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ENLARGE
Jay Starr and his girlfriend, Sheryl Walter, stand in front of Starr's new Corvette. Starr is recovering from a bilateral lung transplant after undergoing surgery in March.
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ENLARGE
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Jay Starr gets a kiss from his girlfriend, Sheryl Walter, as they arrive at a suprise party for Starr Saturday.
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The Jay Starr of today looks nothing like the Jay Starr of seven months ago.
Today, Starr’s baby blue eyes are full of life, happiness resonates in his voice and the grin that stretches across his face never fades. Hardly the same man who, seven months ago, relied on an oxygen tank, couldn’t speak without getting winded and was unable to walk from one room to another in his Winston home without growing tired.
The turnaround in Starr’s life is attributed to a bilateral lung transplant four and a half months ago that replaced his lungs, weakened by 34 years of cystic fibrosis, with new, healthy lungs.
The surgery did more than change Starr’s life, though — it saved it.
“My time was definitely limited,” Starr said Saturday at a party to celebrate his recovery and 47th birthday.
Starr was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when he was 13 years old, after his younger brother, Steve, was diagnosed with the hereditary disease. Steve Starr died in 1989, when he was 18 years old.
Two years ago Starr found out he had diabetes, and at that point, his body started to slow down and his health deteriorated. The decline in Starr’s health alarmed his family members, who were worried they were about to lose another son and brother to the disease.
“We thought we would go through the same thing again,” said Jay’s sister, Tracy Starr. “... Of course it didn’t go so well the first time, so you think it’ll happen again.”
After a battery of tests at the University of Washington, Starr was added to the transplant list Dec. 6. For the next several months, Starr’s health continued to decline as the family sat on edge, waiting for a call to say lungs were available, said Starr’s girlfriend, Sheryl Walter.
On Feb. 22, Starr and Walter got a call to say a donor was available, but the doctors told the couple to wait at home for another call to signal that the lungs were viable.
When the call came a few hours later, the news was not good. Doctors told Walter the tissue was damaged and the lungs could not be transplanted, she said. Then, on March 6, Starr and Walter received another call. This time, though, doctors told the pair to head to Seattle as soon as possible.
Starr was in surgery within a couple of hours of his arrival at the hospital, and doctors kept Walter, who was in the waiting room, up to speed with the progress in the operating room. Walter was on the phone the entire morning of the surgery, relaying the process — from the first lung being placed in Starr’s chest to his first breath — to friends, family members and Starr’s former co-workers at Roseburg Lumber.
“It’s awesome now,” said Richard Nugent, who worked with Starr for 15 years. “The way he was the night he got the call, I was scared.”
Like Nugent, Dave Latall, who is Starr’s old roommate, was worried about Starr’s condition. At one point before the transplant, when Starr was in the hospital, Latall said he visited Starr and was scared he was going to lose his friend. At the time, Starr’s vital signs were weak and his insulin levels were unsteady, Latall said.
Starr’s turnaround after the transplant has left his friends amazed.
“He’s one of the most resilient people I know,” Latall said.
“A lot tougher than I am,” Nugent added.
Doctors told Walter that when the surgery took place, Starr’s lungs were no longer working on their own. Starr’s upper chest and abdomen muscles were the only things bringing oxygen into his lungs, she said.
“The doctors said without the rehab and physical therapy (before surgery), he wouldn’t be alive,” Walter said. “It’s been quite the journey.”
When people see Starr for the first time after his surgery, they tell him that he doesn’t even resemble the man he was before the transplant, Starr said.
“It’s brought a lot of tears to people’s eyes,” Starr said of his recovery.
For people who have known Starr for years, though, the transplant has finally returned Starr to his old self.
“He was so healthy for so long,” Tracy Starr said. “It was only a year or so where he went downhill. Now it’s like it’s back to normal.”
Today, Starr’s baby blue eyes are full of life, happiness resonates in his voice and the grin that stretches across his face never fades. Hardly the same man who, seven months ago, relied on an oxygen tank, couldn’t speak without getting winded and was unable to walk from one room to another in his Winston home without growing tired.
The turnaround in Starr’s life is attributed to a bilateral lung transplant four and a half months ago that replaced his lungs, weakened by 34 years of cystic fibrosis, with new, healthy lungs.
The surgery did more than change Starr’s life, though — it saved it.
“My time was definitely limited,” Starr said Saturday at a party to celebrate his recovery and 47th birthday.
Starr was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when he was 13 years old, after his younger brother, Steve, was diagnosed with the hereditary disease. Steve Starr died in 1989, when he was 18 years old.
Two years ago Starr found out he had diabetes, and at that point, his body started to slow down and his health deteriorated. The decline in Starr’s health alarmed his family members, who were worried they were about to lose another son and brother to the disease.
