Plastic Surgeon and Hand Specialist at St. Mary's Dr. Frederic Barr attaches finger to stomach

Tim Malloy Reporting: At 6'2" 225, Will Claunch is a two sport star at South Fork High, headed toward a baccalaurette degree with an excellent grade point average. He has ivy league athlete written all over him. At least he did until he tried to make a tackle at a squad scrimmage two weeks ago.

Will Claunch: "I went up to make the tackle, missed the tackle and got my finger caught in his drawstring trying to make the tackle and all the skin on the inside of my right little finger was ripped off."

Tim Malloy: One of his coaches, an EMT, and his father, who is a veterinarian, took one look at the exposed tendons from the first joint to the tip of his finger and rushed him to Martin Memorial Hospital, where there was no plastic surgeon available.

Dr. Frederic Barr: "What's most important is to make sure there's a good blood supply. You guys are doing a great job, I'm proud of you."

Dr. Frederic Barr: "What we've done is we've allowed skin and fat to replace the stuff that was lost, and it's got a blood supply. And the idea is to have the blood supply from the finger grow into the flap and eventually we'll go ahead and separate it so that it will stay as part of his finger."

Tim Malloy Reporting: The procedure is called a "groin flap" and it requires that Will either lie down or stand up which will make finals difficult. It also means he must walk around with his finger attached, sewn to his lower right stomach. But if Dr. Barr works his magic, it will put him back where he wants to be on a playing field with all ten fingers, and with his folks in the stands.

Mother: "He's a strong willed kid, so I think he can do it."

Tim Malloy: No More Football?

Mother: "Oh definitely ... Well if it were for me to say, I'd say no more football, for him, definitely he wants to play."