Team who gave patient use of his hands back surprised with unique hand-crafted gift
A former patient at Royal Derby Hospital's specialist Pulvertaft Hand Centre recently returned to say thank you, bringing with him a hand-crafted gift for the consultant surgeon and team who treated him.
Ian Cooper, from Doveridge in Derbyshire, underwent surgery for Dupuytren's contracture in his left hand - conducted by a team led by Miss Mary O'Brien, Consultant Hand and Plastic Surgeon at Royal Derby Hospital.
During his surgery, Ian struck up a conversation with Miss O'Brien about his love for horses, which gave him an idea about how he would make use of his hands again should his operation be a success. With a new 'lease of life' following his surgery, Ian soon went about making his gift idea a reality, constructing a shoe stand and mud remover for wellies and shoes made entirely out of old horseshoes.
At the base of the gift, Ian carefully painted a number of horseshoes gold, before bending and welding them into shape to spell 'Mary'.
Ian hoped his gift played even a small part in showing just how thankful he was for the care he has received: "I'm forever grateful for people like Miss O'Brien and the whole team who treated me, their skilful work, and the NHS in general.
"Having an injury to your hands can affect everything you do on a daily basis. Even something as simple as getting out of the bath was made very difficult - meaning I'd have to use my elbows as I couldn't put my hands down and get out.
"I've had Dupuytren's [contracture] in both my hands and my feet, and have been here over the years to receive treatment - but I was particularly impressed with Miss O'Brien and her fantastic team this time around, including Marion and Claire. The surgery was done and dusted before I even knew what was going on - it was so pleasant and, clearly, successful!"
Dupuytren's contracture is caused by knots of tissue forming under the skin which cause fingers to bend in toward the palm of the hand. It usually affects the ring and little fingers and can be corrected with treatment.
Several members of the team involved in Ian's care came to say hello when he presented the gift to Miss O'Brien, who expressed her joy at seeing her former patient once more:
"We're delighted to see Ian. To see him at this point of his recovery is such a joy, and to see the amazing ways in which he is using his hand now, has given us all a huge boost."
Miss O'Brien explained how debilitating injuries and conditions affecting the hands can be - in ways we may not realise - meaning that daily tasks can become incredibly difficult. 
She continued: "Whether it is buttoning up your shirt or cleaning your teeth, you use your hands for almost everything - to touch, to feel, to hold, and to change the world around you!
"Using your hands also helps you express yourself. It's a very human thing to be able to use your hands in a creative way and that is certainly what Ian has done. Surgery is a craft - and to see how it has enabled patients to use their hands, and exhibit their own craft, is very moving.
"Recovery from any surgery takes a lot of commitment from the patient, as well as support from the nursing, therapy and medical teams. I'm sure I speak for everybody involved in saying how delighted we are to see our hard work embodied by the craftmanship of Ian's gift."
Ian said he was surprised and "bowled over" by the warm welcome he received from the many colleagues at the Pulvertaft Hand Centre who treated him and was so touched by the reception, he has begun thinking of more innovative structures he can craft from horseshoes as a token of his appreciation to benefit future patients of the Pulvertaft Hand Centre.