“We thought we would go through the same thing again,” said Jay’s sister, Tracy Starr. “... Of course it didn’t go so well the first time, so you think it’ll happen again.”
After a battery of tests at the University of Washington, Starr was added to the transplant list Dec. 6. For the next several months, Starr’s health continued to decline as the family sat on edge, waiting for a call to say lungs were available, said Starr’s girlfriend, Sheryl Walter.
On Feb. 22, Starr and Walter got a call to say a donor was available, but the doctors told the couple to wait at home for another call to signal that the lungs were viable.
When the call came a few hours later, the news was not good. Doctors told Walter the tissue was damaged and the lungs could not be transplanted, she said. Then, on March 6, Starr and Walter received another call. This time, though, doctors told the pair to head to Seattle as soon as possible.
Starr was in surgery within a couple of hours of his arrival at the hospital, and doctors kept Walter, who was in the waiting room, up to speed with the progress in the operating room. Walter was on the phone the entire morning of the surgery, relaying the process — from the first lung being placed in Starr’s chest to his first breath — to friends, family members and Starr’s former co-workers at Roseburg Lumber.
“It’s awesome now,” said Richard Nugent, who worked with Starr for 15 years. “The way he was the night he got the call, I was scared.”
Like Nugent, Dave Latall, who is Starr’s old roommate, was worried about Starr’s condition. At one point before the transplant, when Starr was in the hospital, Latall said he visited Starr and was scared he was going to lose his friend. At the time, Starr’s vital signs were weak and his insulin levels were unsteady, Latall said.
Starr’s turnaround after the transplant has left his friends amazed.
“He’s one of the most resilient people I know,” Latall said.
“A lot tougher than I am,” Nugent added.
Doctors told Walter that when the surgery took place, Starr’s lungs were no longer working on their own. Starr’s upper chest and abdomen muscles were the only things bringing oxygen into his lungs, she said.
“The doctors said without the rehab and physical therapy (before surgery), he wouldn’t be alive,” Walter said. “It’s been quite the journey.”
When people see Starr for the first time after his surgery, they tell him that he doesn’t even resemble the man he was before the transplant, Starr said.
“It’s brought a lot of tears to people’s eyes,” Starr said of his recovery.
For people who have known Starr for years, though, the transplant has finally returned Starr to his old self.
“He was so healthy for so long,” Tracy Starr said. “It was only a year or so where he went downhill. Now it’s like it’s back to normal.”
Before Starr became ill, he used to ride his bike daily. Now, Starr is trying to work himself back into shape, by eating properly and starting to get back into his riding. Starr still has monthly doctor visits in Seattle and several appointments each week with local doctors, and he takes every opportunity he has to talk to others about organ donation and his recovery. He’s also spending time taking care of Walter, in exchange for the months she took care of him, he said.
“I’ve never known him without oxygen,” Walter said. “We’re getting to know our relationship all over again.”
Starr said the transplant has made him perceive everything in life differently. He doesn’t want to take anything for granted and said he wants to serve as an inspiration to those who are waiting for a transplant.
“You want to make sure you take care of the gift you’ve been given,” Starr said. “I’m living for two people — the donor and myself — and I don’t want to let him down.”
• You can reach reporter Marissa Harshman at 957-4202 or by e-mail at mharshman@nrtoday.com.
“I’ve never known him without oxygen,” Walter said. “We’re getting to know our relationship all over again.”
Starr said the transplant has made him perceive everything in life differently. He doesn’t want to take anything for granted and said he wants to serve as an inspiration to those who are waiting for a transplant.
“You want to make sure you take care of the gift you’ve been given,” Starr said. “I’m living for two people — the donor and myself — and I don’t want to let him down.”
• You can reach reporter Marissa Harshman at 957-4202 or by e-mail at mharshman@nrtoday.com.
So you know...
Facts about organ, eye and tissue donation:
• Nearly 100,000 people across the country are currently waiting for an organ transplant — 2,000 of whom live in the Pacific Northwest. • In the U.S., 18 people die each day waiting for an organ transplant. • One organ, eye and tissue donor can save or enhance the lives of up to 50 people. • Every 12 minutes a new name is added to the United Network for Organ Sharing waiting list. • Organ donation is supported by many major religions. • There is no added cost to the donor for organ, eye and tissue transplant. • About 92 percent of the U.S. population supports donation, but only 20 percent take the steps to designate themselves as donors. • Organs and tissues that can be donated include the heart, pancreas, bone, kidneys, corneas, skin, lungs, liver, intestine, connective tissue, heart valves, veins and the entire body for medical education. Three ways to become a donor: • Sign up on the online registry at www.donatelifenw.org. • Call (800) 452-1369. • Have the “D” code added to your driver’s license. Also, make sure to share your decision with family members. Information provided by Donate Life Northwest. |
