iPod needs to be force restarted but home button is broken

Hi I'm new the the Support Communities, thus this is my first question.

I have a 2-or-so year old iPod touch 5th generation running IOS 8.? (I don't know the sub-versions). My problem is that I dropped my iPod about 2 months ago and got the screen repaired about 1 month ago. When I dropped it, it landed on an object right above the home button (shattering the screen) and breaking the home button. It didn't physically break the home button but, according to the guy who fixed it (he was from iCracked), it severed a cord that has something to do with the home button. He said the piece was rare and he couldn't fix it.

So long story short, the home button doesn't work. Normally this would be fine, I have been using assistive touch, but I put off updating the software and so when I tried to to simply click the power button to wake it up, but it wouldn't wake up. I'm pretty sure it just needs to be force-restarted (by clicking and holding the home button and power button at the same time), but since the home button is broken, I can't force restart it. I'm sure it's not dead because I charged it overnight with a charger that I'm 100% sure is working.

Any fixes, theories, or anything would help and would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks very much and god bless, Quinn.