You're having to navigate a system that doesn't believe you, doesn't support you, and honestly has not much right now to offer you in terms of care. - Nicole Malachowski

What happened is, we did it over and over until I got it right. It was the right thing to do by our customer and client [the audience on the ground]. My teammates helped me from a place of kindness and commitment,” she says. “It’s never beneath any of us to offer help, too.”

The severe illness taught me that being a fighter pilot gave me the skills and traits I needed to survive my illness and turn to my new mission of advocating for others.”

When I was a fighter pilot, when we would go into combat, which in a lot of ways is what we are in against this disease and the medical system that doesn't support us," she said. "I would say to my wingman before we would launch, "No matter what, be a help, not a hindrance. Ask yourself, is what I'm about to say or do going to be helpful? Or is it going to be a hindrance?"