, he said. After he returned home from his first surgery, Romero noticed that she was mirroring his emotions.

"Every time she sees that I was a little bit down or a little bit intense, she'll get very, very, very upset as well," He said.

"She's my real reason why I have to be positivebecause when I'm good, she is good."

Romerodoesn't know how long it will take to regain mobility in his hand. He plans totravel from Mexico to Minnesotafor a second surgery later this month.

Romero says the night of the accident, his mind was racing as he tried to piece together an image of what life post-injury would look like, wondering how hewould provide for his family and continue doing the things he loves.

Those questions still exist in the back of his mind, but he has decided to no longer dwell on them thoseare questions for the future, he said.

"I know I'm gonna go back to work. I know I'm not giving up my passion. I'm not giving up my life," Romero said.

"This is just a pause that I have to take. I guess the universe was telling me that I had to take a break and that's all I can do."