Heart transplant recipient bow hunter bags seven-point buck

Jerry Ingwersen, age 61, of Mt. Pleasant bagged a seven-point buck west of Oakland Mills on Oct. 28. To many that wouldn't seem to be such a noteworthy event. But to Ingwersen it was a thrill of a lifetime, extended through heart transplant surgery less than 18 months ago. "I was like a kid with a new bicycle," Ingwersen said. It was Ingwersen's first trip to the field since 1997.

Prior to his transplant, Ingwersen spent nearly three years being kept alive by a ventricle heart pump implant. "It weighs three-and-a-half pounds and it's made of titanium. I carried around a battery pack and at night I'd plug in to the 110," said Ingwersen. His wife, Clara was always at the ready in case the batteries ran out or the pump malfunctioned to attach a hand pump and restart his heart. It was during that period that he weighed only 118 pounds and had spent from January through July at the University of Iowa cardiac care center.

"My wife and my brother Roy spent every day but two out of that whole time by my side. But because of the drugs I don't remember much of anything," Ingwersen said. Friends from church and other relatives, including nephew Carl Ingwersen, also of Mt. Pleasant were regular visitors. An avid bow hunter and competitive archer, Carl Igwersen was the one that got Ingwersen to favor bow hunting over gun hunting before his bypass surgery.

Upon release from the hospital with his donor heart, Ingwersen who thought he would never be able to hunt again, started to regain his health and gain back the 47 pounds he had lost throughout his ordeal. His Baptist faith and support from wife Clara, brother Roy, and nephew Carl along with Keith Walters of Wayland, another transplant recipient, encouraged Ingwersen to become more active. "I think I can hunt this winter," Ingwersen told his nephew last summer.

"I scouted all summer long and watched a buck," said Carl Ingwersen. It was near a line of timber next to a bean field west of Oakland Mills and after receiving permission from the landowner, Carl Ingwersen built a blind for his uncle. It required a 300-yard walk across a flat grade which was necessary because of another physical problem. "I've got drop-foot from laying in a hospital bed for all that time. I have to wear a brace and I will have to for the rest of my life," said Ingwersen.

Still there was one obstacle to overcome. Bypass surgery ten years ago, the implant and removal of the titanium pump, and the heart transplant surgery left Ingwersen unable to pull back a standard bow. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources allows hunters with qualifying disabilities certain privileges. To Ingwersen that means the chance to hunt with a cross bow. "I practiced at my brother's farm all summer. A cross bow doesn't increase your range. I practiced at 20-25 yards," said Ingwersen.

The kill came after Ingwersen spotted the buck grinding his antlers against the trees about 15 yards out of range. "He just came walking towards me and when he was within about 15 yards is when I got him," said Ingwersen, who was unable to track the deer because of blurred vision when he bends over, another problem caused by all his surgeries, according to Carl Ingwersen. So nephew Carl helped again and tracked the trail of blood to find his uncle's prize.

But it's not all just about Jerry Ingwersen. "I want to show people not to give up. I thought I'd never hunt again. I hope in some way I can help others," Ingwersen said.