Local artist gives back to doctors and hospital which treated him

BOISE (KIVI) — A local artist is giving back to the doctors and the hospital which treated him.
For years now, Richard Herdegen has been suffering from Parkinson's Disease. It started in 2011, when Herdegen donated a kidney to a friend and then became concerned when the recovery took longer than expected.
The doctors at St. Luke’s hospital in Nampa diagnosed him with his debilitating neurological disease and treated him with deep-brain stimulation surgery.
He says he's feeling better now, even as his hands still shake a bit, but the treatment has enabled him to continue doing what he loves. And he loves it when people admire his work.
"It relates to kids,” said Herdegen of his artwork. “Kids can look at it and know it’s for them and not an adult. So, they like it. I get lots of nice feedback about the work that I do."
Herdegen says this will likely be his final art project because his recurring symptoms are making it hard for him to create large works, but he says he will likely continue making smaller pieces of art -- especially jewelry.