Jeff Bauman, the man who lost his legs during the Boston Marathon bombings, told a crowd a Worcester State University that life will come with horrific tragedies but it is important to push forward.
WORCESTER – Jeff Bauman captivated a crowd of students and faculty at Worcester State University with his wit, candor and humor all while speaking about the worst day in his life; the day the bombings at the Boston Marathon finish line took both his legs.
The 29-year-old Carlisle resident was at the finish line with friends as his now wife Erin was running the Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013. He saw a man walk by him wearing a backpack. The man was later identified as one of the brothers responsible for the death and destruction.
Suddenly an exploding bomb rocked the finish line.
“A saw a flash of light and I heard like three pops,” he told the crowd. “I opened my eyes and I saw the sky. I looked down. My legs were pretty much off my body.”
There he thought about his life, and everything he’d never be able to do.
“You’re going to die here,” Bauman thought moments before a second explosion went off. “This is a new start of a war. That’s what I was thinking.”
The man known as the person in the cowboy hat, Carlos Arredondo, rushed to Bauman and wrapped one of his injured legs. Arredondo then rushed Bauman to an ambulance and the image spread across the world.
Bauman, who was 27 at the time, spoke at Worcester State University, as part of the university’s Diversity Lecture Series. He has written a book with Bret Witter called “Stronger.”
Bauman discussed talking with federal authorities to help identify one of the Boston Marathon bombers and the overwhelming pain in his legs while recovering from his injuries.
Boston Marathon bombings survivor Jeff Bauman receives a hug from Worcester State University senior Laura Van Melle. Rehabilitating from the traumatic injuries was a long process filled with frustration, anger and triumph, Bauman said.
But Bauman added humor to the situation while talking at Worcester State University. He joked about the price of his $90,000 (per limb) prosthetic legs and thinking he’d sell them for a new car instead.
“When I got them I was actually thinking about selling them,” he said. “I’m going to sell them on eBay and by a Lamborghini.”
Bauman eventually conquered some of his fears. He watched his now wife finish a race and then began to write his book with Witter. Writing the book helped him with finances as he recovered, but he also believes the book has helped other amputees.
Finally able to stand, Bauman found himself in his back yard chopping wood and embracing his new life. The arrival of his daughter, Nora, 14 months ago gave him even more reason to fight.
“My whole life changed as soon as I held her,” Bauman said.
Bauman said he was able to get through the horrible incident and move forward. He told the crowd that spending time with family and striving ahead is important.
“Everyone has horrible things happen. Everybody does,” he said. “You just have to truck through it and stand up.”
Source: MassLive Worcester http://masslive.com/news/worcester
