Foundation starts at finish line

A REDEFINING MOMENT: Recovering from the Boston Marathon bombing has inspired Heather Abbott to help others who do not have the means to obtain appropriate prosthetic devices. / PBN PHOTO/STEPHANIE ALVAREZ EWENS
A REDEFINING MOMENT: Recovering from the Boston Marathon bombing has inspired Heather Abbott to help others who do not have the means to obtain appropriate prosthetic devices. / PBN PHOTO/STEPHANIE ALVAREZ EWENS

Two years after losing her left leg below the knee, Boston Marathon bombing survivor Heather Abbott held a celebration that marked how far she’s come and how far she’s poised to go from here.

The launch of The Heather Abbott Foundation near the marathon finish line on April 19 drew more than 400 people and raised approximately $28,000, which will help provide customized prostheses to amputees.

Abbott, who lives in Newport, established the foundation in 2014 in order to help other amputees who may not have financial means to purchase prosthetic devices. Abbott’s prosthetic leg that allows her to wear high heels and skirts cost about $70,000. She also has prostheses for running and paddle boarding.

“When I tell people the cost of my prosthetics, they gasp,” Abbott said. “But, before I ever had one … I didn’t know there are multiple legs for different activities or that they have to be replaced every three to five years.”

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Her recovery inspired this career shift. Abbott, who works part time in human resource management, said that being surrounding by caretakers made her reconsider her professional priorities.

“Prior to the bombing, I was very consumed with my career, with moving up the corporate ladder and making money, ” she said. “But, I met all these people – nurses and physical therapists – who had careers who had a different goal in mind than making money. … They had a goal to help people.

“I still like my job and what I do, because I work in protecting females, minorities and persons with disabilities, but working to directly help other people is something I now feel compelled to do,” she said. •

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