Sask. guitarist relearning to play after losing fingertip in freak bike brake accident

A Saskatchewan guitarist is relearning to play minus one digit after losing part of his finger in a freak accident last week.

Jol Fafard describes it as a "silly moment" thathappened when he spun the wheel of his mountain bike to test its performance. When he noticed there was a problem, he tried to grab the wheelby its spokes.

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"The disc brakes are kind of new to me and my ring finger just simply slipped into that and that's like a sharp meat cutter, really," said the musician, who is from Saskatchewan but based in B.C.

"It had no problem. It just happened so quick and there was no going back."

3 thoughts after accident

Fafard said his reaction was practical, not emotional.

When he realized what had happened he had three quick thoughts: "It could have been worse, I think they can fix this, and can I drive?"

Fafard went to a doctor and, althoughthe prognosis for hisfinger was good,he had to cancel a show at Powell River, B.C. on May 27.

The guitarist has since been retraining himself to pluck and strum without the use of his right ring finger.

He said the most difficult part was retraining his finger bysending the message that "you're not invited to the party, you can't move."

Speaking 10 days after the accident, Fafard said his finger is numb and uncomfortable but already showing signs of healing well.

"The doctor had placed the part that was cut off back on just as protection but it's healing so well that part's now looking very much alive," said Fafard.

He is also encouraged by the fact that his 17-year-old son has recovered well from a similar injury he suffered when he was 10.

Positive signs for recovery

"I'm not really using up my energy to worry about whether it's going to change things in the long run," he said.

"Obviously in the short term, I've got to work out how to play with one finger less.

"I'm actually making up that ground pretty well with the other fingers."

Fafard said he will be ready for his Canada Day show in Regina on July 1.