Rebekah DiMartino
USARebekah DiMartino: A Survivor's Story
Rebekah DiMartino is a 27-year-old American who was injured during the Boston Marathon bombing. For many, a trip to the hospital is a tragedy, and any surgery is cause for panic. Imagine the news of having a leg amputated; it would be devastating for most people. However, for Rebekah DiMartino, the news of losing her left leg became the best news she had heard in a year. Shortly before the operation, she gathered her entire family in the hospital and organized a "last supper for her left leg" to bid farewell after 27 years. But why was Rebekah so thrilled with this news, and how does she see her life without a leg?
A Life-Changing Event
Rebekah DiMartino, born in the United States in the late 1980s, had a relatively unknown early life. Her public story began with a tragic episode that affected the entire country: the Boston Marathon bombing. Alongside her 7-year-old son Noah and boyfriend Pete DiMartino, she was one of the 270 victims of the bomb blast at the finish line. Fortunately, her loved ones were not seriously injured, but Rebekah's left leg bore the brunt of the impact. She was rushed to the hospital after the attack, but unfortunately, her journey to recovery was far from over. For the following year, Rebekah rarely left her bed and only ventured outside with the company of friends and family. Even worse, her leg never let her forget its presence; it constantly throbbed, and over time, painkillers became less effective. Despite doctors' hopes for her recovery, she knew she had to pay some price for surviving. In an interview, she expressed immense gratitude for her life, as everything could have turned out differently, and she might not have lived through that dreadful day.
A New Beginning
Reflecting on her life before the Boston attack, Rebekah admits that she lived in her own small world and never thought about the different life just a few steps away – a life full of adventure and fun. She never enjoyed walks or running, but now she counts the days until she can step outside and take a walk without excruciating pain in her left leg. She embraced the news of amputation with a smile and even threw a farewell party for her leg, which had been with her for 27 years. Her entire family gathered around her on this unusual day. Interestingly, despite the agonizing previous year, Rebekah recalls it with a smile. During that time, she got married to Pete, whom she managed to walk down the aisle for, and they attended a Boston Red Sox game, where they were recognized by a crowd of thousands.
A Fresh Start
In early November 2014, Rebekah underwent a successful amputation surgery, and she quickly regained her strength. Finally, she was freed from the last reminder of that horrific day of the terrorist attack and found the courage to start life anew. She believes that nothing in life is more valuable than a chance to begin again.
