More than a mail carrier, a friend to my mom in a time of need

A man with a heart of gold who deserves to be recognized

The words "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds" have long been associated with the American postal worker. Postal carrier Walt in Wayne County, Michigan goes above and beyond that creed.

Walt delivered mail to my childhood home in metro Detroit for years. Walt would often talk to my mom and dad about everything from my siblings, his family, and even his take on life. Mail time at the Bondy house was more than just time to get the bills and the junk mail.

In 2012 my dad passed away from the effects of a massive stroke. My mom would be the only person to meet Walt at mail time. Walt would take extra time to talk to my mom. Walt would ask about her children, and her life and share stories about his family. My mom thought of Walt as a friend. I didn’t know how much Walt cared for my mom until a few years later.

Fast forward to 2019, my mom moved into a nursing home due to ongoing health issues. During the pandemic, my mom was isolated and not allowed to have visitors indoors. We were able to visit my mom through a window. We would often stand outside on a phone looking at her through a window.

Walt visiting my mom outside of her nursing home during the pandemic

Despite my mom no longer living in her house Walt continued to stay in contact with my mom. Walt would call my mom at the nursing home every Saturday evening. Sunday morning my mom would brag about the conversation she had the night before with Walt.

Walt even showed up at my mom’s nursing home window when we threw a surprise birthday party for her.

Over the last few weeks, my mom’s condition has worsened but that hasn’t stopped Walt from calling. With the help of my wife Katie holding the phone to my mom’s ear, Walt talked to my mom in what could be her final days or weeks of her life.

Walt is a special person. A person who doesn’t have to call my mom. Walt has his own family and his own problems in life, but he still takes time out of his week to reach out to my mom.

Thank you Walt for bringing some sunshine into my mom’s life. She, and we all appreciate you.

Dave