16 | We Are Strongest When We Are Most Vulnerable

On August 3rd, 2008, U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Nick Bradley’s life changed forever when a 20-pound IED detonated under his Land Cruiser during a mission in Afghanistan. Thrown from the vehicle and blinded by the blast, Nick awoke in a ditch, unable to move. “I was helpless,” he recalls. “I didn’t know what was going on—or if I was going to make it out of there.”

In this deeply human and unflinchingly honest episode of Alive Again, Nick walks us through the aftermath: a shattered body held together by 14 plates and 20 screws, the surreal detail of his nose being duct-taped back on in the field, and the long, painful road through coma, surgeries, and emotional reckoning.

But this is also a story of profound transformation. 

Every year, Nick honors his fallen comrade on his "Alive Day", a testament to the transformative power of shared humanity and the enduring spirit of resilience in the face of the unthinkable. 

This episode is a testament to the fragile threads that tether us to life, the brotherhood forged in battle, and the courage it takes to keep going.

His story reminds us that life is scary, and "that’s okay". 

Story Producer: Dan Bush

* If you have a transformative near-death experience to share, we’d love to hear your story. Please email us at [email protected] 

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