HOLIDAY, Fla. — One year ago, Navy veteran Lonnie Kilpatrick’s family knew something was wrong, but they didn’t know it would be their last Christmas with him.

  • Pasco woman advocates for veterans after husband's passing
  • Navy vet Lonnie Kilpatrick suffered from Agent Orange
  • Kilpatrick diagnosed with stage four cancer in January
  • Kilpatrick was misdiagnosed for years by VA

"It's really hard, because Christmas was his favorite thing,” said Lonnie’s wife, Sheila Kilpatrick.

Sheila said her husband was diagnosed with stage four cancer in January after years of misdiagnoses by the VA.

"He suffered for two years with so much pain that he couldn't even stand up,” Kilpatrick said.

On top of that, Lonnie, was also denied VA benefits owed to him because of his exposure to Agent Orange while in Guam. 

Congressman Gus Bilirakis was able to help get his records de-classified, which led to Lonnie receiving nearly $200,000. That news came just days before Lonnie passed away on May 5, 2018.

"I know he was a proud veteran,” Kilpatrick said. “He was proud to have served this country."

Before he died, Lonnie’s daughter recorded a final request — “Make something out of it. Make it count.”

That’s what Kilpatrick said she’s been trying to do. She accompanied Congressman Bilirakis to the White House Christmas party last week. She said she got the chance to speak with Vice President Mike Pence and members of Congress.

"Everyone that he introduced me to, we told them about Lonnie,” Kilpatrick said.

Her visit came at a time when a bill stalled in the Senate that would give veterans who served off the coast of Vietnam access to disability benefits tied to Agent Orange.            

"I'm hoping that they'll go back and say, you know, 'These are real people...These are real families that this is destroying,'" she said.

Kilpatrick said she hopes Lonnie’s story can make a difference in cases like this and when it comes to how veterans are treated in the VA system.

Bay Pines gave Spectrum Bay News 9 the following statement:

"Leaders and staff at the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System send our sincerest condolences to the family as we strive to provide the best outcomes for veterans.

We have taken significant steps to improve coordination of care for veterans being treated for cancer and other complex medical issues. We have also approved 3 full-time clinical positions to strengthen our Cancer Navigation Program which will contributes to the improvement of coordinated care outside of VA.”