wabc-tv's amy freese has her story. >> this -- everything -- it happened in three seconds. and i was distracted, for whatever reason. >> reporter: at 21 years old, nicole slammed into the back of a tractor-trailer, completely mangled, car totaled, she was unrecognizable. >> she was treated for life threatening injuries. you can see the first responders surrounding her car. >> reporter: her face was crushed. distracted driving robbed the prom queen turned model of her physical identity. >> when i found out that i broke every bone in my face, i was a model. like that was extremely, extremely difficult. >> reporter: facing hopelessness, nicole and her family found dr. james bradley. >> her nose was collapsed completely centrally and her jaw was misaligned. >> reporter: more than a dozen painful procedures were required to fix the deformities. >> we repaired her cheekbones which had to be moved in and up. >> reporter: at times she found it difficult to leave home. anxiety, depression, ptsd. she even had to wear an eye patch at times, recalling others making fun. three years int