As far as Debra Morrison is concerned, mail carrier Meghan Lee is “an angel” who at the very least saved her father from serious brain injury, or at worst, death.

Her father, 95-year-old Walter Morrison, a World War II veteran, was determined to finish pressure washing his driveway on April 15. Debra, who lives in a basement apartment at his house, and his live-in companion did not know he’d gone outside. While working on the driveway, Morrison became dizzy.

“He said he realized he was getting dizzy so he had enough smarts to get off of the concrete,” said Debra. He was on the grass when he fell.

“I don’t know if he lost consciousness or not, he has no idea. I know he fell and broke his glasses, but there was no visible real injury except where the glasses pressed against his nose. He didn’t have any bleeding or anything,” she said.

That’s when Lee came by to deliver the mail. His house is not on her regular route, but it’s the route she started on as a new mail carrier eight years ago. Also, she substitutes for the regular mail carrier on the route every Wednesday.

“I thought Mr. Morrison was just outside, sitting down in the yard,” she said. “Then I saw him kind of ‘rolly-polly’ it and was trying to get up.”

She got out to help him. “He didn’t want me to help him. But I did.”

It turns out Lee is a former Air Force medic, and although Morrison had no real visible injuries, she felt he needed medical attention.

“He was kind of slurring a little bit,” she said. “The slurring of the speech is the only reason I called [9-1-1] because I was thinking stroke or something.”

Lee also called Debra to let her know what was happening.

Morrison at first refused to go to the hospital, but about an hour later, his daughter said, he buzzed her on the house intercom to say he was having problems with his right arm and leg. After an ambulance ride to the hospital and an hour of waiting, his daughter got the diagnosis: he had a brain bleed and was headed to the UAB neurological ICU. There, doctors discovered a second, smaller bleed.

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, Debra was not able to visit her father for the three days he was in the hospital, but kept in touch by telephone.

It’s not unusual for Morrison to tackle projects like pressure washing the driveway. He’s always been fiercely independent, his daughter said.

“He’s always been a very, very active person, even as he’s gotten older and can’t do as much,” said Debra. “He’s determined. He’s going to do what he’s going to do.”

Morrison had just turned 17 when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He had two older brothers who had been drafted into the Army. The next year, when the Navy recruiter came to Grand Forks, North Dakota, Morrison and his best friend signed up.

After basic training in Chicago, the recruits were lined up, Morrison standing next to his hometown friend, which turned out to be the dividing line, Debra said. The friend and all the recruits in front of him were sent to a carrier. Morrison and everyone behind him went to Cuba.

Eventually he met his wife, Augusta, a Birmingham native, and after moving around a bit, settled in Birmingham where he worked for the city and repaired watches on the side.

Debra said he’s always fixing things and taking on projects, so he’s having to adapt to the recovery process.

“It’s such a change for someone who’s always been so active,” she said.

“It’s just a new learning process and acceptance of that,” Debra added. “They think that he will recover all these strengths.”

Thanks in no small part to Lee, who said she’s “very blessed” to do the work she does.

“I know all my customers out there, and they’re the best.”

Debra Morrison thinks highly of Lee, too. “It was just a God thing,” she said. “I really believe that God sent her. Because normally the mail doesn’t come until 3:30-4 o’clock and God sent her early, and there he was laying there and she didn’t even hesitate.”

She said it brings to mind the verse from Hebrews 13:2: “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels.”

“She wasn’t a stranger, she was just an angel,” said Debra.