Idaho radio DJ overcomes life-threatening medical condition

IDAHO FALLS - Every day thousands hear local radio personality "Dusty Bee" broadcast from the 105.5/105.9 Hawk studios.

What listeners haven't heard about is Dusty's serious medical issues that, according to doctors, could have been fatal.

Dusty said the problems started in February when he went in for a routine sinus procedure.

The operations went fine but three months later, as Dusty drove his son’s to their mother’s home in Logan, things changed.

"I sneezed and coughed out of the blue and felt a pop in my nose," Dusty said during an interview with EastIdahoNews.com. "I got to Logan and I leaned over to pick up my son and fluid just started flowing out of my nose. There was enough to fill my hand."

A few days later, Dusty became violently ill and was rushed to the University of Utah hospital for surgery.

Doctors diagnosed him with a cerebral spinal fluid leak.

"I had lost pretty much all the fluid in my back," said Dusty. "They sedated me immediately and that was the scariest part of all of it because I had my two boys and I wasn’t able to protect them. It was really scary."

The operation didn't fix the problem so Dusty had to undergo three other surgeries that were also unsuccessful.

Dusty’s doctors say they then decided to perform a unique 8.5 hour procedure.

"They were going to cut me from ear to ear and pull everything down," Dusty said. "But they developed a new thing where they cut a hole through my septum and then cut the healthy tissue out of one sinus and transplant it over."

The operation was three weeks ago and doctors are still monitoring Dusty’s condition.

He’s tried to remain positive and says he's been inspired by 9-year-old Tayt Anderson - the Rigby boy who endured numerous health issues waiting for a heart transplant.

"I had the opportunity to meet Tayt and his mom years ago," said Dusty. "Things didn’t look good for Tayt but he still was happy and he still was positive and so was his mom."

Dusty said this ordeal has taught him a lot and while there may be more hard times ahead, he’s thankful for what he’s learned, the messages he's received from listeners and his job at 105.5/105.9 the Hawk.

"I get to come in here, see all these positive people, give things away, and touch peoples lives," Dusty said. "It really takes my perspective away from my own problems and gets me to the see the positives that they have."

Riverbend Communications, the parents company for EastIdahoNews.com, also owns 105.5/105.9 The Hawk.