From Hidden Brain Media, I'm Shankar Vedantam.

This is My Unsung Hero, stories where one person reached out to help another in a time of need.

My Unsung Hero was my...

Max saw me, came over and asked how I was doing and if I needed help.

So whoever you are, thank you so much.

Today's story comes from David Jefferson.

In 2022, David's wife, Jill, was diagnosed with cancer.

Jill didn't have many close friends, but one of her former

co-workers, a woman named Nicole Kyle, started coming by to try and cheer her up. Soon, Nicole became a

consistent comfort to the couple. So in 2024, it didn't surprise David when Nicole offered to help

him get Jill home after a hospital stay.

What did surprise him was the lengths she went to once they got Jill home.

David recorded his story in a park where he and Jill hoped to one day hike together,

so you'll hear some wind in the background.

Nicole and I got Jill home. It was during a winter snowstorm. The pipes had frozen in

the house, but we got them thawed out. Nicole and I gave Jill a shower and put her to bed. Some hours

later, Nicole showed up with a bag.

Show me which room you want me to sleep in, and I'll stay until the end with Jill.

Nicole, in a very unselfish way, took care of the laundry, food, house cleaning. She invited her friends to bring over food,

along with some of the food my friends were bringing.

Nicole would get up in the middle of the night with me

and help roll Jill over and

...