Boston Marathon Bombing Anniversary: 5 Inspiring Survivor Stories That Will Move You

Tuesday, April 15, marks a year after the Boston Marathon Bombing. Two pressure cooker bombs exploded during the Boston Marathon at 2:49 p.m., killing three people and injuring over 260. The bombs exploded about 12 seconds and 210 yards apart, near the finish line on Boylston Street. The FBI took over the investigation and released photos and surveillance video of two suspects. They were identified later as Chechen brothers Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev.

Once the suspects knew they were being searched for, they tried to flee, killing an MIT police officer, carjacking an SUV and initiating gunfire with the police in Watertown, Massachusetts. Tamerlan Tsarnaev was shot several times in the fire exchange and subsequently run over by the car driven by his younger brother. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Dzhokhar, however, escaped. This forced an unprecedented manhunt on April 19, with thousands of law enforcement officers searching a 20-block area of Watertown.

Police advised residents to stay indoors. Public transportation, businesses and public institutions were shut down. It lasted until that evening. Around 7 p.m., a resident discovered Dzhokhar hiding in a boat in his backyard. He was arrested and taken to a hospital shortly after. On January 30, 2014, United States Attorney General Eric Holder announced that the federal government will seek the death penalty against Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.

Although the responsible might have been caught, the pain he caused to many victims and their friends and family is unimaginable. The survivors of this horrific attack are the true heroes. The ones that have to live with the physical and emotional scars of this terrorist act, and carry on with their lives, making the most out of it. Each one of the victims has a different story, unique in their own way, and we wish we could tell them all. However, we’ve chosen five as a representation of the greatness of these survivors, who continue to fight each and every day for a better life.

Gillian Reny: She was caught in the first blast along with her parents. They were cheering for her sister Danielle, who was running the marathon. Gillian was the one who suffered the most. Her left leg had a deep gash and her right one looked lost. Doctors thought amputating the leg but realized a main artery was intact. She underwent three operations, and after 5 and a half weeks, Gillian was able to go back to her “normal” life. She arrived for orientation as a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania in August, and although it was hard getting used to walking with crutches and balancing her studies with physical therapy, she has blended in and is enjoying her college life to the fullest. The Renys are determined to help victims of similar injuries and support the hospital and its staff. They’re raising awareness for the "Gillian Reny Stepping Strong Fund,” aiming to raise $3 million for research into limb recovery.

Jeffrey Bauman: The 27-year-old was a bystander to the blast while cheering on his girlfriend who was running the marathon. He lost both legs. However, this didn’t keep him from helping out the police in identifying the suspect. When he got out of surgery after the attacks, he asked for pen and paper. He wrote what he saw before the explosion, providing a major clue for the investigators. “Saw the guy. Looked right at me,” he wrote.

Heather Abbott: Abbott faced a hard decision after being badly hurt during the explosions. Four surgeons told her there was a good possibility she would never walk again. So Abbott decided that she wanted to be able to do all the things she did before, and thought an amputation would be her best option. She has different prosthetic legs, one so she can walk in heels, which she prefers, a running blade and an “everyday” leg. Weeks after getting the prosthetic and learning her way around it, she surprisingly walked into her doctor’s office. She claims she’s much stronger than she could’ve ever imagined, and although it hasn’t been an easy recovery, she’s back to work and trying to make the most out of her life.

Leo Fonseca: Thankfully, he wasn’t severally injured, but his story of heroism is worth a share. Fonseca was with friend Kaitlynn Cates when the first bomb went off. The explosion threw Cates to the ground, injuring her leg. Fonseca tried to hook his body around her and told her to stay down. He wrapped her leg in a blanket and his sweatshirt, picked her up and carried her to his car. Strangers helped them get out of there, helping Leo accommodate Cates in the car, and also directing traffic so they could get out of there. She was the first victim to be admitted to the hospital and they were able to save her leg thanks to Leo Fonseca.

Roseann Sdoia: Although Sdoia is a runner; she didn’t take part in the marathon. She was at the finish line rooting for friends, when the second bomb went off. She lost the bottom of her right leg. She’s back at work and wishes she could run again. That’s why she goes to physical therapy twice a week and exercises regularly. She says that she hasn’t changed, but has had to learn to tackle daily tasks differently.