Ep. 33 America Means You Won The Lottery-Todd's American Story

Todd Nicely is one of the Elite 5, one of 5 surviving quadruple amputees from the war on terror.

Todd's military ambition was to graduate school 1/2 a year early and join the army airborne.

His dream of the military began after seeing the movie, "Saving Private Ryan."  Todd watched these men landing on the beach, and Todd believed he owed it to these heroes to keep our country free.

Todd's high school senior year was 2001.  Three days before the army was to deliver his enlistment papers, 9/11 occurred.  His mother refused to sign the papers, telling Todd to do it himself after he graduated.

A girlfriend delayed Todd entering the military.  He took up carpentry, and soon found himself hanging out with the wrong crowd.  Worried he would end up in jail or prison, Todd finally joined the military at the ripe old age of 23.

Only it wasn't the army, Todd joined the marines.  He knew the marines were rumored to have the toughest basic training.  Todd wanted to prove to himself that he could overcome anything with his mind, a motto he has had to use many times over since that day.

After basic training, Todd went to Camp Pendleton for infantry school, followed by a station at Camp LeJeune in North Carolina.

Todd had two overseas deployment, Iraq in 2008 and Afghanistan from October 2009-March 2010.

On March 10, 2010 Todd's life was forever changed.  It was only 11/2 months before he was scheduled to return home.  Todd was an infantry squad leader.  His duty was to take  men out on patrol.

Todd remembers that deployment as particularly hard.  Only 7 days into Afghanistan, he lost his best friend.  Suddenly everything was very real.

March 10, 2010 was a quiet day, in fact it was supposed to be Todd's day off.  Todd was sent out to set a marker for others to watch any enemy movement. 

After placing the marker, Todd and his squad were to cross a bridge to head back to base.  Todd led the way.  His first step onto the bridge sent him flying through the air.  He had stepped on an IED.

Todd immediately lost three limbs, the fourth was so damaged and twisted, it had to be removed.  He was in excruciating pain, but did not want to scream in front of his men.  

Waking up in the hospital, Todd knew his legs were gone.  He could not feel them, but strange enough Todd was sure his hands were still there.  He felt them encased in tight wrapping.  He had to be told they too were gone.

Severe PTSD and depression did not happen until after the hospital.  Divorce, isolation, and drinking drove Todd to despair.  In 2016 Todd tried to take his life by shooting himself in the heart.  Miraculously, he survived.

When Todd awoke after the suicide attempt, he saw the faces of his family.  It wasn't the Taliban that caused them so much pain this time, it was Todd.  He vowed never to put his family through that again.

After a few more years of struggling with PTSD and depression, Todd finally got the help he needed through Focus Marines.  They completely changed Todd's life.  

Todd is now remarried.  He is the father of two step-children and one child he and his wife had together.

He plays wheelchair rugby where the only requirement is to have three non working limbs.

If you want to thank a veteran, Todd reminds us to simply stop and say, "Thank you."  

And in his own words, "America means you won the lottery."

You can find Todd at:

Todd Nicely-Wounded Warrior

And If you are a gamer, he plays Call of Duty on Twitch nolimbs0311 and at TikTok under the same name, nolimbs0311

 

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