Dooley answered as much mail as he could himself. However, he did have some help from people in America. Gloria Sassano worked for MEDICO and handled some of the mail on his behalf.

          In August 1959, Dooley had to undergo chest surgery for malignant melanoma. After this surgery it was hard for him to type letters, and he was receiving considerably more mail than before. Instead of typing responses to letters, he dictated his responses into a donated SoundScriber machine, which recorded onto a disc. Dooley sent the disc to a team of volunteer secretaries from New York, known as the "Disc Girls," which was headed by Teresa Gallagher. The Disc Girls transcribed Dooley's responses from the discs and then sent the replies. Sometimes the letters would include a standard reply.

          These secretaries would spend their lunch hours or even stay after their regular hours typing replies for Dr. Dooley.

          Dooley kept in touch with the women that helped handled his mail to keep them updated on his work in Muong Sing.

          The Disc Girls and other Dooley fans formed The Dooley Aid Club, which kept Dooley fans updated on his work. They sent out a newsletter to update people about Dooley's cancer surgery and his recovery.