(MONEY Magazine) – Thank you for April's "A Real-Life Philadelphia Case," the story of Andrew Hickman, who lost his job as an air-traffic controller for the Federal Aviation Administration when he developed AIDS. My partner of 17 years, also named Andrew, died in March of complications from AIDS. But he worked for a sympathetic employer, Merrill Lynch. AIDS is a horrible disease, and it doesn't have to be made worse by discrimination, destitution and uncertainty. John Klapper Chicago

Your article reported that the former FAA air-traffic controller with AIDS was experiencing difficulty in obtaining his federal disability pension. I would like to report that the moment one of our public affairs officers in the U.S. Office of Personnel Management learned of Mr. Hickman's difficulty in obtaining the pension, he consulted with another professional in OPM's Office of Disability and Special Entitlements. Together, and with the cooperation of MONEY writer Elizabeth Fenner and a public affairs official at the Social Security Administration, they were able to identify and remove the obstacle that delayed the payment of Mr. Hickman's pension. Within days, Mr. Hickman's pension was authorized. I would like to thank you for your interest in this case and your willingness to work with us for its successful conclusion. Jim King Director, U.S. Office of Personnel Management Washington, D.C.

Andrew Hickman died of AIDS-related pneumonia in California on April 9, about three weeks after the story about him was published in MONEY. His sister Ann says, "He was glad to get the word out about what kind of discrimination AIDS patients can suffer." His family and lawyers say that they plan to continue Hickman's discrimination lawsuit against the FAA for taking away his job as an air-traffic controller.