Supporting veterans and first responders suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, and the invisible wounds of service — providing access to transformative healing opportunities that restore mental health, purpose, and quality of life.
Nothing By Chance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to helping veterans and first responders heal from PTSD, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), and the invisible wounds of service.
Founded by combat veterans who have lived the reality of service-connected trauma, we exist to bridge the gap between suffering and healing by supporting access to alternative, evidence-informed care options for treatment-resistant trauma and brain injury.
When conventional treatment options fall short — when the medications, the therapy, and the standard protocols aren't enough — we step in to provide hope, advocacy, and tangible support. Because those who gave everything in service to others deserve every opportunity to heal.
Every day, veterans and first responders carry the weight of experiences most people will never face. Repeated exposure to combat, violence, life-threatening situations, and human suffering takes a cumulative toll that doesn't end when the uniform comes off. For many, the invisible wounds of service — PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, chronic stress, and moral injury — persist for years, even decades.
The reality is that conventional treatment options, while valuable, don't work for everyone. Standard therapies and medications leave a significant number of veterans and first responders still struggling — caught in a cycle of suffering with nowhere left to turn. Many lose hope. Some lose their lives.
This is the gap Nothing By Chance was created to fill. We believe that when the conventional path falls short, it's not the end of the road — it's the beginning of a different one. Alternative, evidence-informed healing pathways exist, and those who served deserve access to every option available.
Our mission is built on three core pillars, each designed to address the full spectrum of challenges facing veterans and first responders with treatment-resistant trauma.
We connect veterans and first responders with evidence-informed, alternative care options that address treatment-resistant trauma and brain injury at their core — not just the symptoms.
From emerging therapeutic modalities to specialized treatment programs, we research, vet, and facilitate access to healing opportunities that go beyond what traditional systems offer.
Navigating the landscape of care options, funding sources, and support systems is overwhelming — especially for someone already battling trauma. We serve as advocates, guides, and allies throughout the entire process.
From identifying the right programs to helping secure funding and providing hands-on support, we ensure no one faces this journey alone.
True healing goes beyond symptom management. We help restore mental health, sense of purpose, and quality of life — because those who served deserve to thrive, not just survive.
Our approach addresses the whole person: mind, body, and spirit. We believe that with the right support, veterans and first responders can reclaim their lives and find meaning beyond the uniform.
Our leadership team doesn't just understand the mission — they've lived it. With backgrounds rooted in military service, special operations, and frontline emergency response, they bring firsthand experience with the challenges facing veterans and first responders, combined with an unwavering commitment to leave no one behind.
Sean James is a combat veteran with a professional background rooted in service, protection, and emergency response. He has spent years working alongside military members, law enforcement officers, and first responders — experiencing firsthand the long-term physical and psychological toll of repeated trauma, high-risk environments, and chronic operational stress.
Through this experience, it became clear that many who serve are left struggling when conventional treatment options fail to fully address their needs. The system wasn't built to catch everyone — and too many were falling through the cracks.
Driven by a commitment to leave no one behind, Sean founded Nothing By Chance to bridge the gap between suffering and healing by supporting access to alternative, evidence-informed care. He believes that healing is possible — even after years of struggle — and that veterans and first responders deserve comprehensive, compassionate solutions that honor their service, dignity, and lives beyond the uniform.
Nick Kefalides is a former Marine Raider with U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) and a committed advocate for veterans and first responders facing the long-term effects of trauma.
Serving in elite special operations environments, Nick operated under sustained high-risk conditions that demanded resilience, discipline, and adaptability. Through his service, he witnessed firsthand the cumulative impact of combat stress, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) — often continuing long after active duty and frequently resistant to conventional treatment options.
Driven by a deep sense of responsibility to those who serve, Nick is actively involved in supporting alternative, evidence-informed healing pathways. His work with the nonprofit reflects a mission-first mindset rooted in the belief that those who have sacrificed for others deserve access to comprehensive and compassionate solutions that address trauma at its core. Nick brings integrity, leadership, and lived experience to the organization, helping advance efforts to restore hope, purpose, and quality of life for individuals carrying the invisible wounds of service.
For most of my life, I have been able to comprehend complex life situations and navigate them successfully. I built a great life and raised wonderful kids alongside a beautiful wife.
After returning from my last deployment in 2013, it seemed like I was on a mission to destroy my life, making rash decisions and being combative to almost everyone who asked if I was “OK” or if I was making the right decision at the time.
For about 10 years, I struggled dipping lower and lower into a depression that seemed too big to get out of. I was convinced the rest of my life would be regretting everything I had previously accomplished which I blamed for getting me to this point.
An old friend showed up on Instagram, and I reached out to him to see how he had been. We caught up with what we had been up to. He explained he had been in a similar place in his life, and attended a psychedelic-assisted therapy session.
After explaining everything to me I was introduced to Nothing by Chance. A short time later I found myself in Mexico scared, but for the first time in ten years hopeful for a future.
After my ibogaine journey, I immediately realized I had been living the life I had been dreaming of having all along. The relationship with my wife and my children has been flourishing since returning home.
This experience has been life-changing and lifesaving. I will be forever grateful to the team at Nothing by Chance.
There are many ways to support our mission and help veterans and first responders access the healing they deserve. Every contribution — whether financial, professional, or personal — makes an impact.
Your financial contribution goes directly toward connecting veterans and first responders with transformative healing opportunities. Every dollar funds access to care that changes — and saves — lives.
Awareness is powerful. Share our mission with your network, follow us on social media, and help us reach more veterans and first responders who may be struggling in silence and need to know help exists.
We welcome partnerships with organizations, treatment providers, corporations, and community groups who share our commitment to supporting those who served. Together, we can expand our reach and impact.
Every dollar goes directly toward connecting veterans and first responders with the transformative healing opportunities they deserve. When conventional treatment falls short, your generosity opens doors to alternative pathways that restore hope, purpose, and quality of life. No one who served should face their darkest battles alone.
Whether you're a veteran or first responder seeking help, a supporter looking to contribute, an organization interested in partnering, or someone who simply wants to learn more — we want to hear from you. Reach out anytime.