5.07.2008 - 04:12pm ET

(CSRwire) WASHINGTON, May 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Renee Garcia, the wife of a soldier serving in Afghanistan and the mother of four, spent long days and months at the bedside of her leukemia-stricken daughter fighting hard for her child's life while singlehandedly keeping her far-flung family together.

For her devotion, strength and courage, Mrs. Garcia of Fort Campbell -- one of more than 400 hundred nominees -- is the recipient of Operation Homefront's Military Motherhood Award, co-sponsored by TriWest Healthcare Alliance as part of its annual Operation Homefront partnering sponsorship.

Mrs. Garcia will receive the award and $5,000 during a ceremony hosted by Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-Calif.) and Senator Mel Martinez (R-Fla.). The ceremony will take place at 9:30 a.m., Thursday, May 8, at the Top of the Hill Conference Center, Reserve Officers Association, 1 Constitution Ave. NE. The media is invited to attend.

"Military mothers who care for their families during deployments have a big job to keep their families strong, and we as a nation owe Mrs. Garcia, all of the award entrants and military mothers everywhere our admiration and a great debt of gratitude," said TriWest President and CEO David McIntyre, Jr.

"As a mother, my biggest job is being an advocate for my daughter Kennedy," Mrs. Garcia said. "I spend a lot of time advocating for her both medically and educationally. She has Down syndrome and leukemia, and she's facing spinal surgery up in Shriner's in Philadelphia."

That will be Kennedy's 18th surgery.

Chaplain Khette Cox at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, who nominated Mrs. Garcia for the award, witnessed her devotion to her family during those difficult months.

"She showed me what it is like to keep a family together in relatively small stress under great circumstances," the chaplain wrote in the nomination. "Renee spent several months in essence confined to a hospital room with her youngest daughter, all the while nursing and caring for her youngest child. Renee tenaciously fought as hard for her child as the child fought for life."

During those months, her other two children stayed with their grandmother in Clarksville, Tenn.

"It felt as though the family was held together through phone calls, regular visits, and wonderful email and blog communication," the chaplain wrote.

Finally, the sound of the word "remission" brought the Army wife sheer joy.

"She continues to love on and support her four now healthy (other than ear infections) children," wrote the chaplain.

All of the nominations were posted on Operation Homefront's community of military wives and women in uniform, CinCHouse.com, and readers voted. The votes determined five finalists and a panel of judges selected Mrs. Garcia.

About TriWest

TriWest Healthcare Alliance partners with the Department of Defense to do "Whatever It Takes" to support the health care needs of 2.9 million members of America's military family. A Phoenix-based corporation, TriWest provides access to cost-effective, high-quality health care in the 21-state TRICARE West Region, the 2007 TRICARE Region of the year. TriWest is a proud Corporate Team Member of America Supports You. Visit www.triwest.com for more information.

About Operation Homefront & CinCHouse.com

What is today Operation Homefront began in 2001 as a military
spouse-generated idea. In response to the need for support for the families of deployed service members, CinCHouse.com members (military wives and women in uniform) created the project that has evolved into a major nonprofit charity serving 34 military communities. Today CinCHouse.com operates as a program of the nonprofit Operation Homefront family. From a good idea to a great organization, Operation Homefront understands and takes care of the needs of the military community.

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