Photo courtesy of AdventHealth New Smyrna Beach
All photos courtesy of AdventHealth New Smyrna Beach
After Hurricane Milton swept through west, central, and east Florida in October 2024, Jan Collins, and his wife, Sarah, set out for a bike ride to survey the neighborhood for damage.
As they rode on a partially flooded wooden walkway near their home in DeLand, Fla., Collins’ hand brushed against a pressure-treated wood railing. Soon after, a small red dot appeared on his pinky finger, and it bled.
“It seemed pretty minimal to me,” recalls Collins. “When we got back home, I washed it and put some antiseptic on it and figured that was that.”
But, by the next morning, his finger was red and swollen. His doctor took an X-ray, found nothing unusual, and told him to keep an eye on it.
“I was told if it gets worse, go to an urgent care,” said Collins. Over the next several hours it got worse. Fast. By the next day, the swelling spread to his wrist, and his family urged him to go to an emergency room.
At the AdventHealth New Smyrna Beach emergency department, the medical team immediately started IV antibiotics while Louis Blaum, M.D., a board-certified hand and general surgeon, took a closer look.
A new X-ray still showed nothing abnormal, but Blaum wasn’t convinced and recommended exploratory surgery to identify the source of the infection, which was getting worse by the day.
“I thought we’d maybe find a little, tiny splinter sticking into the joint in his finger,” said Blaum. The surgery was performed the next day and Collins woke up to some surprising news. “The next thing I remember, I woke up and the surgeon tells me that I had a small log in my finger,” explained Collins.
Blaum discovered a two-inch by quarter inch splinter had shot through the tiny puncture in Collins’ finger and lodged deep in his hand. It was completely invisible on X-rays but could have caused permanent damage if it hadn’t been removed.
“It’s understandable that the splinter didn’t show up on the X-ray,” said Blaum. “Dense material like bones show up clearly on these images because they block the X-ray beams. Softer tissues — like skin, muscle, and, in this case, wood — don’t, so they stay invisible. It’s like shining a flashlight through your hand: the light passes through the softer parts, but your bones cast a shadow.”
Thanks to Blaum’s quick thinking and the highly rated emergency team at AdventHealth New Smyrna Beach, Collins was already moving his hand normally by the next day. Now, Collins is pain-free, with almost a full range of motion, and is on the path to a full recovery.
“The nursing staff, housekeeping, and everyone at AdventHealth New Smyrna Beach were incredibly kind and responsive,” said Sarah Collins. “Even with the hurricane’s aftermath, they never missed a beat.”
For 10 years, AdventHealth New Smyrna Beach has led the way in emergency care, earning one of the top spots in patient satisfaction across all AdventHealth locations in Florida. The team is regularly recognized for fast action, clear communication, and exceptional patient care — the kind of care that made all the difference for Collins.
“You never want to operate unless you absolutely have to. But, getting that splinter out when we did was critical,” said Blaum. “This is exactly why we take the time to look beyond the obvious — because even something as seemingly small as a splinter can become something much bigger.”
“Jan Collins’ remarkable recovery is a testament to the exceptional care provided by Dr. Louis Blaum and our dedicated team,” said Dennis Hernandez, M.D., president and CEO of AdventHealth New Smyrna Beach. “Our team’s expertise and commitment ensures our patients receive the highest standard of medical care, and underscores the hospital’s unwavering dedication to patient experience and successful outcomes.”
AdventHealth | April 2025
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