Erika Brannock, Boston bombing victim, walks again

Nov 9, 2013

Erika Brannock, Boston bombing victim, walks again

The Baltimore Sun 0 Comment Maryland, The Baltimore Sun Boston Marathon, Boston Marathon bombing, Erika Brannock, prosthetic

Seven months after she was injured in the Boston Marathon bombing, Towson preschool teacher Erika Brannock is walking again with the help of a prosthetic leg and her own will power. “You know, if you can get through this, which is one of the most horrific things that somebody can go through, you know you’re good to get through the rest of your life,” Brannock said.

: Erika Brannock poses for a photo with her mother, Carol Downing on left. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Erika Brannock climbs the stairs from her family’s garage as her mother, Carol Downing, stands on left. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Erika Brannock uses a walker which once belonged to her grandmother as she walks through her family’s kitchen. Her mother, Carol Downing, is on right. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Erika Brannock uses a stairlift she calls her “personal rollercoaster” to get to her second floor bedroom in her family’s home. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: On her wrist Erika Brannock wears rubber bracelets: one from a surgeon says, “Beastmode,” and the two others say, “Strong Brannock” and “Be Strong,” for the nonprofits set up for her recovery funds. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Erika Brannock, who lost her left leg in the Boston Marathon bombing, sits in her family’s kitchen. Brannock is wearing rubber bracelets: one from a surgeon says, “Beastmode” and two others say, “Strong Brannock” and “Be Strong,” for the nonprofits set up for her recovery funds. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Erika Brannock, center, who lost her left leg in the Boston Marathon bombing, visits Graul’s grocery store, where she worked for 6 years. Here, she talks with deli manager Ron Hohman, right, as her mother Carol Downing stands on left. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Erika Brannock goes through the store with her mother, Carol Downing, who is carrying Erika’s cane. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/staff)

: Erika Brannock hugs cashier Pat Groft at Graul’s grocery store. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Angela Swindell, a certified prosthetist orthotist at Dankmeyer Inc. makes adjustments to a prosthetic leg for Erika Brannock, who was injured in the Boston Marathon bombing. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Erika Brannock, who was injured in the Boston Marathon bombing, tries her new prosthetic leg for the first time at Dankmeyer Orthotics and Prosthetics. She looks in a mirror in the prosthetic fitting room. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Erika Brannock looks at the prosthetic leg in one of the exam rooms. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Erika Brannock tries on the new leg with the help of Angela Swindell, a certified prosthetist orthotist. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Erika Brannock glances over at family members who were there to share the event. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Erika Brannock gets emotional as she gets ready to stand on the new leg for the first time. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Erika Brannock stands for the first time on the new leg as prosthetist Angela Swindell makes adjustments. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Erika Brannock concentrates as Angela Swindell, a certified prosthetist and orthotist, makes adjustments to the leg. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Erika Brannock is standing at the parallel bars as Angela Swindell, right, adjusts the leg. Ms. Swindell is a certified prosthetist orthotist. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Erika Brannock looks happy about standing up, “no hands,” for the first time. Prosthetist Angela Swindell is on left. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Erika Brannock smiles as she stands with no hands holding the railing. She tried her new prosthetic leg for the first time at Dankmeyer Orthotics and Prosthetics, where her mother, Carol Downing, recorded the event “live” so relatives in other states could share the moment. Angie Swindell, the certified prosthetist and orthotist who made Erika’s prosthetic leg, stands in center. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Erika Brannock, who was injured in the Boston Marathon bombing, smiles as she tries her new prosthetic leg for the first time today at Dankmeyer Orthotics and Prosthetics. Mark Hopkins, the Clinical Director at Dankmeyer, is on right. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Erika Brannock takes a few tentative first steps with Angela Swindell, left, a certified prothestist and orthotist who made the leg. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Erika Brannock smiles as she rests briefly after trying her new prosthetic leg for the first time. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Honorary starter Erika Brannock, a survivor of the Boston Marathon terrorist bombing attack, blows the air horn to start the 2013 Baltimore Marathon during the13th Annual Baltimore Running Festival. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)

: Honorary starter Erika Brannock, a survivor of the Boston Marathon terrorist bombing attack, smiles after she started the 2013 Baltimore Marathon during the 13th Annual Baltimore Running Festival. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)

: Honorary starter Erika Brannock, right, a survivor of the Boston Marathon terrorist bombing attack, gets a hug from mother Carol Downing, left, before starting the 2013 Baltimore Marathon. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)

: Erika Brannock was the guest of honor at the ribbon cutting ceremony at the new Davenport Preschool. Here, she poses for a picture with Brianna Ludden, 3 of Nottingham, one of her students. Many of her former students will be attending the new school. The school also dedicated a garden to Ms. Brannock. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Erika Brannock, who was injured in the Boston Marathon bombing, was the guest of honor Aug. 22 at the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new Davenport Preschool. Many of her former students will be attending the new school. Here, Brannock greets Henry Smith, 3, and his mother, Jessica Smith, before the ceremony. The school also dedicated a garden to Brannock. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Erika Brannock, left, was the guest of honor at the ribbon cutting ceremony at the new Davenport Preschool. Here, she tours the halls of the new school as she’s greeted by students, parents and staff. Many of her former students will be attending the new school. The school also dedicated a garden to Ms. Brannock. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Erika Brannock talks about the scarf given to her by Amanda North, the woman who helped save her life. She is recovering from a recent surgery at the University of Maryland Medical Center. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Erika Brannock wipes away tears as she talks about the Boston Marathon bombings and life since losing her left leg below the knee and multiple surgeries to save her right leg. On left is a scarf given to her by Amanda North, the woman who helped save her life. Brannock is recovering from a recent surgery at the University of Maryland Medical Center. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Erika Brannock talks about the Boston Marathon bombings and life since losing her left leg below the knee and multiple surgeries to save her right leg. On left is a scarf given to her by Amanda North, the woman who helped save her life. Brannock is recovering from a recent surgery at the University of Maryland Medical Center. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Erika Brannock is released from Kernan Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation to go home for the first time since she left for the Boston Marathon on April 12. With her from left are: Roetisha Hopkins, patient care technician; Erika’s aunt, Debbie Atkinson, and Erika’s mother, Carol Downing. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Boston bombing victim Erika Brannock returns home to Baltimore after seven weeks in the hospital. She is greeted by friends and family at Signature Aviation. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)

: Boston bombing victim Erika Brannock gets a kiss from her “Aunt Debbie,” Deborah Atkinson, as she returns home to Baltimore after seven weeks in the hospital. She is greeted by friends and family at Signature Aviation. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)

: Boston bombing victim Erika Brannock returns home to Baltimore after seven weeks in the hospital. She is greeted by friends and family at Signature Aviation. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)

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