THE HANDS OF FAITH

from Edmond Outlook - June 2011

THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS

Hands Hands of Faith

DOUBLE HAND TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT

As I arrived to meet former chiropractor Dr. Richard Edwards, he opened the door for me and greeted me with a handshake. While it may not be an impressive feat for most, this was impressive, because it came from the nation’s fi rst man to receive a double hand transplant.

Just eight months ago, Edwards underwent an 18-hour surgery at the Jewish Hospital Hand Care Center in Louisville, Kentucky, and received two new hands in an unprecedented double hand transplant surgery.

Th e ordeal began on a dry day in February, in 2006. Edwards had just left work and was headed to his cabin for a weekend of hunting. In a Suburban pulling a trailer—both of which were packed with gasoline and propane supplies for the trip—Edwards turned off the road into some brush. When he headed back for the road, he realized his trailer was jackknifed and he was stuck.

After that, he only remembers bits and pieces.

As he contemplated leaving the trailer behind and coming back for it in the morning, he looked over his shoulder to see the dry brush around him explode into fl ames. Later, they found out the dry brush must have been set off by the heat from the underside or have been set off by the heat from the underside or muffl er of his vehicle. Th ere had been a statewide muffl er of his vehicle. Th ere had been a statewide burn ban for 7 months, and the brush went up in the burn ban for 7 months, and the brush went up in the blink of an eye. blink of an eye.

Before he could reach to unlock his door, the Before he could reach to unlock his door, the electrical system in the vehicle had already burnt. As electrical system in the vehicle had already burnt. As he tried to open the door, all of the windows exploded he tried to open the door, all of the windows exploded into pieces. into pieces.

Th at was the last thing Edwards remembers. He Th at was the last thing Edwards remembers. He doesn’t know how he got out of the vehicle, or how doesn’t know how he got out of the vehicle, or how he made it through the fi re, but in his next waking he made it through the fi re, but in his next waking moments, he was on the road to his cabin, willing moments, he was on the road to his cabin, willing himself to continue walking. He and his wife are sure himself to continue walking. He and his wife are sure that angels miraculously pulled him from the fi re. that angels miraculously pulled him from the fi re.

Don’t stop. Keep going, he told himself as he Don’t stop. Keep going, he told himself as he made his way to the cabin, even though he wanted to made his way to the cabin, even though he wanted to lie down and give up. lie down and give up.

In the 10 years he and his friends held the hunting In the 10 years he and his friends held the hunting cabin lease, his friends had never been at the cabin so cabin lease, his friends had never been at the cabin so early in the year. Th is night, miraculously, they were. early in the year. Th is night, miraculously, they were. His friends discovered Edwards and called 911, and His friends discovered Edwards and called 911, and a helicopter was sent to fl y him to the Integris Burn a helicopter was sent to fl y him to the Integris Burn Center. He had already lapsed into a coma. Center. He had already lapsed into a coma.

Second and third-degree burns covered more Second and third-degree burns covered more than a third of his body. Th ey didn’t think he’d make than a third of his body. Th ey didn’t think he’d make it. He did. it. He did.

He grins at me from under a full head of bushy He grins at me from under a full head of bushy light gray hair. Th ey thought he would lose much of light gray hair. Th ey thought he would lose much of his face, that he might be blind, that he would lose all his face, that he might be blind, that he would lose all his hair. He didn’t. his hair. He didn’t.

After being in a coma for 10 days and recovering After being in a coma for 10 days and recovering at the Integris Burn Center for two months, Edwards’ at the Integris Burn Center for two months, Edwards’ quick recovery astounded doctors and nurses. “You’re quick recovery astounded doctors and nurses. “You’re in your 50s, and you’re healing like you’re a 16-yearin your 50s, and you’re healing like you’re a 16-yearold,” they told him. old,” they told him.

Skin grafts from his legs were used to repair the Skin grafts from his legs were used to repair the damage to his face, back and eyelids, which were the damage to his face, back and eyelids, which were the most severely burned. What he did lose was virtually most severely burned. What he did lose was virtually both of his hands. Burned beyond recognition, his both of his hands. Burned beyond recognition, his hands lost seven fi ngers, and the remaining three hands lost seven fi ngers, and the remaining three were useless. were useless.

After a year, Edwards began searching for the After a year, Edwards began searching for the best hand surgeon he could fi nd to try to reconstruct best hand surgeon he could fi nd to try to reconstruct his damaged hands. But after fi ve surgeries on just his damaged hands. But after fi ve surgeries on just his right hand over the span of a year, it was still his right hand over the span of a year, it was still deformed and dysfunctional. In despair, Edwards and deformed and dysfunctional. In despair, Edwards and his wife, Cindy, sought a second opinion from a hand his wife, Cindy, sought a second opinion from a hand specialist at the Jewish Hospital Hand Care Center specialist at the Jewish Hospital Hand Care Center in Louisville. in Louisville.

While the specialist agreed there was nothing While the specialist agreed there was nothing more surgery could do, an idea sparked in Cindy’s more surgery could do, an idea sparked in Cindy’s mind, and her question stopped him in his tracks. mind, and her question stopped him in his tracks. “Didn’t I hear that this hospital performed a hand “Didn’t I hear that this hospital performed a hand transplant?” she asked. transplant?” she asked.

Enter Dr. Warren Breidenbach. Enter Dr. Warren Breidenbach.

Th e head of the Hand Care Center’s hand Th e head of the Hand Care Center’s hand transplanting program and leading expert on hand transplanting program and leading expert on hand transplanting, Breidenbach was notifi ed immediately. transplanting, Breidenbach was notifi ed immediately. He agreed to evaluate whether Edwards could be a He agreed to evaluate whether Edwards could be a candidate for a double hand transplant. candidate for a double hand transplant.

