Advertisement But he also needed to be back to Cashton by 6 p.m. for his sisters’ basketball game. His younger siblings didn’t know what was happening, and the 18-year-old needed to be there for the kids.
The family would travel 30 miles back to the hospital that night for a visit, arriving as Diane Dunnum was taken in for surgery.
“It was kind of overwhelming,” Clint said.
Surgeries, medical conditions and repeated doctor visits have been the norm for Clint during his time at Cashton High School.
In addition to his mother’s ovarian cyst, she also has a heart condition. His father, Ivan Dunnum, was diagnosed about five years ago with multiple sclerosis. Clint himself had four surgeries to remove a non-malignant cyst in the past few years.
“I’ve driven my dad down to Madison when he has appointments at the University of Wisconsin-Madison hospital, and I have given him shots,” Clint said.
Last December was among the worst months for Clint.
He found himself milking cows at Coulee Crest farm at 3:30 a.m. before getting his two sisters and brother ready for school. After-school activities often were followed by hospital visits and a check on homework. And if there was more milking to be done, Clint would return to his job at the farm.
“It was a lot of late nights and early mornings,” he said.
It is because of his perseverance that Clint was named the La Crosse Tribune Extra Effort Award winner for Cashton High School.
He was nominated by the school’s faculty because of how he has stepped up to help his family during a time of need.
“While driving his parents to doctor appointments and looking after his young brothers and sisters, I do not know how he has found the time to not only keep up his studies, but also be so active in helping others,” counselor Kent Sparland said in the nomination.
“Clint’s only release has been his love of running,” Sparland said. “How he was able to qualify and run in the state cross-country meet the past two years in the midst of his own medical problems is also a real tribute to his perseverance.”
In addition to cross country and track, Clint is senior class president, vice president of the FFA and president of FCCLA at Cashton High School.
He also is a member of the La Farge United Methodist Church and teaches Bible school.
“I was very busy,” Clint said. “It seemed like I was constantly running.”
But Clint said support from classmates, school staff and neighbors helped.
“I didn’t have to do everything,” he said.
Clint has been accepted and plans to attend Viterbo University this fall. He will be on the cross country team and has received a $1,000 scholarship.
Autumn Grooms can be reached at (608) 791-8424 or agrooms@lacrossetribune.com.
