PUEBLO, CO - In what can only be described as both medically baffling and record-breaking, local resident Terry Baumgartner has officially been recognized for having the world's longest toe, measuring an astounding 33 feet in length.
The 42-year-old electrician's middle toe on his right foot began growing abnormally about three years ago, a condition doctors have termed "hyperdigital elongation syndrome," previously undocumented in medical literature.
"At first I thought it was just a weird ingrown toenail situation," explained Baumgartner during an exclusive interview at his specially-modified Pueblo home. "But when it hit the six-inch mark, I knew something unusual was happening."
Baumgartner's toe now requires its own dedicated room in his house, complete with a custom-built climate-controlled container that he describes as "basically a terrarium for my toe." The massive digit continues to grow at a rate of approximately 8 inches per month, requiring weekly trimming sessions performed by a team of podiatrists.
Dr. Eliza Thornton, lead researcher at the National Institute for Unusual Physical Phenomena, has been studying Baumgartner's case since the toe reached the 10-foot milestone last year.
"There's absolutely nothing in medical science that explains this," admitted Dr. Thornton. "The toe maintains perfect health despite its extraordinary size. It has normal sensation, circulation, and even grows a proportionally large toenail that requires industrial cutting equipment to trim."
Representatives from the World Record Institute visited Pueblo last week to officially measure and certify the toe at 33 feet 2.5 inches, shattering the previous record for longest human appendage by over 29 feet.
Baumgartner has become something of a local celebrity, with his home now a popular stop on Pueblo's increasingly eccentric tourist trail. The city council recently approved plans for a "Big Toe Museum" to be constructed downtown, expected to bring in an estimated $3.2 million in annual tourism revenue.
"I've learned to see the upside," Baumgartner said with a shrug. "I can't wear normal shoes anymore, and I had to quit my job because mobility became an issue, but the donations and appearance fees have more than made up for it. Plus, I've got a Netflix documentary coming out next month."
Scientists from around the world continue to study the phenomenon, with some theorizing that Baumgartner's condition could lead to breakthroughs in tissue regeneration technology. Meanwhile, the toe shows no signs of slowing its growth, with experts projecting it could reach 50 feet by year's end.
"Sometimes I wonder if it'll ever stop," mused Baumgartner. "But at this point, I'm just going with the flow. You could say I'm putting my best foot forward."