Stories of survival and courage continue to emerge six months after two bombs detonated near the finish line at the Boston Marathon.
The explosions killed three people and injured more than 260, at least 16 of whom lost a limb or limbs, according to The Associated Press. Some of the survivors have made headlines recently for their public appearances, displays of courage and determination to move forward. Here are a few of their stories:
Mery Daniel
The 31-year-old medical school graduate and Haitian immigrant detailed her harrowing story of survival in an Associated Press profile that was published on Tuesday, the day of the bombings' 6-month anniversary. Daniel was a spectator near the finish line when one of the bombs went off and left her lower left leg "dangling by skin," according to the AP. After months of physical therapy with a prosthetic knee and foot, Daniel has left her crutches behind and moves around Boston by herself in taxis and participates in road races with a handcycle powered by her arms, the AP reported.
Heather Abbot
Abbot, who lost her left leg in the bombing, is learning to run again. She tried out her new running prosthetic leg last week for the first time at an athletic clinic at Harvard University, according to New England Cable News. The 39-year-old also took a walk in a pair of four-inch wedges recently with a prosthetic foot that allowed her to keep her beloved high heels.
Jane Richard
Jane sang the National Anthem at Sunday's ACLS game in Boston when the Red Sox played the Detroit Tigers. The 7-year-old, who lost a leg as well as her big brother Martin on the day of the attacks, has not slowed down and continues to be an "incredible source of inspiration," according to a family statement.
Lee Ann Yanni
While the scar left by the explosion was still deep and visible on her leg, Yanni made headlines last weekend when she finished the Chicago Marathon in 5 hours and 44 minutes according to the Boston Herald. The first explosion tore through the 32-year-old's left leg, forcing her to go through multiple surgeries and rehabilitation, NBC Chicago reported. “I shouldn’t be running right now,” Yanni told the Herald. “But I just finished a marathon, so if you set your mind to it, it’s totally possible.”
