Heather Abbott, a survivor of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing who had her left leg amputated, visited Bridgewater State University to share her story of recovery as part of the Harold Row Lecture Series. She explained to students the difficult decision to undergo amputation and how support from other amputees helped her realize she could still participate in activities like running and paddleboarding. Abbott now works as a peer counselor to help others going through similar experiences and shares her story of hope at events and hospital visits.
Injury Prevention Workshop for Runners & Triathletes Kevin Christie
Dr. Christie has spoken to many training groups throughout south Florida including Boca Raton Triathletes, Friends in Training, Team in Training, The Galloway Group, Chi Running, and has been featured on The Rockstar Triathlete Podcast. He is certified in Active Release Technique (A.R.T), A.R.T Biomechanics, Graston Technique, and Kinesio® Taping, which are the leading soft-tissue diagnostic and treatment protocols that deal with over-use strain that plagues today’s society. The ART Biomechanics certification allows Dr. Christie to evaluate patients running and walking gait for any biomechanical deficiencies that could lead to altered performance or injury cause. Dr. Christie has been the Chiropractic/Sport Medicine Physician for multiple football academies in South Florida. He is currently the Sports Chiropractor for XPE Combine Prep Program in Boca Raton, FL. This role includes treating the college football players during the NFL Combine Prep Program and during the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. He also has worked on over 300 NFL players and numerous MLB and NHL players for these strength & conditioning companies during their off-season Pro NFL/MLB programs
Injury Prevention Workshop for Runners & Triathletes Kevin Christie
Dr. Christie has spoken to many training groups throughout south Florida including Boca Raton Triathletes, Friends in Training, Team in Training, The Galloway Group, Chi Running, and has been featured on The Rockstar Triathlete Podcast. He is certified in Active Release Technique (A.R.T), A.R.T Biomechanics, Graston Technique, and Kinesio® Taping, which are the leading soft-tissue diagnostic and treatment protocols that deal with over-use strain that plagues today’s society. The ART Biomechanics certification allows Dr. Christie to evaluate patients running and walking gait for any biomechanical deficiencies that could lead to altered performance or injury cause. Dr. Christie has been the Chiropractic/Sport Medicine Physician for multiple football academies in South Florida. He is currently the Sports Chiropractor for XPE Combine Prep Program in Boca Raton, FL. This role includes treating the college football players during the NFL Combine Prep Program and during the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. He also has worked on over 300 NFL players and numerous MLB and NHL players for these strength & conditioning companies during their off-season Pro NFL/MLB programs
Dyslexia Friendly Schools Explored. Final. M.A. Stewart
heather abbott final
1. HEATHER ABBOTT, BOSTON
MARATHON BOMBING
SURVIVOR, VISITS
BRIDGEWATER
September 05, 2014
by Helen Feeser ’15
On September 2, Boston Marathon bombing
survivor Heather Abbott visited Bridgewater’s
campus to speak to students as a part of the
Harold Row Lecture Series.
After being struck by shrapnel in the 2013 bombing, Abbott took the
audience on her “road to recovery” as an amputee. Explaining her decision
making process up to the amputation of her left leg, Abbott explored her
support groups that inspired her to encourage others in similar situations
today.
“The most dramatic decision I’ve ever had to make,” according to Abbott,
was the decisionto amputate her leg. She explained that after visits from
several other amputees in the hospital, this decisionbecame easier. Abbott
said that “some of the best advice I got came from amputees who answered
all of my questions.” With help from other amputees, Abbott realized that
with prosthetics she would be able to participate in the activities she loved
before the accident. She said, “Although it is not quite the same, I am able to
do all the activities I could before like run and paddleboard”.
Citing financial, emotional and physical support as major factors in her own
road to recovery, Abbott said she has made the important decision to help
others as a National Amputee Coalition certified peer counselor. “It’s really
great to help people out going through similar decisions,” Abbott said.
Today, Abbott appears at events and visits hospitals, sharing her story and
2. spreading encouragement along the way. “I am able to show women in
hospitals hope, in the same way others gave hope to me,” Abbott said.