HEYWORTH - Kathy Brandau worried that she might not see her son, a soldier serving in Iraq, before her cancer surgery Monday. As it turns out, U.S. Army Spc. Eric Brandau, 29, will step off an airplane in Bloomington mid-morning today to wish her well.

"I can't wait to put my arms around him," said Kathy Brandau, who will have part of her right lung removed at BroMenn Regional Medical Center, Normal.

Her son, stationed with the U.S. Army just south of Baghdad, was able to leave his assignment early to visit his mother.

"It will be a very, very good thanksgiving," Kathy said Wednesday. There'll be a lot of catching up, since mom and son haven't seen each other since January.

Eric, one of three children of John and Kathy Brandau, is a 1997 graduate of Bloomington High School. He enlisted in 2005 and expects to make the military a career.

John, a pharmacist at Schnucks, said his son enjoys the camaraderie of the Army, for which he's analyzed satellite data while in Iraq.

Once state-side, Eric will help prepare a base in Georgia for the return of his fellow soldiers later this year or early next.

"His commanding officer was aware of his mother's situation and he was able to come back early," John said.

Kathy is thankful for that, saying she worried more about her son's safety than about her surgery, which could take up to five hours and a week's hospital stay.

"This is supposed to take care of me," she said of the surgery.

Kathy, a long-time smoker, quit in June but then had chest pain. A biopsy in September revealed cancer. Chemotherapy and radiation followed.

Eric, on a four-day pass, will return to duty the day before his mother's surgery.

His mother said his visit will give her a needed boost. "His visit will help get me ready for surgery," she said. "I wanted to see him."