Boston marathon bomb victim Jane ‘an incredible inspiration’

Jane Richard beams as she shows off her skill at mastering her prosthetic leg, four months after losing her big brother on the sidelines of the Boston Marathon.

The seven-year-old and her family were watching the race when two bombs exploded near the finish line in April. Her brother, Martin, 8, was one of three people killed in the terrorist attack. Jane’s mother, Denise, was also gravely injured.

Jane spent months in hospitals and has learned to walk — and even dance — with her prosthetic leg, her family says. Yet their delight at Jane’s recovery is overshadowed by grief at Martin’s death.

The family set up a blog to document their pain and their triumphs.

“While we have made progress with our physical injuries, the emotional pain seems every bit as new as it was four months ago,” the Richards posted.

“An hour doesn’t go by that we don’t feel the agony of Martin’s death and the senseless way it came about. The pain is constant and even the sweetest moments can become heartbreaking when we are struck by the realisation that ‘Martin would have loved this’…”

However, they stress it is not “all heartbreak”.

“After three months in hospitals and hundreds of hours of physical therapy and other work at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Jane was discharged a few weeks ago.

“That night was the first time any of us slept at home in our own beds since before the bombings. We left home together on April 15, and we were determined that none of us would sleep at home until all of us could do so.

“As so many things have been, returning home without Martin certainly made that important milestone bittersweet, but we know he was with us, as he is every moment of every day.”

Jane’s mum and dad praise her attitude to her recovery: “Jane continues to be an incredible source of inspiration — and exhaustion.

The loss of her leg has not slowed her one bit, or deterred her in any way. As we knew she would, when we finally returned home, Jane walked into the house with the aid of her crutches, but under her own power.

“Her strength, balance and comfort with the leg improve every day. Watching her dance with her new leg, which has her weight primarily on the other leg, is absolutely priceless.”

* http://richardfamilyboston.tumblr.com/