SOLON & BEYOND: Fondly remembering Carolyn Waugh

/0 Comments/in /by
Marilyn Rogers-Bull & Percyby Marilyn Rogers-Bull & Percy
grams29@tds.net
Solon, Maine 04979

Good morning, my friends, don’t worry, be happy!

This weeks’ column is going to start out a little different. It is about friendship and an amazing woman named Carolyn Waugh, of Solon.

I received the following letter after Carolyn died, from one of her friends who lives in Laconia, New Hampshire. I have no idea how this good friend of Carolyn’s got my name and address, but it is a beautiful letter about friendship, that I think should be shared. She started out:

“Carolyn Waugh, Teacher, Mentor, Friend to 1,000 children. Today, the last day of February 2019, I lost my best friend Carolyn Waugh. We were elementary teachers in Montgomery County Public Schools, Maryland, and we were the only ‘New Englanders’ in our school. We became fast friends from 1958 to the present day perhaps because we had the same New England accent and enjoyed our conversations each day. They reminded us of home and our loneliness was less each time we talked. Of course, we could understand one another.

“Few people know how generous Carolyn was to others, especially school age children. She made hundreds of mittens, an untold number of shirts and hats, paid for their lunches when no lunch money was available, and bought school supplies when the school funds had run out. Not once did she tell anyone of her generosity. She was the great example of a teacher you would want for your child. She was their friend, the mother substitute for the one that had left the home, the father substitute for the one who was no longer in the home. She dried their tears and told them how important and worthwhile they were. And she never missed a day of school except for severe illness.

“Today, as we ponder the loss of a dear friend and colleague, we are reminded that very good people have been among us, near us, and we should not forget to celebrate their life’s efforts.

“Carolyn Waugh was, indeed, a special person. In her obituary it mentions that Carolyn was educated in one room school houses in Embden, and at Solon High School. After graduating from high school in 1931 at the age of 15, she went to Normal School, in Farmington, and left there two years later with full teaching credentials. She taught in one room school houses in Embden, Cornville, Chesuncook, and other places in Maine and also helped other people to become teachers in a college level school in Presque Isle for a time.

“In November 1942 she joined the Army as a WAAC and WAC and achieved the rank of Tech 4. For part of her years in the service, she served in the Military Intelligence Division War Department. She was honorably discharged in November 1945. And her remarkable life with many more accomplishments continued until she died on February 28, 2019, at the age of 103 years. She had held the Boston Post Cane as Solon’s Oldest Citizen for several years.”

The Solon Pine Tree 4-H Club met on Saturday, March 9, for their sixth meeting with Vice President Hunter Sousa presiding. Hunter Sousa is planning to do his demonstration on composting at the County Demonstration Tournament at the Somerset County Extension Office, in Skowhegan, on Saturday, March 16.

The club voted to make a basket for the Luck of the Draw on Saturday, May 4.

The following members gave their demonstrations: Desmond Robinson, How to make an Apple Swan; Isabelle Atwood and Jillian Robens, How to make Energy Bites; Kaitlin Dellarma, How to make Ice Cream; Macy Plourde, How to make Sun Catchers; and Brooks Sousa, How to make a Compost Barrel.

The next meeting will be on Saturday, April 13, at 9:30 a.m., at the Solon Fire Station.

And now for Percy’s memoir entitled Extra Prayer:

When the world falls down around you
And a prayer will see you through,
Say an extra prayer for someone
Who may need it more than you.
For who knows what hearts are breaking
In the silence of the night?
Just that extra prayer you whisper
May help someone see the light!
Every time you help a stranger
With an extra prayer – or two –
You are building secret blessings
That will all come back to you!

(words by Nick Kenny.)

FOR YOUR HEALTH: Can You Afford an Unexpected Hospital Bill? Preparing Your Family for Unforeseen Costs

/0 Comments/in /by

(NAPSI)—Whether it’s a broken leg or the flu, illness and injuries that result in hospital stays are unfortunately commonplace for American families.

After a hospital stay, you’ll likely pay your entire deductible before your health insurance starts paying benefits. You may still be exposed to expenses your major medical may not cover, leaving you responsible for the entire amount.

Protect against rising hospital costs with Hospital Assure from Washington National.

