Transplant recipient's dream fulfilled

AVON, Ind. (Hendricks County Flyer) - A man who received a hand transplant played golf for the first time this week, something he has always wanted to do, 24-Hour News 8’s news partner the Hendricks County Flyer reports.

Donald “Donnie” Rickelman traveled to Avon this week to learn how to play golf. Rickelman was injured March 9, 1998 when both of his hands were caught in a steel splitter machine.

His right dominate hand was crushed and his left hand was partially amputated below the wrist. He was left with a partial thumb and good wrist movement.

He had a cosmetic prosthetic hand for 13 years, but now has full use of his hand. An Indiana family made the ultimate donation, and in April of 2011 Rickelman underwent a successful hand transplant.

The donation was made through the Indiana Organ Procurement Organization.

This week the organization was raising money at a golf tournament hosted by Prestwick Country Club in Avon.

The county club and Nike corporation surprised Rickelman with a set of golf clubs and a golf lesson.

"I've always been interested in the sport," Rickelman said. "It's a great sport and I think I'm really going to like it."

Rickelman says the transplant has given him the confidence to give golf a try.

"You know, I get more and more feeling in it every day," he said of his new hand. "It just gets better and better."

His wife, Kelli Rickelman, said his new hand works better than the one doctors saved.

"He was self conscious and kept his hand in his pocket most of the time, even though most people didn't notice it," she said. "Since his surgery, his confidence has gotten better and he thinks IOPO is fantastic. He loves to talk about the program."

Sam Davis, director of professional services at IOPO, said when a person is an organ donor and they donate a hand, the family is offered a prosthetic so they can have an open casket viewing.

"We had one family say they didn't want it," Davis said. "They wanted people to see what their son did for someone else."

Davis said some people don't understand how much they can donate in the event of an accidental death.

"We can find places for tissue and organs," Davis said. "People don't even know you can donate a hand to a person who needs one. This can be such a precious gift to someone else."

Most Indiana residents sign up to be organ donors when they renew their driver’s licenses.

"You get that little red heart on your driver's license or you can go to www.donatelifeindiana.org and register," Davis said. "Five minutes and you're done."

Kelli Rickelman says it's a good idea to tell family members of the wish to become an organ donor in the event you would be unable to make the decision, and the family would need to.

"You should let people know your wishes," she said.

The Rickelmans volunteer at IOPO events when they can.

Debi Driver works for Kleinert, which is at Jewish Hospital in Louisville, Ky. When Rickelman had his surgery, she was working for IOPO.

"I actually helped to organize Donnie's transplant," she said. "It's a long process and he's been our best patient."

She said he has a good support system.

"We like to say Kelli has been his right hand through all of this," Driver joked