14 // COASTWEEKEND.COM
C oast G allery and n umismatiCs
“a different kind of gallery”
Complimentary coin appraisals: Saturday
New world coin selections from:
Mexico • Germany • Israel
Buying Gold & Silver Coins
3350 N Hwy 101 Suite D, Gearhart, Oregon
Wed. thru Sat. 9 am to 4 pm
www.coastgallerynumismatics.com
COASTER THEATRE PLAYHOUSE
Nov. 16 - Dec. 23, 2018
Tickets $20 or $25
Shows begin at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday shows starts at 3:00pm
Sponsored by The Clark Foundation
Tickets: 503-436-1242 or coastertheatre.com
108 N Hemlock Street, Cannon Beach, OR
Continued from Page 7
The Nixons went back-
packing across Europe,
enjoying England, France
and Germany, the latter as
the Berlin Wall fell. They
also visited Scandinavia,
Italy and Greece.
All were impromptu trips
with no reservations. “Not
something many people
would enjoy — but we loved
it,” she said. Stories of their
adventures were published
in the Chinook Observer.
Years later, Don Nixon
began feeling confused and
developed dementia, then
Alzheimer’s. When he was
diagnosed, Anne Nixon
didn’t immediately seek
knowledge. “I bought a book
from the Mayo Clinic, but
I was so devastated with
Don’s illness I said, ‘I don’t
want to know.’ But you can
be helped by knowing ahead
of time what to expect.”
When Anne Nixon tore
the meniscus in her knee, it
prompted their 2016 move
to California to be closer to
her son, Dave Jochum. “I
couldn’t help him any more,
so we moved here near my
son and family,” she said.
Under the name Anne
Elizabeth Nixon, she has
published books about polio
and Alzheimer’s, as well as
travel and one work of fic-
tion. Her latest experiences
led to writing her new book
about all three health issues
to guide others. Its mention
THE BOOK
“How I Survived:
Alzheimer’s
Cancer Polio”
By Anne Elizabeth
Nixon
Amazon.com
eBook $3.99,
paperback $14.99
COURTESY ANNE NIXON
Anne Nixon, a former Surfside, Wash., resident has published an-
other book designed to help others through serious health issues.
of positive attitudes is rein-
forced with practicality.
“Yes, I am optimistic,
but you need a truthful way
of looking at a disease. Of
course, everyone’s differ-
ent. For some it’s very fast.
Don’s was unusual because
he was not able to speak.
He couldn’t tell me or other
people what he wanted. I
don’t think I ever realized
that people could not under-
stand his muttering.”
Polio strikes
Nixon’s own health is-
sues have been formidable.
In 1954, she contracted
polio during an era when
medical researchers were
still a long way from un-
derstanding the condition.
She was 20, with a year-old
son. Her right side became
considerably weakened.
“I was at a drive-in movie
and I dropped a cup of
coffee all over me,” she re-
called. “The muscles in my
right hand just let go. My
husband was in the service,
so the next day I got out all
his clothes and ironed them
because I knew I wouldn’t
be able to do that any more.
“I knew that something
was wrong with me. I told
my husband to take me to
the hospital, I just knew
something was the matter
with me. It was very odd.”
Her father had been a
mountain climber, so the
admonition to all polio
sufferers to stay active didn’t
worry her.
Her first battle with colon
cancer happened in 2001; a
second bout, with a differ-
ent kind and a new tumor,
happened more recently;
she was released from the
hospital in July.
Ailments can be heredi-
tary, so she encourages peo-
ple to research their health
histories. “Some things run
in families, and you have a
propensity for it,” she said.
“The way it was discovered
this time was severe anemia
that caused vertigo-type
episodes.”
Post-polio syndrome has
meant further deterioration.
“I didn’t even know
about that,” she said. “I now
discover that everything
happens on that affected side
— my right side is a mess!
“I had no problems with
polio until the early ’90s
when I noticed some things
that I couldn’t do.”
A hip replacement
helped, but she has had to
re-learn basic functions.
“With my right hand, I
am less able to do things,”
she said.
“I have learned to do
things in the last three to
four years, like eating with
my left hand.
“When I mastered eating
spaghetti with my left hand,
I knew I had arrived.” CW
Nekst Event
175 14th St., Suite 100
(Foot of 12th)
Astoria, OR. 97103
Please use waterfront back-in parking
Chef Chris Holen • 503-298-0838
chefholen@nekstevent.com
Only onsite private event space
1133 Commercial St., Astoria • 503-468-0308