If, after all this, the finger is alas lost, all is not over.

Over here in the south of England many will favourably think of the playing of "Mac" - who lost what you Americans call "the bird" on his left (fingering) hand and Paul Hurst who lost the same on his right (plucking) hand. Mac's timing was rather personal, but that was more a matter of substance abuse and he could wring more notes out of a guitar than most. The latter is immortalised by a line in a humourous song from 'catter "Wild Rover" (Clive Lever - aka Clever Evil - himself almost the archetypal pyrotechnic blind keyboard player).

"His fingers like nine dancing maggots on acid"

Don't give up, Art, whatever happens.