Medical emergencies and rising hospital costs are a major financial concern for most Americans. The average hospital stay costs over $10,700 and hospital bills are the largest out-of-pocket expense for people who filed for medical bankruptcy.1

Hospital Assure, Washington National’s new hospital indemnity insurance product, complements existing health insurance by paying lump-sum cash benefits in the event you or a covered family member are hospitalized due to a covered sickness or accident. You can use your cash benefits to help pay:

  • Deductibles
  • Co-pays
  • Out-of-network hospital costs, and
  • Everyday bills and expenses when you’re unable to work.

Because cash benefits from Hospital Assure are paid directly to you, not a doctor or hospital, you have no restrictions on how you use your benefits.

For individuals without a health savings account, Hospital Assure offers an optional Return of Premium/Cash Value Benefit rider, a distinctly competitive feature in the marketplace that allows you to get 100 percent of your premiums paid, minus any claims incurred, at the end of the rider period. This means if you don’t use your policy, the premiums you paid will end up back in your pocket. Learn more at www.WashingtonNational.com.

Business Insider, The 35 most expensive reasons you might have to visit a hospital in the US—and how much it costs if you do, http://www.businessinsider.com/most-expensive-health-conditions-hospital-costs-2018-2, March 1, 2018.

  • Washington National Insurance Company is not licensed and does not solicit business in the state of New York.

LIMITED-BENEFIT POLICIES. These policies have limitations and exclusions. For costs and complete details of coverage, contact an agent. Policies and benefits are subject to state availability and may vary by state. Underwritten by Washington National Insurance Company. The return of premium (ROP) or cash value (CV) (in MO, “cash return”) benefit is subject to state and product availability. The benefit has an additional charge and may pay minus claims or regardless of claims based on the policy selected. The policy must remain in force until the end of the ROP/CV period for the benefit to be paid.

SCORES & OUTDOORS: Why you should salute the next pigeon you see

/0 Comments/in /by

Rock Dove or Rock Pigeon

Roland D. Halleeby Roland D. Hallee

One of the educational things that I do for myself every day is read the comics in the daily newspaper. It kind of sets the tone for the rest of the day for me.

One that caught my eye once was a certain theme that Doonesberry was presenting. It seemed this certain person declared himself a “birder” and was on a quest to find a certain warbler to add to the list of birds he had witnessed.

That got me thinking. Claiming myself to be an amateur birder, I wondered how many birds I have seen in my life time. So, I set out to make a list.

Once I got to about 73, and was still half way through the book, I decided I was wasting too much time on this. So, the thought came to me that maybe I should single out one that was intriguing to me.

These particular birds are mostly envisioned as pests, vagrants, scavengers and dirty inhabitants of parking lots, churches, parks, and just about everywhere else you can go in the world, leaving behind messes and clear indications of their presence, if you know what I mean. What is more intriguing than the common Rock Dove.

More commonly known as pigeons, rock doves vie with the domestic chicken for status as the world’s most familiar birds. They are not indigenous to the western hemisphere. They were introduced into North America from Europe long ago and are conspicuous in cities and villages throughout much of the world.

There are few visible differences between males and females, and the species is generally monogamous.

Feral pigeons have become established in cities around the world. The species is so abundant, that an estimated population of 17 to 28 million feral and wild birds exist in Europe alone.

With only its flying abilities to protect it from predators, rock doves are a favorite, almost around the world, for a wide range of raptors. I remember several years ago when I kept seeing pigeon body parts strewn all over my yard. One day, when I just happened to be looking out the window, I noticed a large flock of pigeons cleaning up on the ground under my bird feeders. Like a lightning strike, I saw a broad winged hawk dive head first into the pile, and came out with his next meal. To protect the pigeons, I temporarily suspended the feeders until the hawk found a new place for his hunting grounds. That poor pigeon didn’t stand a chance.

Pigeons, though, get a bad rap. They have been falsely associated with the spread of human diseases. Contact with pigeon droppings poses a minor risk of contracting diseases. Pigeons are not a major concern in the spread of West Nile virus. Though they can contract it, they do not appear to be able to transmit it.

Pigeons, in fact, have been associated with humans for several thousand years. Believed to have been the first domesticated birds, they were raised for meat as far back as the time of the ancient Egyptians.

