Marathon Bombing Survivor Jeff Bauman Grateful For Support Over Past Year
CONCORD (CBS) - Jeff Bauman, marathon bombing survivor, is now Jeff Bauman best selling author. A role he says he couldn't have imagined a year ago.
"It's my story and it's a great story. It's like a roller coaster," Bauman says of his new book, "Stronger."
He is known as the man in an iconic picture, being wheeled from the wreckage, ashen faced with both legs severed by the bombs.
Today, he is smiling, strong and soon to be a father and husband. He and his girlfriend Erin have gotten engaged. They are expecting a baby this summer. Bauman says parenthood will be his biggest challenge yet.
"I'm just grateful for this opportunity. You know it's just a couple minutes laying on that ground that I had and I wouldn't be there. I'm just so grateful to the people who saved my life," he said.
The book details a year of highs and lows. Rock bottom, he says was in the hospital, learning to use his new prosthetic legs. Bauman admits he hated the prosthetics, and wouldn't even look at them.
"I didn't like them. They hurt, They were clunky, I didn't really know how to use them properly. But that all changed over time when I started to use them more and more I was like these are great. This is way better than the wheelchair," he explains.
The high point, came this fall and coincided with the Red Sox World Series win. He bought a house, and that's when he found out Erin was pregnant.
Life has changed for Bauman. When he wakes up in the morning, he has to put on his legs. He drives to Boston three or four times per week for doctors' appointments. However, as Bauman marks this anniversary, he is unfailingly grateful.
"The two girls that lost their lives, I was right next to them," he says. "I think we all think that. We could've been not here right now and it kind of makes you grateful for what people have done for us and the way they saved our lives. "It makes you want to live your life to the fullest for the people who lost their lives and it makes you never want to forget them."
Marathon Monday, Bauman will make his way to the finish line and cheer on the team running in his name. He expects it will be a good day.
"Going down there and replacing a bad day with a really good day and that's what I'm going to try to do."
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