Health scare forces welder into early retirement
DeWayne Saxton, also known as Doc, spent years working as a radio disc jockey and public address announcer for dirt track racing and rodeo competitions.
“My stomach was hurting really bad. But when it went away, I stopped thinking about it. Then eventually, a big knot formed on my side. The pain was incredible. My cousin finally talked me into going to the emergency room. They admitted me, and I was in the ICU for three weeks.
“I weighed 210-220 pounds most of my life, and I got down to 140 by the time I went to the ER. My appetite was gone and I was dehydrated. They put several bags of blood in me. I was anemic. I was close to death, but I didn’t even realize it.
“I had diverticulitis in my colon. I thought they were going to cut out a section and hook me back up. I didn’t know it was going to end up the way it did. When I came to my senses the day after surgery, I learned they had removed about a foot of my colon and placed an ostomy bag on me.
“I used to be a welder, but I’m retired now. It’s hard to do what I know how to do with that thing on you.”
How do you feel these days?
“Pretty good. I’m fat and sassy again.”
— DeWayne Saxton
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