Vet struggles with cancer

My daughter, Monica Hickmott, 43, is getting ready to go home from the VA Hospital in Temple, Texas, to spend the time she has left with her four children, fiance, dogs and horses. She has been a patient since the first of January this year.

Susan, 23, is in banking; Helen, 19, is home; Jerry, 17, will graduate June 7 from high school; Dakota, 14, is a high school freshman. Her fiance has been her caregiver when Hickmott was not able to do her regular activities. He has taken the necessary training so he can give her medication, shots, etc. Monica and family live in Coperas Cove, Texas.

Hickmott spent 17 years in the Army counting active duty and National Guard.

She was in a transportation company providing combat support for troop in Iraq for 15 months. In November 2009, her company was assigned to Fort Hood, Texas.

She received a medical discharge as a Staff Sergeant E6 in February 2010. Hickmott lost half her hearing, has PTSD and cancer among the diagnosis.

When Hickmott is released from the VA Hospital, she plans to enjoy her life as much as possible. She wants to go with her family to Kansas to see her siblings. Siblings include Alex Leidig, Abilene; Garth Leidig, Salina; Charles Leidig, Hays; and Margaret Leidig, Great Bend. A fifth sibling, Dorothy Leidig, lives in Washington State and does not know whether she will be able to come.

If anyone or group would like to help Monica and her family, they may do so by sending gifts to Monica Hickmott, 511 John Henry Drive, Copperas Cove, Texas 76522-4768, or to Mary Leidig, Route 2 Box 110A, Timken, KS 67575.

Also, Feb. 23 is her 44th birthday. A card shower would be terrific.

Mary Leidig

Timken