Because of their powers of flight and their remarkable homing ability, pigeons have played important roles in history. A domestic pigeon taken from its home loft and released many miles away will almost invariably return. And if a message is tied to the bird’s leg, the result is a kind of air mail – a fact that humans learned to exploit many centuries ago. When Julius Caesar marched against Gaul, the news of his victories were carried back to Rome by a network of carrier pigeons. Other pigeons carried messages for Alexander the Great and for Hannibal. In modern times opposing armies in both World War I and World War II made use of thousands of carrier pigeons, also known as war pigeons. Curiously, many pigeons have received bravery awards and medals for their services in saving hundreds of human lives. A total of 32 pigeons received medallions or medals for their gallant and brave actions during World War II. And today, pigeons are still bred for their homing ability.

The next time I see a disgusting-looking pigeon on the ground, I may stand at attention, salute, and thank it for the many contributions its collective ancestors may have made for the human race.

Roland’s trivia question of the week:

Which Boston Red Sox Hall of Famer once said, “All I want out of life is when I walk down the street people say, ‘There goes the greatest hitter that ever lived?’”

Answer can be found here.

SOLON & BEYOND: Solon Elementary School honor roll released

/1 Comment/in /by
Marilyn Rogers-Bull & Percyby Marilyn Rogers-Bull & Percy
grams29@tds.net
Solon, Maine 04979

Good Morning my friends, don’t worry, be happy!

Received the much welcomed Solon School News letter for February and will start this column with the Second Quarter Honor Roll.

All A’s: Karen Baker, Katelyn DeLeonardis, Kaitlin Dellarma, Cody James, Macie Plourde and Jillian Robinson.

All A’s & B’s: Isabella Atwood, Amellia Cooper, David Dixon, Lane Frost, Jayden McKenney, Madyson McKenney, Ella Mckinnon, Aiden McLaughlin, Riley Pelkey, Peyton Plourd, Mylee Roderick, William Rogers, Aaron Soosman, Kaitlyn Soucie and Fisher Tewksbury. Congratulations!

Fifth Graders Chosen For Chorus Festival: Two Solon students have been selected to represent RSU #74 at the District IV Chorus Festival to be held at Spruce Mountain School in Jay on April 3. Fifth graders Cody James and Elenoar McKinnon were nominated by their music teacher Mr. Gilbert to perform in the festival, and they were selected along with six other district students in fifth and sixth grade. This festival will include students from schools in Western and Central Maine.

Solon Elementary School is very proud of Cody and Ella!

Civil Rights Team at Solon Elementary School teaches about the Statue of Liberty. At an assembly on February 6, the Solon Civil Rights Team performed a skit on the book Her Right Foot about the Statue of Liberty. We learned a lot!

Preschool Applications Available At Solon School: If you have a child who will be four years old by October 15, stop by to pick up an application for our preschool program for the 2019-20 school year. Please call the school at 643-2491 for more information about our program.

Valentine Activities: Again this year Solon Elementary School scheduled some fun activities to celebrate Valentine’s Day. They held their annual Secret Cupid activity in which each of them decorated a heart with some kind words for another person in the school. The hearts are displayed on the bulletin board in the lobby.

As you faithful readers know, lately for lack of recent news, I’ve been using some old news in clippings that I collected over these many years. Was very surprised and grateful when I received an e-mail from Jeffrey M. Soper who lives in Windham. (I didn’t realize The Town Line goes that far!) Anyway, I don’t know how long Roland will let me stretch the BEYOND in this column, but I found Mr. Soper’s e-mail to be very interesting. He is trying to gather information about his ancestors for his grandchildren, who are interested. He wrote….”With information gained by my father years ago, I can trace my roots back to my great-grandfather William H. Soper.” He also wrote that he plans to come to Solon: “when the weather is better. Any information that you might be able to provide would be great.”

I wondered at first why he was interested in Solon and then I remembered about the old news I had been putting in The Town Line. …guess what? In the November 28, 2018, here was the answer…Mr. Will Soper owned the first automobile in Solon about 1905. It was a two cylinder Cadillac.” I think that is amazing and unusual and I won’t feel as guilty when I print old news now!

Afraid it’s going to take awhile before the weather improves, as I look out the window this morning the soft white snowflakes are silently drifting down!

The Solon Pine Tree 4-H Club held their annual town meeting dinner on Saturday with less people than usual supporting them. They did take in $141.00 from the food sale they always have also, which they donate to the Solon Food Cupboard. Thank you to Eleanor Pooler and all your helpers for what you do every year.

I will be writing about what happened at the annual town meeting last Saturday in next week’s column when I get the facts straight.

