By Emil Joensson, American Red Cross Public Affairs
Skyler is a disabled Iraq War veteran who created a non-profit to serve military families, veterans who need mental health support and who advocates for inclusive special needs households.
Skyler Nelson was nominated to be an American Red Cross Hero because of her inspirational work for others throughout her life. She was chosen as one of ten community heroes who will be celebrated at the American Red Cross of Colorado and Wyoming Rocky Mountain Heroes Soirée this March.
Starting her service in the army at 17, Skyler missed her high school graduation. After five and a half years in Alaska and one year in Iraq, she was medically discharged due to health problems impairing her lungs and nerve system. These complications remain, and Skyler gets surgery on her airways every three to six months.
Though, as the true inspiration she is, this does not slow her down. Similar to a fellow Red Cross volunteer, she spends countless hours volunteering for non-profits and advocating for better conditions for homeless veterans and Gold Star families. In addition, she is the Community Outreach Coordinator for K9 for Veterans abroad, an organization that provides service dogs to veterans abroad. Skyler has experience with service dogs as her dog, Lugnut, became her service dog and served alongside her in Alaska.
Skyler is involved in several organizations, such as Homes for all Veterans, Green Beret Foundation and Mental Health Colorado. Skyler also started her own non-profit to help families and veterans with mental health problems, which she funds with her own money. Politically, Skyler has worked with the Mayor of Fountain, former state representative Lois Landgraf and Mental Health Colorado to establish permanent supportive housing for veterans near Fort Carson.
On top of her volunteering and advocacy, she is pursuing a graduate degree in clinical psychology at Pepperdine University. In the future, she aspires to be a licensed clinical psychologist to provide veterans and families in need free service as they wait on their referrals through Tricare and the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.
Through her own experiences, she has encountered hardships. Skyler Nelson is now working to aid these difficulties for others. She embodies the Red Cross spirit and carries it through her work and advocacy in our community.
