Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
ROY — As Bryon Saxton stood in the city recorder's office on June 6, he felt a sense of hope for the future, both as an official candidate for the city council and as a man who has been given a second chance at life.
In March, two of his children, Chase Saxton and Julia Saxton, shared their dad's struggles and resilience in a video posted on social media.
That video painted a picture of a man who dedicated his life to serving his family and community, but who was unfortunately hit with a series of bumps in the road. One of those bumps included being unexpectedly let go as an investigative reporter for a northern Utah newspaper, just shy of 30 years in. Undeterred, he took a job at a local fast food restaurant, making a name for himself among customers, and eventually serving on the Roy City Council from 2018-2021.
I love the people of Roy. They have been so good to my family, and I want to give back.
– Bryon Saxton
Still keeping his love of writing alive, Byron Saxton wrote a series of vampire western books loosely based on his own life experiences.
In March of this year, however, Bryon Saxton was hit with an unexpected neurological disease that left him unable to complete even the simplest of tasks.
After several tests, it was determined he had hepatic encephalopathy, a condition caused by a liver dysfunction where the liver doesn't properly filter the blood. This dysfunction, doctors found, was caused by a shunt going around his liver that had been there since birth.
"He was in liver failure because if the liver is not receiving blood, then it starts to die," Chase Saxton explained. "His ammonia levels were extremely high, more than 2½ times the average person. His liver was not filtering the blood, and all the blood that was going to his brain was toxic, and it was causing him to exhibit signs of confusion."
Bryon Saxton spent eight days in the hospital and endured 45 doctor visits over a six-month period. During that time, he was in the final stage of liver failure and his creatinine levels in his kidneys were elevated, causing acute kidney failure.
As word spread of his condition, community members stepped in to show the former newsman how much he meant to them. It was the love he received from his community, he said, that fueled a promise he made.
"When I was down, I promised myself that if I got better I would do more community service," Bryon Saxton told KSL.com.
As the months went on, Saxton's health began to improve. And, while he will continue to live with the liver condition, he is said to have made a "complete turnaround."
"One of the things the doctor was really adamant about was that hepatic encephalopathy is entirely reversible," Chase Saxton said. "Like, it's literally once the liver starts taking in that healthy blood again, it changes everything. You wouldn't think that the liver could do that to a person. He's literally made a complete turnaround."
Bryon Saxton made it through the primary elections, and will continue campaigning through Election Day on Nov. 21. He said whatever the outcome, he is just grateful for a second chance at life, to be able to show appreciation for the community that has been his home for nearly 40 years.
"Just being able to run has been a blessing," Bryon Saxton said. "If I do win, I'll do the same thing I did when I was first in office and that is to help Roy grow business, help the people and keep a balanced budget.
"I love the people of Roy. They have been so good to my family, and I want to give back."
Information on Bryon Saxton's campaign can be found at electsaxton.com; information for all candidates for Roy City Council can be found at the city's elections webpage.
