1. HEATHER ABBOTT, BOSTON
MARATHON BOMBING
SURVIVOR, VISITS
BRIDGEWATER
September 05, 2014
by Helen Feeser ’15
On September 2, Boston Marathon bombing
survivor Heather Abbott visited Bridgewater’s
campus to speak to students as a part of the
Harold Row Lecture Series.
After being struck by shrapnel in the 2013 bombing, Abbott took the
audience on her “road to recovery” as an amputee. Explaining her decision
making process up to the amputation of her left leg, Abbott explored her
support groups that inspired her to encourage others in similar situations
today.
“The most dramatic decision I’ve ever had to make,” according to Abbott,
was the decisionto amputate her leg. She explained that after visits from
several other amputees in the hospital, this decisionbecame easier. Abbott
said that “some of the best advice I got came from amputees who answered
all of my questions.” With help from other amputees, Abbott realized that
with prosthetics she would be able to participate in the activities she loved
before the accident. She said, “Although it is not quite the same, I am able to
do all the activities I could before like run and paddleboard”.
Citing financial, emotional and physical support as major factors in her own
road to recovery, Abbott said she has made the important decision to help
others as a National Amputee Coalition certified peer counselor. “It’s really
great to help people out going through similar decisions,” Abbott said.
Today, Abbott appears at events and visits hospitals, sharing her story and

2. spreading encouragement along the way. “I am able to show women in
hospitals hope, in the same way others gave hope to me,” Abbott said.