Drain snake failure

 My Mom had a plugged toilet and since plungers didn't work I had to get a drain snake.  The S-bar is held in both hands with a twisting motion to turn the snake. I was able to get the left thumb open enough to get it around the handle but as soon as that occurred the fingers clasped even tighter. After much swearing the fingers had to be opened first and then the thumb. Nothing my therapists did prepared me for dealing with spasticity. The snake didn't work since there seemed to be a complete blockage. A plumber will need to be called, prior to stroke I could easily have pulled the toilet and figured out the solution.