Boston Marathon bombing survivor Rebekah Gregory is stronger than ever [1]. 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 [2] 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 [3], 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."