JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2013 A Jacksonville Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient survived being shot 11 times in Afghanistan. Now, he\u2019s fighting a battle no one can see.<\/p>\n
Cody Nusbaum endured hundreds of treatments and surgeries after being ambushed in 2011. While his physical wounds have healed, he continues to battle post-traumatic stress disorder \u2014 and is now exploring alternative treatments that aren\u2019t yet legal in the United States.<\/p>\n
Nusbaum recalled the moment his life changed forever.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were ambushed \u2014 they had Afghan police uniforms on, so I thought he was on our team. And then he was about 10 feet away from me when he started shooting. He shot me 11 times. And then he ended up shooting me down up in the leg. One went through me and hit my squad leader,\u201d Nusbaum said.<\/p>\n
Even in the chaos of being medically evacuated, Nusbaum said he held onto a sense of certainty.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor some reason, I knew I wasn\u2019t gonna die. I don\u2019t know why,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Nusbaum was flown to a hospital in Germany, where he received his Purple Heart under extraordinary circumstances.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I was in Germany, one of the 10th Mountain commanders came in the middle of the night to give me my Purple Heart,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
His wife, Ashley Nusbaum, explained why the presentation happened at that hour.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe wanted to come in the middle of the night because they told Cody he wasn\u2019t going to make it through the night. They told him he would never walk. He can run. They told him, like, he would never be able to have kids. We have five,\u201d Ashley said.<\/p>\n
The Nusbaums live in Jacksonville with their five children. Despite Cody\u2019s remarkable physical recovery, PTSD makes even simple daily tasks a significant challenge for the family.<\/p>\n
Ashley shoulders much of the household responsibility.<\/p>\n
\u201cI pay all the bills. I pay, like, I make dinner, I clean. I do everything. Pretty much every single thing,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Now, the family is exploring ibogaine \u2014 a psychedelic currently being studied for its potential to treat brain injuries and PTSD. The drug is currently illegal in the United States. According to LegalClarity.org, <\/a>ibogaine is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance in the United States and has a high potential for abuse.<\/p>\n However, the landscape may be shifting. An executive order signed by President Trump in April, could enhance research on psychedelic drugs and mental health treatment access. <\/p>\n Nusbaum said he\u2019s heard encouraging things from fellow veterans.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve talked to a lot of guys who have done it, and they swear by it. So, they said, I mean, a lot of SF, Special Forces,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n For now, the family plans to seek ibogaine treatment in Mexico, where the drug is legal.<\/p>\n Ashley Nusbaum has launched a website sharing her husband\u2019s story, along with a donation drive. <\/p>\n He said the treatment could be life-changing \u2014 not just for him, but for his entire family.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like if I would be more independent, and that would be great for us. You know, I could be a better role model for my kids,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n