Jeffery Soper’s e-mail was addressed to Percy also. For all of you who knew Percy when he helped me write this column, you know what an unusual animal he was…..and since you still appear to like his memoirs, this is the one for this week: Heavenly angels, protect my cat so dear, whose loyalty and love are always sincere. Help me keep my friend from harm, purr-fectly happy, well-fed and warm. Bless this darling kitty forever at my side to kiss, to nuzzle and hold with pride.

I’M JUST CURIOUS: Soda jerks and diners

/2 Comments/in /by

by Debbie Walker

Recently I received the latest issue of the Reminisce magazine. I do enjoy that magazine because it encourages people to write their stories of memories of years ago; the ‘40s and ‘50s are what I am attracted to. I am sure many of you have experienced some of these memories that are shared.

I tell you this to go along with this article about Short-Order Shorthand. These slang words were developed for short order cooks and servers in diners so they could let the cooks know what “to burn,” what to “wreck” and what to “put a hat on.” I hope this brings back happy memories for some of you and a new slang for others to learn. (have fun)

SHORT-ORDER SHORTHAND:

Breakfast: Adam and Eve on a roll = Poached eggs on toast, Burn the British = English muffin, toasted. Sinkers and soda = Doughnuts and coffee. Wreck’em = Scrambled eggs.

Lunch: Bloodhound in the hay = Hot dog with sauerkraut. Bossy in a bowl = Beef stew. Burn one, clean up the kitchen = hamburgers. First lady = Spare ribs. Radio = Tuna. Two cows, make’em cry = Two burgers with onions. Whiskey = Rye bread.

Condiments: Axle grease = butter. Paint it red = with ketchup. Sand = Sugar. Sea Dust = Salt. Twins = Salt and pepper. Warts = Olives. Yellow paint = Mustard.

Special Orders: High and dry = Served plain. In the alley = Served on the side. Keep off the grass = Hold the lettuce. On the hoof = Meat cooked rare. On wheels = To go. Put a hat on it = Add ice cream.

Libations: Adam’s ale = Water. Baby juice = Milk. Blond and sweet = Coffee with milk and sugar. Shake one in the hay = Strawberry milkshake. Squeeze one = Orange juice.

I’d love to know how you did with recognizing these slangs. Some just don’t make sense to me. But some I really like.

I am following all this with information about the Soda Jerk part of this column:

The conversation my friend, Dee, and I had following the Diner information led to the Soda Jerk. This is what I gathered up: According to Wikipedia a “soda jerk” is a person, typically a youth, who operates the soda fountain in a drug store, often for the purpose of preparing and serving soda drinks and ice cream sodas.”

It seems that these folks also had a slang much like the diner staff:

A glass of milk was called Baby, and a strawberry milkshake was “in the hay.” Coffee ordered, and the slang was “draw one” and when served strong it was referred to as “draw one from the south.” Concrete is another term used and is a super thick milkshake or custard.

I enjoy mentally traveling back in time, to a time frame that I am only going to be able to experience through someone else’s stories. So many people don’t see the value of their own stories; they think no one would be interested. I invite you to share your memories with me anytime. I am just curious who will take me up on it! I’ll be waiting.

As usual please contact me at dwdaffy@yahoo.com with any questions or comments (or sharing). If you would like me to phone, you can leave a message at The Town Line at 445-2234 and I will call you back. Thanks for reading!

REVIEW POTPOURRI: Strauss Waltzes

/0 Comments/in /by

Josef Krips

Peter Catesby Peter Cates

Strauss Waltzes

conducting the Vienna Symphony; Madacy, MKC 1825, cassette.

Conductor Josef Krips (1902-1974) was distinguished by his work in helping to rebuild the Vienna State Opera during the post-World War II years; he also made many recordings of the Central European repertoire-Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert etc. – that were released in this country, mostly on London and a few other labels. And they were consistently good.

Johann Strauss

The above cassette has a program of 13 Waltzes by the great Johann Strauss, Jr. (1825-1899), excluding the justly classic Blue Danube, Tales from the Vienna Woods and Emperor Waltz, but containing the charming Million Embraces, Lagoon Waltz, Where the Lemons Bloom, Thousand and One Nights, AND the intriguing title You Only Live Once, no relation to 007. The Vienna Symphony sounds smaller-scaled in number of players but handles the tricky rhythms of this music with ease.

