Hays ? Probably nobody in Hays experienced a more dramatic life change during 2005 than Jarrett Basgall.

The 20-year-old, after being sickly all his life with a rare disorder of the digestive tract called “pseudo obstruction,” got a lifesaving stomach, small intestine and pancreas transplant in January.

The transplant was made possible by the generosity of people in Hays and surrounding communities.

Once unable to undergo the rigors of attending Hays High School, Basgall now is studying and trying to select the university he wants to attend. He’s contemplating going into psychology or psychiatry.

After years of not being able to swim because of the tubes that delivered nutrition to his body, now Basgall can enjoy being immersed in water.

“I’ve been hot-tubbing. It’s hard to find places to swim in winter,” Basgall said.

He’s able to enjoy athletic activities, such as playing racquetball and shooting skeet with his dad.

“I have more energy, so I’ve been able to play more sports and stuff. I’ve been trying to get out to the college to play racquetball with my dad,” Jarrett Basgall said.

Besides taking up new pastimes, Jarrett Basgall is well enough to enjoy old favorite activities, such as playing video games and riding on the back of the motorcycle with his father, Steve Basgall.

“He wanted to take him sledding yesterday,” said his mother, Sharon Basgall. “But …”

“Too cold!” Jarrett Basgall said.

Jarrett Basgall has grown taller and gained weight now that he can eat real food. He smiles readily. And he is free of the pain that tortured him while he was ill.

Jarrett Basgall’s journey toward a transplant began in earnest when his intestines were removed in an emergency operation in early October 2004.

Jarrett Basgall then needed a transplant of the stomach, small intestine and pancreas. The problem was money. His father’s insurance agreed to pay a portion and his mother’s insurance declined to pay any of the expense.

Medicaid, which Jarrett Basgall qualified for because of his illness-related disability, wouldn’t pick up any portion of the bill for a transplant because it needed to be done in Pittsburgh. Medicaid only contracts with medical providers in Kansas and adjacent states.

On Oct. 17, 2004, Jarrett Basgall’s plight was announced to the public.

People were quick to respond. Donations poured in and the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services hammered out a contract with the Pittsburgh hospital for Jarrett Basgall’s surgery.

Area residents gave more than $204,000 to get Jarrett Basgall on the transplant list at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. The funds are administered through the Children’s Organ Transplant Assn.

Jarrett Basgall’s name was put on the transplant list two days before Thanksgiving in 2004. He returned to Pittsburgh to await surgery on Dec. 3, 2004.

His transplant took place Jan 14.

A week later he took a downturn and was downgraded to critical condition. The problem stemmed from the transplanted pancreas. He underwent two additional surgeries to wash his internal organs and was walking on Jan. 27.

In early April Jarrett was allowed to come home for about a month.

He has intermittently been in and out of the Pittsburgh hospital since.

His ostomy was reversed on Sept. 6, reconnecting his bowels.

Now Jarrett Basgall will continue to consult with physicians in Pittsburgh every few months. He takes a regimen of prescription medications, as post-transplant patients are required.

“Everything is going really great,” Jarrett Basgall said.

“It’s pretty much made all the difference in the world. It’s changed everything.”