Corporal Todd Nicely of the U.S. Marine Corps is one of the few modern veterans to survive catastrophic blast injuries that cost him both hands and both legs. Six months into his second deployment, an IED changed his life on March 26, 2010. Todd lets us in on what came next—first the grit of rehab fueled by a mission mindset, then the hard truth that life after the hospital brought isolation, grief he hadn’t processed, and a suicide attempt in 2016. What ultimately turned him around was a question he encountered at Focus Marines Foundation: “You knew what you were willing to die for—do you know what you’re willing to live for?”
Today, Todd is a mentor with Focus Marines and a devoted husband and father who’s learned to build structure, set boundaries, and ask for help. We explore how living for yourself first equips you to serve others, why purpose must be rebuilt—not remembered—and how paying it forward restores dignity. A forthcoming book will share more of his story, and donations to Focus Marines (focusmarines.org) help put other veterans in that lifesaving seat.
The Biggest Helping: Today’s Most Important Takeaway
Never give up—and always pay it forward. When we focus on doing good for others, the good in our own lives grows and the darkness loses its hold.
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