One girl survivor tells how the Boston Marathon bombing changed her life forever.
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The presentation in the Ball State Pruis Building began on Monday November 2nd, began with Heather Abbott talking about the life before the bombing happened. She was a happy East coast girl, living what she referred to as a nice life. After going through this life changing event Abbott decided to let her experience speak to others.
The Boston Marathon Bombing
April 15, 2013 the official date of the Boston Marathon Bombing, started off just as any other marathon had in the past. This one however held a dark fate, after two bombs went off near the finish line. The bombs killed three people, and wounded more than 260 individuals. Some although lucky to survive, lost limbs from this tragedy.
As a symbolic terrorist attack to many, Heather Abbott relates to the event in a more personal way. She remembers, “just seeing smoke everywhere, hearing people screaming”, and also said “it was complete chaos”. She had been victimized in the bombing.
Felt as though my foot was on Fire -Heather Abbott
Abbott felt that she owed her life to a couple, Matt and Erin. They were here lifesavers, who found her and helped her during the tremendous tragedy.
While in the hospital, Abbott learned that she had two options. One option included a very painful recovery process while keeping her leg, the other included the option of living her life as normally as possible when she was suddenly forced to think about the option of amputee life. Abbott felt this option would be more promising.
Make Your Mess Your Message
Abbott quickly learned she had a calling in life. She needed to tell the world about what happened on April 15th, 2013. She made her decision to amputate her leg and never looked back. Among this decision, Abbott learned three life changing strategies.
Photo by Jane Shauck
First Life Strategy
Accept what you can not change and move forward. She quickly learned that were no answers to the questions, “What If” and “Why Me”.
Second Life Strategy
Learn to rely on other people for support. Abbott believed at first that as soon as she got a prophetic leg that would be it. However she required a lot of support and help. She had to learn how to use the leg which was very painful at first. Her mother had to live with her to help her accomplish all the daily things she could not do on her own.
Third Life Strategy
Pay it forward! After having so many individuals take part in encouraging her to get back on her feet, Abbott believed she should help others. There were many other people dealing with the same life struggles as her. She took it upon herself to reach out to these people to make a difference.
The Foundation of the Heather Abbott Foundation
With a realization that many people were still struggling physically and emotionally, Abbott founded the Heather Abbott Foundation. The foundation’s purpose is to provide prosthetics to those who suffered limb loss through trauma. As stated on the website linked below, Abbott wants people to thrive in their recoveries and return to the lives they love.
Motivation by Miss Maddie 