DIGIT DICER

HENRY, CHEF

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

Henry had just moved to Mesa, Arizona, looking for a fresh start. He landed a job as a cook at a brand-new noodle restaurant, eager to put his skills to use. But with the grand opening just days away, the staff was working around the clock—14-hour shifts, nonstop prep, and mounting pressure. On his third day, running on fumes, Henry clocked in for yet another grueling shift. While feeding a heavy flour block into the noodle-cutting machine, his hand slipped. The machine caught one finger—then two more. Slowly, it severed one and crushed the others as he struggled to pull away. In the panic, he yanked his hand free, dislocating his shoulder in the process. Blood spilled into the dough as the machine kept churning, painting the noodles red.

After emergency surgery and months of physical therapy, Henry regained most of his mobility—but the memory of that day stayed with him longer than the scars.