Valuable "Dollar"
By NANCY ALEXANDER
There's ? dollar so valuable
to a couple in Hudson no
amount of gold or silver could
purchase it The treasure is one
week-old Richard Dollar, Jr.
His lather is so pioud of the
sturdy six-pound-four tunce in
fant he declares, "1 could stand
up on the housetop and shout
the news to everybody." The
baby's mother cried for joy
when he arrived safely.
In many places babies are a
dime a dozen. They're born
every minute of every day; and
to most couples they're an ac
cepted fact; but the reason for
the especial happiness of the
Dollars is there was grave doubt
that the baby's mother could
have a child normally, for she
is a paraplegic, paralyzed from
the shoulders downward.
The staff at Dula Hospital in
Lenoir, where the baby arrived
March 21, was as joyous as the
parents when the carrot-topped
infant arrived in the usual man
ner, without any difficulty and
in excellent condition. Doctors
there say they haven't previous
ly delivered a mother with such
extensive paralysis as has Mrs.
dollar. Many of her pelvic and
stomach muscles have atrophied.
Mrs. Dollar, the former Car
lene Hicks, became a victim of
the disease during the severe
polio epidemic that overshadow
ed the Catawba-Caldwell area
in 1952, when she was 16 years
old. Her home was in Vital in
Watauga County. Her attack fol
lowed the visit of a small Cald
well cousin who became ill with
the disease soon afterward. The
cousin overcame the effects. *
cariene was uxen to uie
Central Convalescent Hospital
in Greensboro, where she spent
11 months. After improving
enough to leave the iron lung
and rocking bed, she spent as
much time as possible working
with younger patients, who
quickly recognized her great
love and understanding for
them. In the Greensboro hos
pital she completed her senior
year of high school studies, but
came home to graduate with her
class at Cove Creek High School
in the spring.
Afterward she attended Wood
row Wilson School in Fishers
ville, Va., where she spent 12
months taking a business course.
Living in the rehabilitation
area, she enjoyed the. associa
tion of other students. Upon
returning to Vilas, Carlene was
unable to get a job, for offices
were not arranged for easy man
euverability of a wheel chair,
which she uses. She did, how
ever, frequently assist a lawyer,
who had lost his eyesight, by
typing correspondence and other
data for him.
Two years ago she and Rich
ard, who also lived at Vilas,
were married. They slipped off
to South Carolina for the nup
tials. for, though the families
weren't opposed to their choice
of mates, there ?u concern
about Carlene's being able to
assume the responsibilities of a
housewife.
She has proven any pessimists
wrong about the marriage. The
couple moved to Hudson so
Richard could be near his Job
at Lenoir Mirror Company.
There she keeps a neat, ground
floor apartment at the home of
her sister Phyllis (Hrt. Charles)
Booth, cleaning it immaculately,
cooking and doing other work.
"Richard helps me with things
I can't do, but most of them I
can," explained Carlene, an at
tractive redhead, confidently.
Richard, Jr., a strapping, stur
dy baby, has a lusty pair of
lungs. His mother says, "He has
day and night turned around,
sleeps all day and yells about
every hour during the night"
But the cries are sweet music to
the Dollars.
Carlene's mother, Mrs. Clus
ter Hicks, who is from near
Vilas, says, "Carlene has always
loved children. Phyllis' three ?
a boy and twins (a boy and a
girl)? all worship her. She
spoils them terribly. No one
could have wanted a baby more
than Carlene and Richard. I'm
so glad they have one ? and such
a fine boy, too. I believe in
handicapped people living life
as fully and as normally as they
can."
Mrs. Hicks, who is visiting
the Dollars until Carlene is
better, is no novice with in
fanta, having reared six of her
own and assisted with 18 grand
children.
Blowing Rock
Glee Club To
Stage Comedy
The Blowing Rock High
School Band, Glee Club and
Dramatics Club will present a
comedy of Minnie Pearl's "Hit
chin' " at the Blowing Rock
High School Auditorium Fri
day, April 3, at 7:30 p. m. Ad
mission will be 25c and 30c.
One-third, of the total U. S.
labor force is employed in agri
culture and its industries.
TERMITES
SWARMING?
nautilus
Range Hood
at a "Miracle" price
To Keep Your Kitchen
Odor-Free . . . Smoke-Free .. . Greese-Free
iiMiiiiiMiiii in mm m
Ttlal Kltchan Wall Protacthm WKhTha Haw Etoctrle
NAUTILUS Na-Onct Ranga Head A Matching Back-Splash Plata
Every Nautilus Hood hu the largest size, most densely packed
activated charcoal filter, to eliminate smoke and odors. Lifetime
aluminum grease filter. It's a scientific miracle! That's why
Nautilus' powerful air change system keeps your ldtchen cleaner
than any other range hood. And, no ducts, no vents, install it in
minutes with a screwdriver!
Mm*i WWt?, Blindtd Coppertow ind Bltamlitf Stiinlm StMl.
B NAUTILUS HOOD... M Inch only MSJT
$5.75 color-nntchim tuck-splash plate absolutely FREE
NAUTILUS HOOD ... 42 Inch only *54.87
$6.95 colof-matchinj back-splash plata absolutely FREE
FARMERS
HARDWARE & SUPPLY CO.
W. King St AM 4-8861
Furniture Store
St. ? Boone, N. C. Phone 264-3696