EDITOR'S NOTE: This weekend, as Americans celebrate Independence Day, the Deseret News profiles Utahns impacted directly by war.
Even though Susan Wikle is all but blind in one eye and steadily losing her remaining eyesight to two incurable degenerative genetic conditions, she faithfully makes her monthly payment on the cost of freedom by singlehandedly caring for her adult disabled daughter in the ongoing absence of her husband, Gene.
Since early 2006, Gene has been in Afghanistan as a senior mentor to the Afghan National Army Air Corps and the U.S. military's Combined Security Transition Command—Afghanistan. For the past two years Gene has also presided over the LDS Church's Kabul Afghanistan Military District, the organizational entity with spiritual stewardship over all LDS military members in Afghanistan.
The Wikles' 30-year-old daughter suffers from a rare autoimmune vascular condition that requires her to be driven to several doctor appointments on a weekly basis. Mother and daughter typically spend 18 hours together every day.
For Susan, who lives in Phoenix, divine Providence is paving the way for her to endure so much for so long.
"This is only possible with the help of Heavenly Father," she said. "I know I couldn't do it without him — I can't do anything without the help of Heavenly Father.
"It's actually not been a great burden. Of course it's a lot of work. But it's always a pleasure to serve those whom we love, and we love more those whom we serve. It's been a wonderful experience for me to take care of our daughter."
Wikle would prefer to physically be with her husband on a daily basis. But because she views the work Gene does as noble and necessary, she embraces her current circumstance.
"It's always better to be together," she said. "But at the same time, under the circumstances, I'm a patriot of my country and I believe in service to other people. We're all God's children across this earth and we all need help and service from time to time.
"As Latter-day Saints, it's our obligation and duty to reach out to help our Father's children across the World. I can't speak for every wife or husband who has a loved one overseas in a war zone, but I feel proud of my husband for what he's doing to help and serve other people. That's something I'm willing to do."
e-mail: jaskar@desnews.com