Usually, hand transplants are reserved for those Usually, hand transplants are reserved for those who have had an amputation. And a double hand who have had an amputation. And a double hand transplant had never been done in the United States transplant had never been done in the United States before. Th e risk involved meant if the transplant before. Th e risk involved meant if the transplant didn’t work, Edwards would be left with no hands, didn’t work, Edwards would be left with no hands, since what hands he had left after the fi re would have since what hands he had left after the fi re would have to be removed to make way for the new hands. to be removed to make way for the new hands.

Doctors also warned him that transplant Doctors also warned him that transplant recipients have a shortened lifespan, a lower white recipients have a shortened lifespan, a lower white blood cell count and are extremely vulnerable to blood cell count and are extremely vulnerable to

“I don’t believe God would have allowed me to get this far if it weren’t going to be successful.”

by Rachel Dattolo

Dr. Edwards at a press conference following his recovery

infection. But to the Edwards couple, the chance of infection. But to the Edwards couple, the chance of having functioning hands again was worth the risk.“ having functioning hands again was worth the risk.“ I don’t believe God would have allowed me to get this I don’t believe God would have allowed me to get this far,” he says, “if it weren’t going to be successful.” far,” he says, “if it weren’t going to be successful.”

After many months of extensive testing, Edwards After many months of extensive testing, Edwards fi nally was approved to be placed on the donor list. fi nally was approved to be placed on the donor list. By this time, it had been several years since the fi re.By this time, it had been several years since the fi re.

Th en, on August 24, 2010, at 7:30 p.m., he got the Th en, on August 24, 2010, at 7:30 p.m., he got the call: “We have a pair of hands for you.” call: “We have a pair of hands for you.”

Th e couple immediately fl ew to Louisville, where Th e couple immediately fl ew to Louisville, where Edwards was whisked off into surgery. Th e 18-hour Edwards was whisked off into surgery. Th e 18-hour surgery was conducted by a team of 30 doctors, surgery was conducted by a team of 30 doctors, and was the fi rst surgery in America to ever be and was the fi rst surgery in America to ever be tweeted live. tweeted live.

Two days after coming out of surgery, Edwards Two days after coming out of surgery, Edwards was able to move all 10 fi ngers, a feat which was able to move all 10 fi ngers, a feat which astonished the surgeons. “Th is is not supposed to astonished the surgeons. “Th is is not supposed to happen,” said Breidenbach. Usually, it takes months happen,” said Breidenbach. Usually, it takes months for a hand transplant recipient to even move a fi nger. for a hand transplant recipient to even move a fi nger.

Continued on page 30

One advantage Edwards had was the existence One advantage Edwards had was the existence of his two hands, even though badly damaged. To of his two hands, even though badly damaged. To complete the transplant, doctors whittled away complete the transplant, doctors whittled away what was left of his hands, and left the nerves what was left of his hands, and left the nerves exposed. Th ey then wired his existing nerves exposed. Th ey then wired his existing nerves into the new donor hands, saving months of into the new donor hands, saving months of nerve regrowth that takes place in other hand nerve regrowth that takes place in other hand transplant recipients. transplant recipients.

Four months later, the couple was back home Four months later, the couple was back home in Edmond. in Edmond.

“I can feel right down to the tip of my fi ngers,” “I can feel right down to the tip of my fi ngers,” Edwards says proudly. “Every day I fi nd new things I Edwards says proudly. “Every day I fi nd new things I can do that I couldn’t do before.” can do that I couldn’t do before.”

To help retrain his hands and develop further To help retrain his hands and develop further dexterity, Edwards goes to physical therapy for an dexterity, Edwards goes to physical therapy for an hour and a half twice a week. He moves, stretches and hour and a half twice a week. He moves, stretches and exercises his hands and plays with toys. “I play with exercises his hands and plays with toys. “I play with toddler toys,” he laughs. toddler toys,” he laughs.

Many things remain out of reach to Edwards now, Many things remain out of reach to Edwards now, such as buttoning clothes, or cutting up food. But such as buttoning clothes, or cutting up food. But the hope is that, in time, many of these skills will be the hope is that, in time, many of these skills will be acquired as he learns to use his new hands. acquired as he learns to use his new hands.

As he talks, he gestures with his hands, or pauses As he talks, he gestures with his hands, or pauses to scratch his face. “I can feel my wife’s skin again,” he to scratch his face. “I can feel my wife’s skin again,” he says, holding her hand. She adds, “We couldn’t hold says, holding her hand. She adds, “We couldn’t hold hands before.” hands before.”

Around their house, there are dozens of trophy Around their house, there are dozens of trophy mounts displayed as testaments to Edwards’ mounts displayed as testaments to Edwards’ hunting skills before the fateful fi re. Th e animals he hunting skills before the fateful fi re. Th e animals he killed in his worldwide travels and brought home killed in his worldwide travels and brought home range from the average deer, to the occasional fox, range from the average deer, to the occasional fox, hyena, moose and musk ox. Even a bear towers in hyena, moose and musk ox. Even a bear towers in a corner. a corner.

While he probably won’t be able to hunt, again his While he probably won’t be able to hunt, again his hopes are high for what he will be able to accomplish hopes are high for what he will be able to accomplish with his new hands. In the meantime, his wife is with his new hands. In the meantime, his wife is there to take care of him, as she has every day since the fi re. “She’s been there every step of the way,” says Edwards.

Th e couple met in Nebraska and moved to Edmond almost 30 years ago. Th e former chiropractor said his practice, the Edwards Clinic Chiropractic, is still alive and well at a diff erent location on 33rd Street in Edmond.