Deeds Not Words: Nicole's Story

Life changed without warning for Nicole, a pre-9/11 United States Army veteran. She served from 1987 to 1990, never imagining that decades later she would find herself fighting a very different kind of battle. Now living in Colorado, she was referred to America’s Warrior Partnership (AWP) by Wounded Warrior Project after a sudden medical emergency upended the stability she had worked hard to build.

Nicole required emergency brain surgery - an intensive procedure that left her unable to work and, for a time, unable to drive. With no medical clearance to return to her job, her income was reduced to disability pay alone. Recovery became not just a physical process, but an emotional and financial one, as everyday responsibilities quickly became sources of anxiety.

“I will always be grateful to America Warriors Partnership and PureTalk for helping me during my time of medical crisis. I had emergency brain surgery to drain an 11-centimeter cyst from my frontal lobe region. I was unable to work or drive and had no employment income to pay my bills. They came through for me on an expedited basis.”

As January approached, Nicole faced the very real possibility of falling behind on her car payment and car insurance. For a pre-9/11 veteran, assistance options were limited, and many programs do not cover vehicle-related expenses. The thought of losing her independence added a heavy layer of stress at a time when rest and healing were critical.

Still, Nicole held onto hope. She believes she will be able to return to work in the coming months, though her doctors have not yet determined when she will be cleared. Until then, she needed temporary support to bridge the gap and give her the space to recover without fear of immediate financial consequences.

That support came through PureTalk’s Deeds Not Words initiative. Through this collaboration with America’s Warrior Partnership, Nicole received assistance providing two months of relief during one of the most uncertain periods of her life.

Deeds Not Words is a collaborative initiative between PureTalk and America’s Warrior Partnership, dedicated to providing tangible support to veterans in need. Through PureTalk’s continued commitment, veterans like Nicole can access help through the AWP Network when they need it most.