A gym accident crushes Jordan Mendoza’s thumb hours before his wedding. Scripps emergency hand surgery gets him to the altar.

The morning before a wedding is typically a whirlwind of joy, excitement, panic and last-minute preparations. For Jordan Mendoza, that included a quick workout to calm his nerves and work up his confidence. However, a weightlifting accident left him with a crushed thumb — and a story he’ll be telling for years to come. 

“I woke up and I got my fiancée and all the bridesmaids coffee, and it was a really great start to the day. Then, I headed to the gym, where I met my groomsmen and that’s when the day took quite a turn,” Jordan explains. “I was doing a lateral raise. I completed my last rep, then when I brought the dumbbells down, instead of them hitting together, I hit my thumb.” 

Though his thumb was bleeding and obviously broken, Jordan initially didn’t know the extent of the damage and assumed a trip to a nearby urgent care center would suffice. The doctor on duty took one look at his mangled appendage and sent him to the emergency department (ED) at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla for more comprehensive care.  

The Barbey Family Emergency and Trauma Center at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla is one of only three Level 1 trauma centers in San Diego County. It offers the most advanced technology, multidisciplinary teams and 24/7 access to top-notch trauma, specialized and subspecialized surgeons. Level 1 trauma centers are equipped to handle the most complex emergency cases. 

And it turned out, Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla was exactly the right place to go. 

Kristopher Downing, MD, an orthopedic hand surgeon at Scripps, got the call while at the park with his wife and kids. He rushed to the ED, where staff alerted him to the uniqueness of Jordan’s situation. After some “social triage,” Dr. Downing and the anesthesiologist agreed that repairing Jordan’s thumb under local anesthesia as opposed to general anesthesia would save valuable time while still being safe and effective. 

Jordan had a crushed fingertip, an exposed distal phalanx bone and a nail bed injury in which the skin under the fingernail was damaged. Dr. Downing used an X-ray and very small pins to reconstruct the bone. He added absorbable sutures to hold the nail bed together while the skin over the bone healed. Finally, he used remnants of the damaged fingernail as a placeholder to protect the nail bed. 

“With crush injuries, our primary concerns are soft tissue loss and the risk of partial amputation, either immediately or as a later complication. Fortunately, his surgery was completed successfully without complications,” says Dr. Downing. 

While Jordan was at the hospital, he placed a frantic — and apologetic — call to his fiancée, Akani, filling her in on the situation and letting her know they may have to delay or call off the ceremony. He even considered postponing the surgery until immediately after the ceremony, but the Scripps team wisely convinced him otherwise. Instead, they rallied around him, moved quickly and coordinated every step so he could get the treatment he needed and still return in time for one of the most important moments of his life. 

“They knew my situation because I was the guy who came in, like, ‘I’m pretty sure I have broken my thumb, and I’m also getting married today at 4 pm,’” Jordan recalls. “After I explained it to the first nurse that I saw, it spread like wildfire around the hospital.” 

Post-surgery, Jordan showered, suited up and was rushed out of the ED by Scripps staff. Thanks to their efforts, Jordan made it to his wedding in Rancho Santa Fe only about 10 minutes late. 

The short- and long-term anesthetics used lasted throughout the ceremony and reception, and aside from the gigantic bandage wrapped around Jordan’s thumb, all else went according to plan. 

“Everything went perfectly after that,” Jordan says. 

“Jordan was a fantastic patient,” Dr. Downing adds. “He remained calm throughout the process and allowed us to care for him effectively, while also helping ensure he made it to his wedding on time.” 

Jordan remained under Dr. Downing’s care for some time following his February wedding and took every opportunity to express his gratitude. 

“So many people went to such great lengths just to get me to my wedding,” he says. “The hospital staff was super kind, and they were so excited for me. It meant so much to have everyone cheering me on as I was getting ready to leave the hospital. They turned one of the worst moments of my life into the best night of my life.” 

Dr. Downing is a bit more humble and says it’s all in a day’s work for the Scripps team. 

“That all comes with the Level 1 designation,” he says. “Scripps La Jolla has long been a trusted resource for the community, delivering exceptional care when it matters most. That commitment to excellence is why it’s earned such an excellent reputation through the years.”