Postal Carriers Save An Old Woman's Life

82 year-old Mildred Hasenbank lives by herself in Muskegon. She's a little hard of hearing, and watches her television with the volume set at pretty loud. She takes care of herself as best she can, and for medical emergencies she has a medical alert device.

Everybody in the neighborhood knows her, and so does Postal Service carrier Penny Bell, who has 600 deliveries to make a day, but who often spends a bit of time with Mildred if she's home.

But not long ago, Mildred got up one day and was going about her business when she slipped and fell and couldn't get to her medical alert device. She couldn't move either.

Penny Bell delivered mail that day and the next and the next. Then she saw that it was piling up. She listened for the TV but couldn't hear it. No-one came to the door when she knocked.

She continued on her route, but by the end of the day she was really worried. The next day was her day off, but she asked her replacement Debbie Czarny to check on Mildred.

The next day Debbie knocked on the door but got no response, so she called a couple of neighbours, who hammered on the door. Still no response. Then a faint voice! Another neighbor had a key, and on opening the door, they found Mildred, horribly disoriented, very weak, but still conscious.

Still alive. She had been on the floor for 5 days. She was taken to a hospital and treated, but later released. She is now being taken care of in a nursing home.

Postmaster Mike Dennany and Post Office manager Ana Sanchez both said that carriers are encouraged to help customers on their route, and frequently do.