Daniel Hits the High Notes After Successful Trigger Finger Surgery
Johann Sebastian Bach once said, “I play the notes as they are written, but it is God who makes the music.” Here in the Quad Cities, career, church, and concert organist, Daniel McDannell, 73, has lived, prayed, and played his Christian faith for more than a half-century in virtually every major denominational church in our community.
In glory and praise, his hands and fingers fly across the organ’s three keyboards, while at his fingertips, nearly 100 different stops open the pipes, creating more depth to his symphony as his feet deftly find their place among 32 pedals in heavenward praise.
“Organists create moods by the way we play,” he explains. “The sounds we call forth support and elevate the congregation in the godly direction — the work of organists is a religious art with heavy technique.
“I am not just playing, I am participating in the Mass, truly worshipping with everyone in the sanctuary, lifting our hearts upward in adoration and prayer.”
Pain Impacted Daniel’s Ability to Play the Organ
Daniel credits his exuberance and joy for music to his mother, a jazz singer, composer, and poet in her own right. “When I heard my first organ on a record at age 13, I was hooked.” And he has been forever pulling out the stops in praise for the last 60 years.
After graduating from Moline High School, he attended Western Illinois University, where he majored in organ performance, pedagogy, and composition, then attained a dual Master’s degree in music theory and composition.
He has served as a substitute organist and cantor at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Rock Island and it was there, while he was playing in 2021, that his thumb literally locked up. “It was definitely trigger thumb. It had felt stiff for a while, but then it permanently locked. While I could close and open it, I couldn’t play at all. The thumb is the most important digit on the keyboard, so you are positively 100 percent out of business when your thumb won’t work!”
Minimally Invasive Surgery Yields Quick Results
Daniel sought the expertise of Hand Surgeon, Dr. Justin Munns, ORA Orthopedics, who confirmed Daniel had trigger finger. “Trigger finger is tendonitis of the finger that causes the tendon to swell up and get stuck into certain positions,” explains Dr. Munns.
“Patients who try to bend the thumb find it gets stuck. It affects people of all ages, even children. Those who perform heavy gripping in their work or hobbies may be predisposed to it, but it’s very common in the general population.”
Dr. Munns says treating trigger finger is a minimally invasive and relatively quick 10-minute procedure that yields immediate results. “The outpatient surgery is typically performed under local anesthesia. It’s a very small incision. Basically, I release a band of tissue at the base of the thumb, and patients can move their thumb right away after surgery.”
For Daniel, the results were immediate and career-saving. “Dr. Munns is just wonderful and the OR team put me at ease. After surgery, I could move my thumb right away. I felt so fortunate, blessed, thrilled, and amazed that the team’s care allowed me to play again!”
Two Thumbs Up for ORA
In fact, Daniel’s surgery was so successful, that when he experienced trigger finger again on his left thumb, there was no question where he would seek treatment.
“Daniel’s enthusiasm is truly contagious, and it has been very fulfilling for our team to see him recover so well,” adds Dr. Munns. “This is why we do what we do.”
“The organ at Mass is like theater,” adds Daniel. “It’s both performance and worship. ORA’s operating room is much like theater as well — every team member has a part to play, and their professionals are well choreographed and trained to take excellent care of their patients.
“They exuded professionalism and trust. I truly believe that as God has empowered me to play, He has also empowered those medical professionals to bring healing and care. It’s no small thing, and I truly believe ORA saved me.
“Artists and musicians don’t retire. We don’t stop. There’s a never to desire to quit being creative, and it’s a gift God gave me. I enjoy being able to make people feel good, so I’ll play forever.”
