When Scott Foster learned his brother, Matt, needed a bone marrow transplant, he didn’t hesitate to volunteer.

Even though he’s not a fan of needles, and bone marrow transplants are all about needles. Even though the procedure could keep him out of work for weeks, and he had no sick or vacation time at his new job. Even though he’d be risking his own health.

“You do what you’ve got to do,” he said during a recent phone interview from Tennessee, where he was going through some final medical tests with his brother. “It’s family. Family backs family.”

The rest of the Foster clan agrees. So while Scott and Matt’s 10 brothers and sisters and nearly 40 nieces and nephews aren’t donating bone marrow, they’re pulling together raffles, dinners, an auction and a dance to help the brothers replace the income they’re losing during the lengthy procedure.

“We’re a large family,” said niece Amanda May. “We jumped on this.”

Matt Foster was diagnosed with myelodysplasia, a pre-leukemia bone marrow disease, four years ago. To keep the disease at bay, the Vietnam-era Army veteran traveled to the Togus VA hospital in Augusta four or five times a week for tests, blood transfusions and chemotherapy. The disease sapped his energy, leaving him winded even after everyday tasks. He soon had to stop working in his Minot home day-care center because he was too prone to picking up potentially devastating illnesses from the children.

Family members offered to help, but there wasn’t much they could do. Tests at the time showed no bone marrow matches. Matt declined any financial assistance.

“I think he was embarrassed by the whole thing,” May said.

Four years later, doctors told Matt, 53, that the stopgap measures he’d relied on – blood transfusions and chemotherapy – were no longer enough.

“If this changes to leukemia, then like, you know, boom, you have six months and you’re going to die no matter what,” Matt said.

Using more sophisticated technology, doctors retested his brothers and sisters for a bone marrow match. Out of the 11, they found one.

Scott.

The Auburn man didn’t even pause to think about donating.

“He’s my brother. That’s the way it is,” he said. “Why would I even take time to consider it?”

The rest of the huge, close-knit family still wanted to help. Medically they were unable to, but financially?

Matt agreed Scott should get some help. After 17 years working in maintenance at Central Maine Medical Center, Scott, 50, had moved to Stephens Memorial Hospital in Norway. His new bosses were willing to give him time off, but without accrued vacation or sick time he had no hope of a paycheck. Matt knew his baby brother could be out of work for days or weeks, and that’s if nothing went wrong.

“I’m pretty grateful. It’s quite a disruption to his life,” he said.

Then Matt grudgingly agreed to accept some help himself.

“It’s kind of embarrassing,” he said. “I’ve always paid my own way.”

While Scott can donate bone marrow at the VA hospital in Tennessee and go home, Matt will have to stay in the hospital for up to four months while the marrow kicks in and his immune system – decimated for the transplant – comes back. Matt’s wife will be with him, leaving the family’s day-care center in the care of their daughter, son, son-in-law and an employee. Expenses will be high; income will be low.

With the brothers’ consent, the rest of the family immediately began planning fundraisers. Over the next three months they’ll run a “300 club” pool, selling $5 tickets to 300 people each month for a once-a-month drawing to win $500. The remaining $3,000 will be given to the brothers to help with expenses.

On March 1, the family will host a benefit spaghetti supper from 4 to 7 p.m. and dance from 7 to 11 p.m. at the American Legion Hall in Auburn. Tickets are $10, and reservations are encouraged. Although much of the food has been donated, the family is looking for donated gift certificates to raffle.

On April 5, they’ll host a dance and auction at the Fraternal Order of Eagles Club in Lewiston. The family is seeking donated items for the auction.

The family has no grand fundraising target. Anything, May said, will help.

“Our goal right now is to pretty much keep them with an income while they’re down there (in Tennessee),” May said.

Right now, Matt is in Tennessee with his wife, undergoing last-minute tests. Scott completed his tests, flew back to Maine for a few days to work, and plans to return to Tennessee this week.

The transplant is expected to take place within the next week.

The odds of it working are good, but nothing is guaranteed. Doctors have told Matt one-in-six people die from the procedure. And even if everything goes perfectly, he could need another transplant in four or five years.

But right now, both Scott and Matt said they’re concentrating on the positive.

“I’m hoping this works,” Matt said. “I think this could all fix it.”

To donate

For information on the “300 Club” drawings or to donate items to the April 5 auction, phone Amanda May at 376-7458.

For tickets to the March 1 benefit supper and dance or to donate, phone Amanda May at 376-7458, Barbara Beaucage at 212-1579 or Sally Butcher at 751-9639.