No Capes, Just Courage: How Two Women Turned Pain into Purpose with Hero on a Mission

They didn’t walk in wearing capes.

Jessica showed up battling a life-altering disease and a past full of pain. Angie walked in asking for transportation assistance, not a connection. But somewhere between “I guess I’ll try it” and “I’m all in,” both women stepped into transformation—and invited the rest of us to believe in it too.

That’s what Hero on a Mission does best—turns ordinary Tuesdays into turning points.

Jessica: From Struggle to Strength

Jessica received a Wheels car over a year ago. This time, she wasn’t asking for help—she just said, “I could use that in my life.”

She’s battled more than her share: acromegaly, a brain tumor, five surgeries, childhood trauma, addiction, and a lifetime of feeling unseen. But that’s not where her story ends.

At her latest session, despite poison ivy, Jessica showed up ready, prework done, goals clear:

1. Start walking twice a week (time and location already chosen).
2. Check in daily with her emotions—name them, understand them, manage them.

She described how much she loves Hero. She's two years sober, just started a new job at Penn Station, and moved into a new apartment. Her next dream? Becoming a peer support mentor for addicts. “I want to be someone for people who have no one.”

That’s a hero talking.

Angie: From Reluctance to Resolve

Angie wasn’t looking for transformation—just help with transportation. We explained that we needed a relationship first, and she agreed (barely).

But then, a few weeks later, she showed up with a full-blown vision board. It was bold, beautiful, and brave.

Not a Pinterest project—it was the real deal. It was a purpose-filled plan: what she wants, why it matters, and what she’s willing to do.

Angie runs a small painting business and dreams of turning it into a second-chance employer. Even more, she’s launching a nonprofit, Pavement, in honor of the unimaginable loss of her son who died from addiction. Her heart? Helping families walk with their loved ones before it’s too late.

In her last session, in addition to defining purpose, we role-played how to navigate workplace conflict and practiced reflective listening skills. We laughed. We cried. We prayed. We planned the next steps. 

Angie is now working with a career coach to explore funding sources for both of her ventures. She’s also completed her budget (tight but hopeful) and connected to the Community Pantry for food assistance to help ease the load.

There’s no mistaking it: she’s not checking boxes anymore. She’s building bridges toward purpose.

What Hero on a Mission Really Does

Jessica and Angie have scars and are no strangers to pain and setbacks. But they possess unmistakable strength, vision, and a deep desire to make a difference.

As Viktor Frankl said, “Those who have a ‘why’ to live can bear with almost any ‘how.’”

They found their “why.”

And they’re showing the rest of us that the real heroes don’t wear capes. They carry hope, live purposefully, and keep going—even when the road is hard.