IN GOD’S HANDS: Former Muncy man to undergo historic bi-lateral hand transplant

The road over the last decade has been long for a former Muncy man, but his journey of courage and faith could change considerably in the near future, thanks to a new surgical procedure.

In May 1999, Jeff Kepner, a 20-year Air Force veteran and 1998 Pennsylvania College of Technology graduate, suddenly became critically ill. He eventually was diagnosed by doctors at the Medical College of Georgia, in Augusta, with a Strep A infection that quickly spread throughout his body. It affected his liver and kidneys, shutting them down, and creating Toxic Shock and Sepsis. The blood flow to Kepner's hands and feet shut down as his body worked to fight the infection. Although he survived, both hands and feet had to be amputated.

Over the past 10 years, Kepner has made a complete recovery and uses prosthetic limbs to carry out most of the activities of daily life. He picks up his daughter, Jordan, from school and drives to his job at Borders Books. Life once again had taken on a sense of normalcy.

Then Kepner's wife, the former Valarie Brittain of Muncy, heard about a new research and clinical trial for hand transplantation. As they learned more about the work being done at the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, they began to consider the possibility that Jeff might become a candidate for the surgery.

When Kepner passed the first phase for entering the program, he learned that he would have to travel to Pittsburgh on three separate occasions to undergo further testing. His first trip last November was to meet with Dr. W. P. Andrew Lee and his team. After more testing in December, Kepner learned shortly before Christmas that he had passed his tests.

On his last trip to Pittsburgh last month, Kepner underwent two more tests - both with positive results - and doctors prepared for the future surgery by performing a lukaheresis, where white blood cells are separated and frozen for use if needed during the transplant.

Kepner now is on the waiting list for a donor, and when one becomes available he will become the first bi-lateral hand transplant recipient in the country. Bi-lateral means that he will receive both hands from a single donor at the same time. The surgery will take about 12 to 14 hours as two teams work simultaneously, one on each hand.

Although all looks promising at this point, and there is much hope and anticipation for his future, it hasn't come without a price. That's where Kepner's church family and friends have stepped up to the plate.

Members of Burns Memorial United Methodist Church, along with co-workers of his wife at the Federal Correctional Institution in Edgefield, S.C., proposed a raffle for a new hunting rifle to raise money to help meet expenses not covered by insurance. A scoped Savage 110 rifle was obtained through the Wild Turkey Federation and during the weeks leading up to Christmas, tickets were distributed, bought and sold by friends, family and co-workers.

Hundreds of people from across the Central Savannah River Area joined the cause to help Kepner start on his journey to receive new hands. Tickets were sold and donations came in from as far away as Pennsylvania, raising more than $2,700. While many people were interested in the rifle, even more people were touched by the purpose of the raffle.

While the road has been long, the Kepners have survived through the love and support of family and friends from church, work and the community.

"We have seen their trust in Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit in their courage, faithfulness and determination," said the Rev. William Burch, the Kepners' pastor. "We see in them a hope that God has another miracle in store. Along with Jeff, Valarie and Jordan, we, too, are hoping and praying for that miraculous touch that comes when we place ourselves in God's healing hands."

According to Burch, donations still are being accepted at any Wachovia Bank branch, under the Jeff and Valarie Kepner Hand Transplant Fund, opened at the Wachovia Bank Branch in Edgefield, S.C. Donations also are being accepted at the Burns Memorial United Methodist Church, 2372 Lumpkin Road, Augusta, Ga., 30906, where they will be deposited into the account.