When Erika Brannock was seriously injured in the Boston Marathon bombings in April, not many people thought she would want to stand witness to another marathon during her remaining life. But the violent incident, which left the 29-year-old preschool teacher from Towson, Md., with an amputated left leg, only helped her grow mentally more stronger. As a result, much to everyone’s disbelief, Brannock, made it back to a racecourse; this time as the honorary starter at the Baltimore Marathon on Saturday.

When Brannock motivated thousands of runners saying “You can do this, and you will do this,” the grit and determination with which she has handled the post-blast situation became quite evident. That she has managed to push her physical and mental agony aside and make her presence at the racecourse to be part of the massive crowd within six months of the ghastly incident shows that nothing can stop her from getting on with life and engaging in active work.

Mother’s Support

Brannock was injured when she was at the finish line awaiting her mother who was about to complete the Boston Marathon. After losing her left leg about the knee, she convalesced in a Boston hospital for about one and a half months. It was only during last week that Brannock was able to use a prosthesis, following which she decided to resume part-time work.

When the Towson teacher, supported by her caring mother, Carol Downing, came to the racecourse in a wheelchair, the mammoth crowd that comprised of people from all walks of life, went crazy. And, when Brannock used an air horn to announce the commencement of the marathon, not many of those who had gathered at the venue could control their emotions. For that matter, even Brannock found it difficult to hold herself back. “I got emotional even before I got up there”, was how she described the situation. “I was choking on my words. It came from my heart,” she added.

Life Undergone Many Changes

Joined by Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Brannock was excited to enthuse the participants to take on the 5-kilometer race. A smiling Brannock waving at the runners and applauding them turned out to be the highlight of the marathon. Admitting that her life has undergone a lot of changes during the past six months, Brannock was all praise for her mother, without who, she felt it would have been quite hard to overcome those horrible days in her life. She said she was also contemplating being part of the Boston Marathon in 2014. A fearless Brannock said: “Honestly, the safest place I can be is there. They’ve learned so much from that day. I don’t ever want to be afraid to go back there.”

Trying to forget the grisly incident, Brannock is now focusing more on attaining complete recovery. Noting that she has already made adequate progress, the cheerful woman said she expected her wounds to heal in another couple of months. She has also planned to undergo ear surgery sometime in January.