The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

Nostrant Gets New Liver

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EATTLE -- When Dennis Nostrant received an urgent call on his dedicated "transplant" cell phone at 2 a.m. on Dec. 4, he learned he had six hours to make it from his home in Thronton, south of Spokane, to the University Medical Center in Seattle.

He had reason to be somewhat skeptical.

Three times over the previous months he had received similar calls from his medical coordinator at the center calling him in to be ready for a liver transplant only to be told that, for one reason or another, the surgery could not take place.

Each time it happened, he would be completely deflated and have to build back his courage to go through with the risky, yet life-saving operation.

He knew that it could easily take as many as eight dry runs before the procedure would take place. Sometimes the donor's liver was a better match for another prospective recipient, sometimes the harvested liver wasn't suitable for anybody because it contained an infectious disease -- conditions that could not be predicted beforehand.

Either way, Nostrant had to ready as a recipient. His life depended on it. He had no choice but to grab his packed bag and get in the car with his oldest daughter Lola and her boyfriend to get on their way to the Emerald City.

Several hours later that morning, they met Nostrant's sister, Susan Skeeters, in Ellensburg. Skeeter had left earlier that same day from Prescott right after she learned about the call from Nostrant and his daughter. She had to go each time as well, being his principal caretaker and possessing his power of attorney to act on his behalf.

"It was a clear, starlit night and a straight shot over the pass," Skeeters said. And because it was Sunday morning, there was no traffic so the convoy made it to Seattle's University District by 8:12 a.m., still in time.

"We all thought it was going to be another dry run," Skeeters said. "But you always have to be prepared like you're going to be (the recipient)."

The previous "dry runs" had been tough on Nostrant, heightening his anxiety about the whole process. But as a patient with chronic chirrhosis and carcinoma whose liver function was quickly deteriorating, he had his back against the wall.

Throughout the summer, Nostrant, a long-time Touchet River valley resident, was in the news because of his condition and because of several local community fundraisers for him, including a table at All Wheels in Dayton, a benefit dinner and auction at the Lions Club Building in Waitsburg and a Frog Hollow concert and dance at the Town Hall.

So far, local friends and family have raised $14,000 for Nostrant's medical recovery fund. Needless to say the procedure is exceedingly expensive and despite health insurance coverage, Nostrant will still face tens of thousands of dollars in out-ofpocket expenses.

Through cell phone texts and emails, many in the community were updated on Nostrant's journey to Seattle and beyond.

On that Sunday morning, it still wasn't clear whether the day would turn into another dry run.

But when the anesthesiologist from the surgery team kept coming back to into Nostrant's room, it began to dawn on him and his loved ones that this would be it.

"He told Dennis 'You have a liver coming,' " Skeeters said. "At this point, his (Nostrant's) mind was running very fast and before we knew it, he went into pre-op."

A team of six doctors, four anesthesiologists and seven nurses went to work on the transfer of a liver from a 25-year-old donor who had gone into cardiac arrest. After nine hours of surgery, Nostrant became the fifth patient that day to receive a "new" liver -- the one he needed to survive his ominous death sentence from his chronic condition and get a new lease on life.

"His body and mind are strong," Skeeters said. "His liver was the only thing bringing him down."

The family support "team" members were holding their breath when Nostrant didn't wake up from his surgery for two days, though his doctors were pleased with the way the operation went. The "new" liver began functioning on its own before Nostrant's body was sewn back together.

"Finally, he opened his eyes, looked around and said 'hello' to us," said Skeeters, who explained Nostrant himself didn't quite feel up to an interview yet.

" Tears started running down his face," she said. "He knew he'd made it through."

Skeeters, Lola and Nostrant's younger daughter Kelly, who had arrived at the medical center by this time, could no longer contain themselves.

"I lost it," Skeeters said. "Even the medical team started tearing up. It was very, very emotional."

Despite his initial grogginess, Nostrant made remarkable progress those first few days after surgery.

After waking up on Tuesday (following his Sunday surgery), he was sitting up on Wednesday and walking around carefully on Thursday. On Friday, he was making his rounds of the units and the following Monday, Nostrant went to his apartment, where he will continue his recovery for three months while getting regular checkups on the status of his donated liver.

Top: Dennis Nostrant a few months before his liver transplant. Above: Daughters Lola (left) and Kelly with friends and family at a Waitsburg fundraiser this summer.

The outpouring of support from family and Touchet Valley friends has been a boost for Nostrant, who wanted Times readers to know how grateful he is for all the prayers, thoughts and donations local residents have sent his way.

" He cannot say 'thank you' enough," Skeeters said. "It's been a roller coaster of emotions, but he's doing phenomenally."

Skeeters said her brother welcome cards and letters. Well wishers should refrain from sending flowers and plants because they aren't suitable for the sterile environment of his apartment.

Nostrant does need sanitary products, such as hand towels, paper towels, bleach, paper plates and plastic ware. And financial donations to the National Transplant Assistant

Funds are appreciated as well. Please send cards, letters and product donations to Dennis Nostrant, 4060 Ninth Ave. NE, Seattle, WA 98105. For more information, call Susan Skeeters at 509-629-2568.