A Boston Marathon Bombing Survivor Shares Her Emotional Journey to Cross the Finish Line
Boston Marathon bombing survivor Rebekah Gregory is stronger than ever. Tomorrow she will be returning to Boston, but this time as a runner. Consider that for a moment. Around this same time two years ago, Rebekah was lying in a hospital bed, fighting for her life. One year ago, she was in a wheelchair, unable to walk. But come this Marathon Monday, she'll be crossing the finish line with more than 30,000 other runners.
With the use of a prosthetic blade and the tremendous progress that Rebekah has made in rehab, she told espnW that her doctor gave her the go-ahead to run the last 3.5 miles of the race. As for next year, Rebekah's goal is to complete all 26.2 miles. In a recent Facebook post, Rebekah shares her emotional journey back to Boston and how "there's no stopping [her] now."
"It is extremely emotional to look back on the last two years of my life. To remember what it felt like to be bleeding out on the pavement, wondering if I would ever see my child's smile again. In a matter of minutes, my entire world changed. Everything I knew was literally blown to pieces, and I was forced to start picking them up one by one.
"It's been a long road. Some days, I'm not quite sure how I have made it out of the bed. And if I'm being really honest, a few times, I haven't. But no matter what, there is one thing that I always keep in mind. I am BLESSED. And no matter how hard someone tries, they will never be able to take that away from me.
"A few days from now, I will be going back to that same pavement on Boylston Street. The pavement where I thought for sure I would die, and the pavement a year ago, I was pushed around on in a wheelchair at the 1k Tribute Walk. But guess what? This time I won't be laying on the ground in pieces, or having to be assisted because I can't do things on my own. This time . . . the only thing hitting the ground will be my running shoe, as I show myself and the rest of the world that I am back, stronger than ever . . . and there is NO stopping me now.
"Boston, I'll see you soon."