May 10, 2008
Posted: 01:29 PM ET
Alicia Mixson takes care of her brother Catlin Mixson, who was hit by a roadside bomb in Iraq last year.
Alicia Mixson takes care of her brother Catlin Mixson, who was hit by a roadside bomb in Iraq last year.

The Mixson family has two young heroes. Catlin Mixson, 21, is one of the nation’s heroes, serving in Iraq until he was wounded. And Alicia Mixson, 26, is his hero, putting her own life on hold to take care of her brother.

Catlin was hit by a roadside bomb in Baghdad eight months ago. Everyone else in his Humvee died. Catlin survived, but had to have both legs amputated. Doctors wanted someone to stay at the military hospital in Texas with him. Alicia left everything she had in Florida to care for him.

They live in Army lodgings together now. She takes him to rehab, counts his pills and rolls his wheelchair. “People keep telling me that it’s exceptional – but in my heart I didn’t have a choice,” says Alicia, a truly unsung hero.

For her selfless work, Alicia was recognized by CVS Pharmacy’s “For All the Ways You Care” program.

Update: Watch the CNN.com Live interview

Filed under: Unsung hero


Share this on:

subscribe RSS Icon
About this blog

Nicole LapinYoung People Who Rock is a weekly interview series focused on people under 30 -- from CEOs to entertainers to athletes to community and political leaders -- who are doing remarkable things. Nicole Lapin finds them and introduces them here by writing a weekly column that goes out in time for you to chime in before she interviews them Fridays on CNN.com Live.

Get Involved

Know someone who rocks?
Maybe your neighbor or your friend? Let us know.

Got a question for the interview?
Fire up your camera and send it in, then look for your video on CNN.com Live.

CNN Comment Policy: CNN encourages you to add a comment to this discussion. You may not post any unlawful, threatening, libelous, defamatory, obscene, pornographic or other material that would violate the law. Please note that CNN makes reasonable efforts to review all comments prior to posting and CNN may edit comments for clarity or to keep out questionable or off-topic material. All comments should be relevant to the post and remain respectful of other authors and commenters. By submitting your comment, you hereby give CNN the right, but not the obligation, to post, air, edit, exhibit, telecast, cablecast, webcast, re-use, publish, reproduce, use, license, print, distribute or otherwise use your comment(s) and accompanying personal identifying information via all forms of media now known or hereafter devised, worldwide, in perpetuity. CNN Privacy Statement.
Home  |  World  |  U.S.  |  Politics  |  Crime  |  Entertainment  |  Health  |  Tech  |  Travel  |  Living  |  Business  |  Sports  |  Time.com
Podcasts  |  Blogs  |  CNN Mobile  |  Preferences  |  Email Alerts  |  CNN Radio  |  CNN Shop  |  Site Map
© 2008 Cable News Network LP, LLLP. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by WordPress.com