Following a man’s arm amputation, his cousin lifted his spirits by crocheting a new one, complete with bones.

In August 2020, Joe Tomasulo from Kentucky was involved in a motorcycle accident that caused serious damage to his arm. By September 2026, he underwent surgery to have the injured arm amputated. This loss deeply affected him, as he explained to WHAS11 that he had been engaged in various activities that required two hands, like playing guitar, pool, and working as a chef and mechanic. Following the surgery, Tomasulo attended a barbecue where his cousin, Kevin Michael, presented him with a thoughtful gift. Michael had spent 48 hours crocheting a prosthetic arm for his cousin, which had a realistic design, including blood at the top and a removable bone.

Michael runs a website called Thunderstitch, where he creates and sells unique crocheted items. He noted that making a whimsical arm like this fit perfectly with his style. Upon receiving the arm, Tomasulo felt a wave of joy and excitement as he put it on, feeling like his old self again. He shared that it was a joyful moment for everyone, and they enjoyed the experience together.

Tomasulo later posted pictures of himself with the crocheted arm on Reddit, where it gained significant attention. In his post, he mentioned that he had his right arm amputated at the elbow after suffering from a traumatic brachial plexus injury. He praised his cousin for creating a full-size wearable arm that was more art than medical prosthetic, emphasizing its importance as a meaningful gift. The post received much positive feedback, with commenters expressing admiration for Michael’s effort and creativity.

Kevin Michael started crafting dolls and toys during his childhood due to financial constraints. He shared with Upworthy that he would make his own action figures from paper dolls and cereal boxes. Later, while living in New York, he discovered a crochet book in a thrift store, which taught him the craft.

While it is certainly a challenging situation to lose an arm, Michael’s gesture brought some lightheartedness to a tough time. You can explore more of his work at Thunderstitch. What do you think of this unique way to cope with a difficult experience?

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