What could be wrong? He got dressed and grabbed his 9mm handgun - a constant companion to the captain during his deployment and a cold reality of supporting the war against terrorism. "Sir, you need to call home," the sergeant said. 27, just before midnight in Iraq, Kevin awoke to a nightshift sergeant knocking briskly at his door. Her piercing blue eyes lit up every time she saw Dora, and she'd holler, "Dorna, Mommy! Dorna!" Her favorite toy, book, TV show and clothes were all the same - Dora the Explorer, or "Dorna" as she called her. He'd probably trade 50 holidays if he could just have one back - the last Christmas with Chloe in 2005.Ĭhloe loved the holidays - especially Christmas. "I've missed three Christmases alone in the past 10 years." One-by-one he slowly extended three fingers as he counted silently. ![]() Too many," he said, answering his own question. "How many holidays have I missed with my family now?. He had just spent another Christmas away from home, and he allowed himself a well-deserved moment of brooding. He served with Task Force 134, headquarters for all detainee operations in Iraq. Kevin, an operations officer with the 21st Security Forces Squadron at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, in early November 2005. They don't want others to have to feel their pain - no one should have to shed the buckets of tears the Lombardos have wept for Chloe. So what happened exactly? The answers may hit too close to home for a lot of parents, which is why the Lombardos have agreed to tell their heartbreaking story. They were the perfect "partners in crime." He called her "Coco," because he had trouble saying Chloe, and she called him "Cage," her interpretation of K.J. They did everything together, from terrorizing the family dog Pepper, to sneaking their dad's Reeses Peanut Butter cups and getting wonderfully yummy - and messy - chocolate and peanut butter all over the carpet, the walls and themselves. 4, 2003, twins Chloe, who arrived first, and Kevin Jr. Since being born 15 minutes apart on Feb. She and her brother had managed to get their hands on blood pressure medication and consumed the better part of a bottle of the tiny white pills, as if eating candy. ![]() miraculously survived, his twin sister Chloe, just more than a month shy of her third birthday, succumbed to an accidental poisoning. ![]() 27, 2005, didn't have a happy ending for Capt. Her eyes caught a glimpse of her two older daughters crying and screaming, With hands shaking uncontrollably and fear attempting a hostile takeover of her mind, the frantic mother began trying to administer CPR. Seconds earlier Chloe had passed out at the breakfast table and went into convulsions. Kevin lay on the bed lethargic and barely responsive. Something was wrong with her 2-year-old twins. Billie Lombardo tried to stay calm, but panic overtook her like a swarm of angry bees.
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