A hurricane, a splinter and a life-saving catch

After Hurricane Milton swept through the area 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 DeLand home, Jan’s 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 Jan. “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 watch it.

“I was told if it gets worse, go to an urgent care,” Jan said.

It got worse. Fast.

By the next day, the swelling spread to Jan’s wrist and his family urged him to go to an ER.

At the AdventHealth New Smyrna Beach emergency department, Jan was immediately started on IV antibiotics while Dr. Louis Blaum, hand and general surgeon took a closer look.

Another 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,” Blaum recalled.

The surgery was performed the next day and Jan 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,” Jan explained.

Blaum discovered a two-inch long, quarter inch-wide splinter had shot through the tiny puncture in Jan’s 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,” Blaum said. “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 the quick thinking of Blaum and the highly rated emergency team at AdventHealth New Smyrna Beach, Jan was already moving his hand normally by the next day.

Now, Jan 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 Jan’s wife Sarah. “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 Jan.

“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 Dr. Dennis Hernandez, 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.”