Krips had quite the appetite for tasty food and was seen devouring a large bucket of fried chicken for lunch during a recording session. Google photos of his corpulent figure testify to this.

The records of his that stick out in my mind are the two different Brahms First Symphonies and the 4th, Schubert’s 6th, and all Beethoven nine Symphonies and five Piano Concertos, with Artur Rubinstein.

Jim Thompson quote: “What smells good in the store may stink in the stewpot.”

THE MONEY MINUTE – Your 401(k): How should you be invested?

/0 Comments/in /by
by Jac M. Arbour CFP®, ChFC®
President, J.M. Arbour Wealth Management

The markets are volatile, interest rates are rising, both stocks and bonds were down in 2018, and an unprecedented 93% of asset classes experienced a loss. There was seemingly nowhere to turn to make a few bucks in 2018, and it’s no wonder that people want to be especially thoughtful about how they allocate money in 2019, specifically within their retirement accounts.

The most important thing to remember when allocating money in a retirement plan is exactly that: it’s a retirement plan, which means that the money is for later. Keeping this in mind, here are a few things to consider when allocating your funds.

Key Considerations

Time Horizon: There are two primary timelines to consider. The first is how many years until you will begin using the money in your retirement account. The second timeline is the income period. How many years do you expect to draw on this account? Also, in what fashion will you draw on it, meaning will you take random disbursements, or will you take a set amount each month to supplement other forms of income such as Social Security and/or pensions? The closer you are to retirement and the more you rely on these funds, typically the more conservative you should be when it comes to taking on market risk.

Investment Objective: Are you aiming for aggressive growth, slow and steady growth, an income portfolio, or will this be a legacy account designed for loved ones? Getting clear on the purpose of this account is important because it will dictate how the funds should be best invested.

Risk Tolerance: Any allocation you select is accompanied by numerical measurements of risk, including beta and standard deviation. If you are unaware of these measurements, ask your plan advisor to explain how each relates to portfolio expectations. Once you know, ask yourself if such expectations align with your needs and goals.

Target Rate of Return: The allocation you choose will dictate the returns you receive, and it is these returns, along with your contribution rate (see below), that will determine the value of your account when you arrive at retirement age. This means the rate of return affects the number of dollars you will be able to withdraw each month for the rest of your life. Be sure to speak with your advisor to make sure every decision you make will help to keep you within this target. The longer the time period you have until retirement, the more likely you will be able to hit your goals with small tweaks to the plan.

Contribution Rate: I can’t say it enough. Too many people choose an arbitrary percentage or dollar amount when contributing to their retirement plan. It is important to remember that, one day, you will stop receiving paychecks but will still need money, which means the important question to ask is, How much money will I need? When you are deciding on an amount to invest from your paycheck each pay period, be sure to learn what the account value is estimated to be at the time you retire, based on that contribution rate. Do your best to ensure it is enough to truly meet your retirement income needs.

There are many things to consider when investing in a retirement account, but these points are a great way to start the conversation. If you ever have questions, please reach out to one of the pros at JMA or discuss with your plan advisor.

See you all next month.

Jac Arbour is the President of J.M. Arbour Wealth Management. He can be reached at 207-248-6767. Investment advisory services are offered through Foundations Investment Advisors, LLC, an SEC registered investment adviser.

VETERANS CORNER: Service groups can help

/0 Comments/in /by

All gave some…some gave all: Flags line all the graves at the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, in Augusta. Photo by Kevin Giguere, Central Maine

by Gary Kennedy

It seems some of you are very angry with the VA and how you are received when you try to apply for benefits as well as medical care. Normally, your first step is to approach a service organization for assistance. The service organizations that are readily available are, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), American Legion¸ Maine Veterans Services, Americans with Disa­bilities, Vet­erans of Fo­reign Wars, etc. One of these organizations should be able to talk you through the process.

All of these organizations require that you develop your own case. They will not search for your record. You must be the one to own your situation. You would need to request your military medical records, which you can do or request the Bureau of Veterans Affairs to help you. If you are already connected to the V.A. system and have a primary care provider (PCP), then you will probably have accumulated some medical records at the VA level. If you are already invested with a percentage then BVA has some of your records.

You would go to release of information in Building 200 and ask for a copy of all relevant medical records, labs, and X-rays. By relevant I mean any and all records that would support/benefit your application. These along with any outside records will aid your claim. Then your claim will be processed and any entitlement will be decided. You might be asked to undergo an examination relevant to your request for benefits. If your records are compelling you might not be asked to do that. In any case it is imperative to develop your case initially. Once the ball is rolling your advocate will advise you as to what you will need to do next. Your needs must be proven real and not frivolous.

