Louisville, KY—Donnie Rickelman, the seventh recipient of a hand transplant at Jewish Hospital, will return to the Kleinert Kutz Hand Care Center, the Christine M. Kleinert Institute for Hand and Microsurgery, and Jewish Hospital in Louisville on Wednesday, January 18, 2012 for a six-month check-up and evaluation with his team of doctors.
Rickelman says, “I can feel hot and cold sensation in the hand now.”
Rickelman received a new left hand in a 14½ hour procedure at Jewish Hospital on Sunday, July 10, 2011. Joseph Kutz, M.D., with Kleinert Kutz Hand Care Center, led the 15-member team of hand surgeons, which included hand fellows from the Christine M. Kleinert Institute for Hand and Microsurgery. He returned to his home in Linton, Indiana in October, but continues to return to Louisville on a monthly basis to meet with his medical team as they monitor his progress.
“I enjoy playing video games – two handed – with my son and look forward to playing ball outdoors with him when the weather warms up,” said Rickelman. “I also continue to become more efficient at doing household chores such as cooking and cleaning, which really pleases my wife, Kelli.”
Drs. Kutz and Michael Marvin are the co-principle investigators for the Composite Tissue Allotransplantation program. In addition, Dr. Kutz is the medical director of the Christine M. Kleinert Institute, the research and teaching arm of the Kleinert Kutz Hand Care Center. Dr. Marvin is also the director of Transplantation at Jewish Hospital, associate professor of Surgery at the University of Louisville.
“Donnie continues to exceed our expectations in recovery from the hand transplant procedure,” said Dr. Kutz. “His hand activity has been incredible for someone just six months post surgery. His hot and cold sensation will continue to get even better.”
The research team at the Christine M. Kleinert Institute will be evaluating Donnie and performing some clinical, as well as research tests during his one day visit to Louisville.