Boston bombing victim lost leg but not determination

Boston bombing victim Heather Abbott, who had her leg amputated last year, says she will run last mile of race with the woman who rescued her. Deborah Gembara reports.

Published

about 3 years ago

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US

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United States

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Deborah Gembara, Heather Abbott

Places

Boston, Rhode Island

Transcript

It's been a year since the Boston marathon bombings - a day that changed Heather Abbott's life forever. The 39-year-old had gone to meet a friend at a restaurant near the finish line. SOUNDBITE: HEATHER ABBOTT, MARATHON BOMBING VICTIM, SAYING: "I immediately knew that something was wrong, but before I could even react to that I heard the second explosion on my right-hand side like a very loud popping noise, and it catapulted me right through the front door of the restaurant. I landed inside on the ground and when I finally came to and realized that I was hurt - it felt like my foot was on fire. It was definitely the worst pain I've ever had." The chaotic scene just after the attack - a woman named Erin Chatham found Abbott and helped her to an ambulance. The Newport, Rhode Island resident had her left leg amputated below the knee. She acknowledges her physical recover was difficult but swifter than expected. Within four months, she was walking on her prosthetic leg without a cane. She's one of 264 people who lost limbs in the attack. Still, she considers herself one of the lucky ones. SOUNDBITE: Heather Abbott, Marathon bombing victim saying: "I met some of the families of the people who died, and it really sunk in that I could have died and that people did and, you know, we talk about 'Boston Strong' and being a survivor and there are people that didn't, and those families will never get those people back." She says she doesn't think much about the bombers. SOUNDBITE: Heather Abbott, Marathon bombing victim saying: "I think pretty early on I figured out that I can't control what happened. I can't change it. So, I have to just accept it and move on, and dwelling on why it happened and who did it and what's going to happen to them isn't going to help my recovery." She credits the support of fellow survivors with helping her through. She's even starting jogging again, but insists she's a reluctant athlete. SOUNDBITE: Heather Abbott, Marathon bombing victim saying: "I'm more of like a 5K runner. You wouldn't have caught me running a marathon with two legs," joked Abbott. "But I did run for exercise and I think it would have been easy for me to give it up because it was something I had to push myself to do but I think, again, you know, just that drive and not wanting to give anything up, even I didn't like it that much, inspired me to keep running and get back out there." On Monday, Abbott will be back in Boston --- cheering on Chatham --- who will be running the race for the first time. Abbott plans to join for her and run the last mile.