Taking Life Back From Trauma with Boston Bombing Survivor Rebekah Gregory
Rebekah Gregory openly shares the emotional story of the day she and her 5 year old son survived being 3 feet from the explosion at the Boston Marathon
On April 15, 2013, the country watched in horror as the Boston Marathon became the scene of a terrorist attack. For months, the media followed this story, including that of Rebekah Gregory, who was critically injured in the attack.
“Everyone always thinks I was running,” she laughs. “ And I’m like, no – I was the one on the sidelines eating chocolate covered pretzels, wondering why anyone runs like that for fun.”
The memories of that day are as much a part of Rebekah Gregory as the shrapnel still lodged in her body.
She remembers in vivid detail, the carnage around her and the terrifying reality that she did not know where her five year old son was. As she lay bleeding in the street, unable to move, she prayed. “I’m okay to die, if that’s what it takes,” she talked to God, “but please let me know that Noah is okay.”
Her eardrums were blown out from the force of the blast. People were screaming. She should not have been able to hear anything, but somehow Rebekah heard her little boy calling for her moments before she saw him safely in the arms of a police officer.
She collapsed in relief, tempted for a moment to give in to the enormity of her injuries and shock, before another round of strength washed over her.
“I’ve got more to do. I have taken every moment for granted and haven’t realized it.” If I get out of this, she vowed to God and to herself, “I’m never going to live the same way again.”
Rebekah spent 56 days in the hospital immediately after the explosions. “The good news is you’re alive,” they told her. “The bad news is that it’s going to take a really long time to piece you back together.”
A team of doctors worked with Rebekah for months after that, in an attempt to save her leg. Ultimately, though, it became clear that her leg could not be saved. Rebekah had been through so much at that point that she was at peace with the decision to amputate. She knew everything possible had been done. She still carried the vow she made that day, to live life fully.
“My leg is not my life,” she told herself and those around her.
“Whatever happens, I will deal with it with grace, and I will be thankful and show gratitude every day.”
Rebekah held a goodbye party for her leg, and moved into the next chapter of her life.
Today she is happily married to the true love of her life. She is the beaming mom of two beautiful children, and she is the proud founder of Rebekah’s Angels, the nonprofit she founded to provide critical therapy and support to children and families struggling to heal from trauma.
The work she does with Rebekah’s Angels is the most important professional role she plays, says Rebekah. Her passion for being a conduit to help for the families she serves is unbreakable, even when the work carries intense emotions and practical challenges.
Securing funding for non-profits is never easy. But thanks to incredible people across the country, donations continued to arrive throughout this past year. That’s an especially good thing, Rebekah says, because the number of requests for help have intensified. Without continued support and donations, the approximately three-thousand dollar cost to provide expert, professional therapy to each family would be impossible.
Rebekah’s face lights up when she speaks about the loves of her life: her family, and Rebekah’s Angels. Both are a testament to her faith and her love, and both are inspirations for us all.
Rebekah has partnered with American Snippets co-founder Barb Allen, to create an exclusive Train Your Pain event for 30 women who are ready to commit to turning their own struggles into strengths. This unique event will push attendees to work outside comfort zones and acquire new skills and strengths to carry back out into the world with them, in addition to marking their entry into an elite society of strong women to move forward with. Interested women can email support@AmericanSnippets.com to receive information about this event.
In this very special episode of American Snippets, Rebekah openly shares the emotional story of that day, as she and her 5 year old son survived being 3 feet from the bomb, and her road to recovery. She shares her insight, and strength, the work that Rebekah’s Angels does.
Here are some of the topics we discussed with Rebekah Gregory in this amazing interview:
The power of intuition
The moments before and immediately after a bomb exploded three feet away from her and her five-year old son
The long recovery process
The decision to amputate her leg
The dark side of trauma
Lessons she’s learned on how to help yourself heal from trauma
The beauty that awaits on the other side of trauma
Being swept up in a media romance story
Making big moves in spite of public criticism
Ongoing complications from her injuries, and how she is moving through them
Rebekah’s Angels: The nonprofit Rebekah founded to help children and families find treatment and support to heal from PTSD and trauma
Follow and Learn More About Rebekah Gregory
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