JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient survived being shot 11 times in Afghanistan. Now, he’s fighting a battle no one can see.
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 — and is now exploring alternative treatments that aren’t yet legal in the United States.
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Nusbaum recalled the moment his life changed forever.
“We were ambushed — 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,” Nusbaum said.
Even in the chaos of being medically evacuated, Nusbaum said he held onto a sense of certainty.
“For some reason, I knew I wasn’t gonna die. I don’t know why,” he said.
Nusbaum was flown to a hospital in Germany, where he received his Purple Heart under extraordinary circumstances.
“When I was in Germany, one of the 10th Mountain commanders came in the middle of the night to give me my Purple Heart,” he said.
His wife, Ashley Nusbaum, explained why the presentation happened at that hour.
“He wanted to come in the middle of the night because they told Cody he wasn’t 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,” Ashley said.
The Nusbaums live in Jacksonville with their five children. Despite Cody’s remarkable physical recovery, PTSD makes even simple daily tasks a significant challenge for the family.
Ashley shoulders much of the household responsibility.
“I pay all the bills. I pay, like, I make dinner, I clean. I do everything. Pretty much every single thing,” she said.
Now, the family is exploring ibogaine — 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, ibogaine is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance in the United States and has a high potential for abuse.
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.
Nusbaum said he’s heard encouraging things from fellow veterans.
“I’ve 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,” he said.
For now, the family plans to seek ibogaine treatment in Mexico, where the drug is legal.
Ashley Nusbaum has launched a website sharing her husband’s story, along with a donation drive.
He said the treatment could be life-changing — not just for him, but for his entire family.
“I 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,” he said.
The family says every donation, regardless of size, would help cover the cost of treatment. A link to their website is available here: About Ibogaine | Help A Purple Heart