Postal Snafu Leaves Cancer Survivor Without Vital Medication
A Cumberland County couple is grappling with a perplexing postal predicament, facing missing medications and a week-long mail drought. The situation has left a cancer survivor without crucial prescriptions, highlighting the real-world impact of administrative mix-ups.
Mail Delivery Chaos
The ordeal has affected Dave Stern and his wife, Patricia Stern, residents of the 1400 block of Slate Hill Road. They had a Mechanicsburg address before the postal confusion began.
“My bills—all of my mail is somewhere in limbo right now,” Dave Stern stated, expressing the couple’s frustration.
The couple is awaiting the delivery of six essential medications. Patricia Stern, a three-time cancer survivor, depends on these prescriptions for daily life.
“It’s one you should never just stop taking because the pain from the neuropathy will increase,” Patricia Stern said, describing the importance of her medication.
—Patricia Stern
A Zip Code Switcheroo
Initially, a tenant contacted the local USPS office, only to be informed of a zip code change to Camp Hill. However, when Dave Stern visited nearby post offices, he was still listed with Mechanicsburg.
“So we’re all just dumbfounded that nobody bothered to notify any of us that this change has taken place, and we’re not even sure it’s taken place,” he said, baffled by the lack of communication.
A mail truck arrived during their interview with a local news outlet, delivering bills and medication. The city was relisted as Camp Hill.
While returning inside, Dave Stern received a call from USPS, stating that they would be switched back to Mechanicsburg.
He plans to call Rite Aid on Thursday, hoping to pick up his medication in person. In 2023, USPS delivered nearly 129 billion pieces of mail and packages nationwide (USPS Report).
The Impact of Interrupted Delivery
The disruption has created significant challenges, particularly for Patricia Stern. She relies on multiple medications to manage her health, including one for neuropathy.
The unexpected postal changes have caused significant stress and uncertainty for the couple.