April 20, 2015
Rebekah Gregory DiMartino/Facebook
"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."
Boston Marathon bombing survivor and amputee Rebekah Gregory joined the runners participating in the 119th race Monday on the second anniversary of the attacks.
In a Facebook post after crossing the finish line Monday on her prosthetic limb, Gregory shared a photo of herself wearing a blue and yellow shirt that read "Rebekah Strong" and holding her running bib.
With it she wrote, “This is the day…I take my life back.”
Last week, the 27-year-old Gregory shared a message about her decision to run the race again and a reflection of the tragic day two years ago.
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.
