Roseann Sdoia speaks about surviving the Boston Marathon bombing at the DMACC Ankeny campus on Wednesday, April 8.
In 2013, what seemed to be a normal day for Roseann Sdoia quickly changed to something much more. Sdoia spoke at the DMACC Ankeny campus on Wednesday, April 8, to share her account of what happened on the day of the Boston Marathon bombing as part of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.
Sdoia began by sharing a bit about her childhood. She grew up in the suburban town of Dracut, Massachusetts, with her parents and siblings. As a child, she and her family would take a spring break the week of every third Monday in April.
On that Monday as they did every year, they would celebrate Patriots’ Day, which commemorates the opening battle of the Revolutionary War. She and her family would attend a Red Sox game in the morning, followed by going to Kenmore Square to cheer on the runners in the marathon. This became a tradition for her even as she got older.
On April 15, 2013, Sdoia and some of her friends started their day like they had every year. They attended a Red Sox game in the morning, making sure to leave a little early so they could get to Boylston Street in time to watch the race.
That was until the first bomb went off in the distance. When this happened, she explained that in those moments her mind was reeling with thoughts of what she needed to do to get to safety. She had no time to think because, within those moments of fear and evaluation, the second bomb went off, striking her down. Within seconds, she had gone from a joyful spectator to having her life changed forever.
Roseann Sdoia lost her right leg as a result of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. She spoke to students as part of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week on April 8 in Building 5.
After being struck by the bomb, she immediately knew something was wrong. She looked down to see a large amount of blood pooling at her leg. Instead of letting panic overcome her, she chose to stay calm and call out for help; she knew panicking would only make things worse.
Luckily, she caught the attention of a young college student who carried her from the sidewalk to the street, knowing that would be the best chance to get EMS’s attention. She was then taken away with another bombing victim in a prisoner transport vehicle. She arrived at the hospital and fell unconscious for three days. During that time, doctors completed surgery on her leg, having to amputate it above the knee. She was shocked to see when she woke up that she had lost her leg.
Throughout her talk, she stated that she stayed very positive even after having to adapt to the new life. This was a huge change, but she explained that she was very grateful for all the doctors, physical therapists, and first responders who helped her throughout her journey. Today, Sdoia makes visits to other amputees, offering her support and guidance to them. Having experienced this herself, she knows how much of a difference it can make when you know you have people supporting you along the way.
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