Donna
Donna’s Story
I first found Donna Wiegle while I was living in Maine and doing research for a completely different project. When I learned that she had recently completed a cross country motorcycle trip that fall, I knew I had to talk to her. I ended up taking two reporting trips to Swan’s Island, Maine, where Donna lives, to interview her about her life. At the time, Donna was living with ovarian cancer, and also running the health center on her island. We spoke about access to healthcare, care-taking, cancer, and the challenges of accepting help when you’re used to being the one caring for other people.
Some shelves at Donna’s desk at the health center. A sign that reads “Sassy. Classy. Bad Assy.” sits next to several community awards for her work.
One of Donna’s dogs, Roscoe, sits in the kitchen.
The Swan’s Island lighthouse.
Donna on the phone at her neighbor, Deb’s house. She helps Deb set up an emergency response system in case of falls or other accidents.
Donna holds a sign that one of her neighbors made, welcoming her home from her recent Teals on Wheels cross-country motorcycle trip.
The view of Swan’s Island from the ferry.