There are some disabled veterans such as myself who volunteer to guide veterans through the process. We are not paid staff; we just try to offer a hand. I have recently heard many complaints about the process that I have just described beginning with some service organizations, as well as B.V.A.. It seems individuals tend to make it difficult for veterans by using a degrading/condescending attitude; that is how some vets describe it. Also a lot of vets take issue with Veteran’s Affairs (BVA) .

It seems some veterans speak with a veteran’s rep at BVA at length about an issue and when he or she returns to continue their subject matter they aren’t allowed to speak with the person they had originally spoken with. This is not logical. For me, that only seems logical. If a veteran prefers, feels more comfortable with a previous B.V.A representative and is willing to accommodate time constraints for any reason, why shouldn’t it be allowed? Take as they come, in my opinion, is condescending in itself. The veteran wants to feel that everyone is out to help him/her not feel the pressure of numbers or outdated procedures.

Perhaps the new center director will take a serious look at this situation. Even if the veteran isn’t successful in his/her first attempt, there is a kind way to settle that. Our vets have been through a lot; show them they are special, win, lose or draw. The closing with a veteran is very important. I think some training may be in order. God bless.

TRASH TALKING — China and Palermo residents: second alert

/0 Comments/in /by
by Irene Belanger

Effective March 1, 2019, and until further notice, we will not be recycling any plastic bags so there will not be a barrel at the recycling station for them. They will go into the hopper. Of course, they could be reused as wastebasket liners or other trash and then tossed in with the regular trash. Thank you for your co-operation. The good work you all do is very much appreciated and does not go unnoticed.

Also: there is a rumor out there that “Springtime is on the way”!

Keep watch in The Town Line or check on the China town office website for a date for the KSO drug drop, roadside cleanup weekend and whatever else we can come up with for spring cleaning to make life a little easier and help to keep China, Palermo and Maine roadsides nicer for all of us.

NOTICE: For safety and health reasons PLEASE DO NOT toss any medicines into the flush.

Please contact Irene 445-2349, Sheldon 445-2712, or the town office to volunteer. (Thank you to China Boy Scout Troop and their leaders as they help us each year.)

Just so you know, we are scheduled to send our first load of trash to Fiberight/Coastal in June 2019. It’s been very exciting to watch the new facility grow in Hampden. If they offer another tour and you’d like to go see the progress call me. It’s massive!

Thank you to our Transfer Station attendants. They take the extra time and energy to get training to keep up with whatever is happening in the wonderful world of trash as well as all safety sessions to keep themselves and all of us safe.

Debunking the myths about donating bone marrow

/0 Comments/in , /by

The National Marrow Donor Program has published information on the BeTheMatch.org website to dispel the misinformation concerning marrow donation. The following information are excerpts from their site to correct the myths that may be holding back potential donors from registering.

Chance Cunningham, a young boy from the town of China,  who was recently the recipient of a bone marrow transplant.

Myth #1: Bone Marrow Donation Requires Surgery.

Three out of four donations are made through a nonsurgical technique called PBSC, peripheral blood stem cell donation. This technique removes the blood-forming cells from the donor’s blood through a needle in the donor’s arm much like a regular blood donation procedure.

Myth #2: Pieces of Bone are Removed.

This is never the case. Donors only provide the liquid marrow which is taken from the pelvic bone.

Myth #3: Donating Bone Marrow is Painful.

In the 25 percent of cases for which surgery is required, the donor is put under general anesthesia and feels no pain. Donors generally return home the same day and go back to their usual routine within a week.

Myth #4: Donating Bone Marrow is Bad for the Donor’s Heath.

Less than five percent of the donor’s marrow is removed, which is not enough to cause any health problems. These cells replace themselves in four to six weeks.

Myth #5: Donating is Costly to the Donor.

Bone Marrow donors do not pay to donate. The National Marrow Donor Program pays for the donor’s travel cost.

Myth #6: The Need for Bone Marrow Donors is Declining

Annually, more than 10,000 Americans are diagnosed with life-threatening diseases, such as leukemia or lymphoma, for which the only cure is a bone marrow transplant. Their lives literally depend on finding suitable donor matches before it is too late.