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He’s delivered 13,000 babies. He’s delivering more with his second heart

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A Lee Enterprises, Incorporated newspaper. Majority shareholder: David Hoffmann, Hoffmann Media Group.

Editor's Pick Topical Top Story

He’s delivered 13,000 babies. He’s delivering more with his second heart

New heart /COPYRIGHT RESTRICTED

Dr. Keith Vrbicky celebrates his 68th birthday with grandchildren Archer and Jack Lacrosse on Sept. 16. The Norfolk obstetrician-gynecologist who has delivered 13,000 babies is back at work after a year-long journey recovering from a heart transplant.

Courtesy Photo

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LEO ADAM BIGA Flatwater Free Press

He celebrated the first anniversary by going to Mass. He invited a few loved ones to breakfast. Nothing fancy for Dr. Keith Vrbicky in late September, on the one-year anniversary of the day he got a new heart. Just a quiet thanks for this second chance at life.

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Dr. Keith Vrbicky (right) poses with Dr. John Um, a heart transplant surgeon at UNMC, during a follow-up appointment Oct. 27, 2021.

Courtesy photo

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Dr. Keith Vrbicky in his hospital bed at Nebraska Medicine just days before his transplant. 

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Keith and Karyn Vrbicky on Christmas 2021, a few months after his heart transplant. 

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Dr. Keith Vrbicky and daughter Michaela Clough dancing at her wedding on Sept. 10. The recent marriage of his youngest child reminded the Norfolk doctor of all that he came close to missing out on. 

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Keith Vrbicky points to one of his future patients. The Norfolk obstetrician-gynecologist who has delivered 13,000-plus babies returned to work four months after his heart transplant. 

Courtesy photo

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Top Journal Star photos for October

The basketball courts at Antelope Park went from gray to filled with color this fall. The project to resurface the courts at Normal Boulevard and South Street and repaint them as a reproduction of the painting "Red Sea" by African American artist Felrath Hines was funded by private donations. The original painting is part of the permanent collection of the Sheldon Museum of Art.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird gives the state of the city address on Oct. 4.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star file photo

Lincoln East's Gabby Pace (center left) and Kooper Barnes (center right) dance as part of the Spartans' pregame routine before an A-5 district game Wednesday at Doris Bair Complex.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star file photo

Nebraska interim defensive coordinator Bill Busch celebrates after the team made a stop against Indiana on Oct. 1 at Memorial Stadium.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star file photo

Johnson-Brock industrial technology teacher Ashton Bohling is one of 20 nationwide winners of the 2022 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Nebraska's Marcus Washington breaks a tackle from Indiana's Bryant Fitzgerald (31) in the third quarter on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

NOAH RIFFE, Journal Star

Flowers ring a tree on Randolph Street where six people died in a car crash Oct. 2.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star file photo

Nebraska's Malcolm Hartzog (13) and Nebraska wide receiver Ty Hahn (17) celebrate after Hartzog scooped up a blocked punt for a touchdown on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

NOAH RIFFE, Journal Star

A farmer uses a corn combine to harvest his crop on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, in Johnson, NE. Based on June 1 conditions, Nebraska's 2022 winter wheat crop is forecast at 36.9 million bushels, down 10% from last year's crop, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Elkhorn South's Ellen Bode drives the ball off the 16th tee during the girls class A district golf match on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022, at Highlands Golf Course in Lincoln.

KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Nebraska's Casey Thompson (left) celebrates his fourth quarter touchdown with teammate Chancellor Brewington during the game against Indiana on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Lincoln Southeast's Camden Hjermstad hits a ball during the Heartland Athletic Conference championships at Woods Tennis Center.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lead teacher Jazi Hudnall (center) plays with children (from left) Goamar Gony, Cha'Ziye West, Gloria Retana, Grace Dounda, Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, at Community Action K Street Head Start Center in Lincoln.

JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen moderates a hearing on the voter ID initiative, Tuesday at the state Capitol.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Elkhorn South's Kennadi Borngrebe (top left) celebrates with her teammates after the Storm defeated Lincoln East in a Class A state softball game Thursday at Bill Smith Complex in Hastings.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lyla Hardrick, 5, of Lincoln, swings to hit a ball during More is Possible Rally, Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, at Haymarket Park in Lincoln. The outdoor sporting event featured Huskers players, coaches, and alumni to celebrate the 50 anniversary of Title IX.

JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

Malcolm's Hayden Frank (center) stretches into the Lincoln Lutheran endzone to score a touchdown during the third quarter on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, at Malcolm Public Schools in Malcolm.

KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Lincoln East reacts as Madison Adams (19) runs home after hitting one of the 18 homers hit by the Spartans in three district games this week. East beat Columbus 12-0 to win the A-6 district Thursday at Doris Bair Complex.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln High's Dane Mentore (right) tackles Lincoln East's Dash Bauman (6) during the first half Thursday at Seacrest Field.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Gabriel Wilhelm, 9, closes his ears as the Lincoln Pius X band plays before Friday's game against Waverly at Aldrich Field.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Justine Bassen of Lincoln directs signs toward passing motorists during the Lincoln Women's March on Saturday.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Best of Big Red general manager Joey Rupp poses for a photo with the new foam Cornhead hat Wednesday.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Ashland-Greenwood's Nathan Upton tries to bring down Omaha Roncalli's Wyatt Yetter on runs in the fourth quarter on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022, at Ashland-Greenwood High School in Ashland.

KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

A section of the the Deadman's run watershed which snakes past the Hansen-Mueller grain silos in Northeast Lincoln is photographed by a drone on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022, at in Lincoln. Over the past 20 years, the city and Lower Platte NRD have created master plans to manage flood risk, stream stability and water quality in 14 watersheds in and around Lincoln. A proposed comprehensive master plan updates and combines all those plans, which include long-awaited work on Deadmans Run. City voters approved a bond issue that will help pay for the work to widen nearly 1 1/2 miles of the main channel in north Lincoln, replace bridges and build a stormwater basin.

KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Lincoln East celebrates after the final point of the second set against Lincoln North Star during a HAC Tournament game Tuesday at East.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

During the pandemic, the Rev. Allan Phan of Sacred Heart Church in Crete began speaking to his parishioners through his "Devotions with Daisy" blog on Facebook. The videos of he and his dog have been popular among congregants.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

McCook's Evan Humphrey (left) embraces Lincoln Michaelis after winning the Class B No. 1 doubles title on Friday at Woods Tennis Center.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln Southwest players celebrate after scoring against Lincoln East on Oct. 10 at East High School.

JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO

Lincoln Pius X's Nicole Kolbas (middle) reacts after completing the 18th hole at the state girls golf tournament Tuesday at Norfolk Country Club. Kolbas shot a 36-hole 151 to win the tournament for the third consecutive year.

NOAH RIFFE, Journal Star

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New heart /COPYRIGHT RESTRICTED

Dr. Keith Vrbicky and daughter Michaela Clough dancing at her wedding on Sept. 10. The recent marriage of his youngest child reminded the Norfolk doctor of all that he came close to missing out on. 

Dr. Keith Vrbicky celebrates his 68th birthday with grandchildren Archer and Jack Lacrosse on Sept. 16. The Norfolk obstetrician-gynecologist who has delivered 13,000 babies is back at work after a year-long journey recovering from a heart transplant.

Keith and Karyn Vrbicky on Christmas 2021, a few months after his heart transplant. 

Dr. Keith Vrbicky (right) poses with Dr. John Um, a heart transplant surgeon at UNMC, during a follow-up appointment Oct. 27, 2021.

Keith Vrbicky points to one of his future patients. The Norfolk obstetrician-gynecologist who has delivered 13,000-plus babies returned to work four months after his heart transplant. 

Dr. Keith Vrbicky in his hospital bed at Nebraska Medicine just days before his transplant. 

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