BOSTON (AP) — At a time when everyone wants to talk about what Heather Abbott has lost, the 38-year-old Boston Marathon bombing victim is so upbeat she seems to surprise herself.
A doctor performed a below-the-knee amputation on her left leg Monday, but the Newport, R.I., woman said Thursday she’s been able to stay positive so far.
‘‘I really haven’t had a moment yet of being devastated,’’ she said.
Instead, Abbott said a wave of support from family, friends and others buoyed her as she made a decision that has changed her life. Among those who have stopped by her hospital room was first lady Michelle Obama.
Abbott’s orthopedic surgeon at Brigham and Women’s Hospital had given her the choice to keep her injured left foot.
But Dr. Eric Bluman told her that even after some repair, the foot could have caused one leg to be shorter than her other and left her with chronic pain.
Abbott decided she'd be better off with a prosthetic. And a few days after her surgery, she’s not looking back with any regrets.
‘‘It certainly was a difficult decision but when I weighed the pros and cons I think this was the best decision for me,’’ she said.
Bluman said Thursday he expects his patient to be walking on a temporary prosthesis within six weeks so she can start building strength, endurance and balance. She'll start using a permanent prosthetic device in four to six months.
Abbott had gone to the Red Sox game on marathon Monday and was on line to go inside Forum restaurant on Boylston Street when the blast from the second bomb sent her flying through the business’ door.
She said she isn’t angry about what happened, but may feel that way in the future. Abbott also said healing is her priority, and she hasn’t given the bombing suspects much thought.
‘‘I don’t even know how to pronounce their names,’’ she told a room full of reporters at a hospital news conference.
The patient spoke while holding a hospital microphone, her long blonde hair framing her face, and only her blue V-neck T-shirt visible above white hospital sheeting that covered her lower body.
The Raytheon Corporation human resources manager said she expects to work up to doing activities, like Zumba and aerobics classes, that she’s enjoyed in the past.
Friends have set up a charity fund for her and some organizations have come forward to offer to help pay for prosthetics, according to the patient, who took some of her first steps toward her rehabilitation Thursday when she used a walker to travel 10 feet.
‘‘I really think I'm going to be able to live my life in a normal way,’’ Abbott said.
© Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
A doctor performed a below-the-knee amputation on her left leg Monday, but the Newport, R.I., woman said Thursday she’s been able to stay positive so far.
‘‘I really haven’t had a moment yet of being devastated,’’ she said.
Instead, Abbott said a wave of support from family, friends and others buoyed her as she made a decision that has changed her life. Among those who have stopped by her hospital room was first lady Michelle Obama.
Abbott’s orthopedic surgeon at Brigham and Women’s Hospital had given her the choice to keep her injured left foot.
But Dr. Eric Bluman told her that even after some repair, the foot could have caused one leg to be shorter than her other and left her with chronic pain.
Abbott decided she'd be better off with a prosthetic. And a few days after her surgery, she’s not looking back with any regrets.
‘‘It certainly was a difficult decision but when I weighed the pros and cons I think this was the best decision for me,’’ she said.
Bluman said Thursday he expects his patient to be walking on a temporary prosthesis within six weeks so she can start building strength, endurance and balance. She'll start using a permanent prosthetic device in four to six months.
Abbott had gone to the Red Sox game on marathon Monday and was on line to go inside Forum restaurant on Boylston Street when the blast from the second bomb sent her flying through the business’ door.
She said she isn’t angry about what happened, but may feel that way in the future. Abbott also said healing is her priority, and she hasn’t given the bombing suspects much thought.
‘‘I don’t even know how to pronounce their names,’’ she told a room full of reporters at a hospital news conference.
The patient spoke while holding a hospital microphone, her long blonde hair framing her face, and only her blue V-neck T-shirt visible above white hospital sheeting that covered her lower body.
The Raytheon Corporation human resources manager said she expects to work up to doing activities, like Zumba and aerobics classes, that she’s enjoyed in the past.
Friends have set up a charity fund for her and some organizations have come forward to offer to help pay for prosthetics, according to the patient, who took some of her first steps toward her rehabilitation Thursday when she used a walker to travel 10 feet.
‘‘I really think I'm going to be able to live my life in a normal way,’’ Abbott said.
© Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.