Life after the Boston Marathon Bombing - Coping with the Trauma

They are still in the throes of this nightmare......Kudos to the dedicated nurses!

Twenty minutes is what stood between me and the bombers. Marathon Monday has been my favorite day of the year since I was in high school. Back then, I watched it from the start. I attended college right along the route and it was by far the greatest day of the year. Following college, I lived down the street for 4 years and watched it from my home. Two years ago I moved to a different part of the city. This year, I decided to meet friends at the finish line. They had both volunteered with the wheelchair division and when they were done, wanted to watch the remainder of the race and cheer for friends who they knew were running. Had my friend not been complaining about how hungry she was, I would undoubtedly have still been there when the bombs went off. It would have never been my idea to leave at 2:30PM when the bulk of runners were going by. My friend told me today that her husband actually forgot about one additional friend who was running who he meant to look for... if he had remembered he was looking for her, we would have still been there. We were sitting eating lunch when the bombs exploded. Two police officers on their lunch break went flying from the back of the restaurant and sirens followed. Minutes later, the news reported explosions. Minutes after that, the restaurant was full of people pouring in from the streets. The cops were busy dealing with the situation so none of us knew what we should do- do we stay where we are or do we try to get out asap? My car was parked at a T station between miles 22-23. The T shut down immediately. The city shut down all cell phone service out of concern that there may be other bombs that could be detonated with a cell phone. I was getting countless texts from people asking if I was ok but I couldn't send any responses. After navigating several street closings and finally making it back to my car on foot, I was able to drive home. Looking at the news I realized that the second bomb actually exploded in the exact intersection I had been standing in. On Thursday night, I went to bed just before they broke the news of what was going on. I had horrible dreams and tossed and turned all night, just as I have every night since Monday. I woke to a phone call at 6:30 am on Friday morning from my per diem job saying that they were closing at the request of emergency personnel. I thought "oh crap" and went downstairs and turned on the news. As I was about to leave my house, the Governor announced that all of Boston had to shelter in place. I am a visiting nurse in the city of Boston and immediate surrounding suburbs. I have patients in ALL of the communities that were locked down Friday. Friday felt like it lasted for about a week. I watched the news conference at 6PM in which they lifted the lockdown and still knew it wasn't safe to go out. Less than an hour later, the national news cut back to the local news as they reported on more gunfire from Watertown- the most exciting thing about this town on your average day is that it has a Target. Relief at 8:45PM when they said they had him. Yesterday morning, while watching the news, I discovered an association that I had with the man whose boat the suspect was hiding in. This has been a horrible week but it feels like it's been WAY more than seven days since this happened. I was talking to my friend (the friend who I was at the Marathon with) earlier today at lunch and relaying a story about something I had done last weekend. As I was telling it, I couldn't remember when it happened because this week has been so long that last weekend seemed like it was several months ago.

One day someone somewhere will come up with a word that will be able to properly encompass the magnitude of grief, fear, and outrage that comes with acts of terror.Even so, proper word or not, if there is anything I can say about our country, particularly our stouthearted friends of the Eastern seaboard, is though this has once again tested their mettle, forcing them to bend, they are far from broken. To my fellow providers, we are proud of you. To my fellow therapy dog teams providing comfort and a moment's respite to all, but especially impacted children, I salute you. To the survivors, because that is what you are....survivors, not victims, I wish you gentle time to heal your wounds. To those lost, you will forever be in the hearts of those who loved you.Nicely written article, Madam Butterfly.

I am a Primary Care RN and was volunteering in the main Medical Tent this year. This was my second year and it was a perfect day weather wise. We had been busy but certainly not as bad as last year. We were treating mostly muscle cramps and mild dehydration.All of a sudden we heard a loud bang that shook the tent. The tent announcer told us to remain calm and keep treating our patients. Then the second explosion went over. Before they could tell us what was going on the TV started showing what was going on. I think at first the whole group that was working on our team were in shock. When the first victims started being rushed in and straight to the ambulances by thought was I am going to die today. Then I was able to re-focus and everyone just started jumping in taking care of what came through the front of the tent. At that point Boston EMS was in full disaster mode. We went from a triage/treatment area to a full blown Trauma treatment tentI didn't have to to think about what had happened until I went home and watched it on TV and then I just said everyone of the Marathon Volunteers had angels watching over them.It has been tough since then but I am beginning to heal. The arrest has brought some closure and then today I visited the memorial site which is right down the street from where this happened. It will take time to heal but I have already committed to returning next year as a volunteer

Quote from KelRN215Twenty minutes is what stood between me and the bombers. Marathon Monday has been my favorite day of the year since I was in high school. Back then, I watched it from the start. I attended college right along the route and it was by far the greatest day of the year. Following college, I lived down the street for 4 years and watched it from my home. Two years ago I moved to a different part of the city. This year, I decided to meet friends at the finish line. They had both volunteered with the wheelchair division and when they were done, wanted to watch the remainder of the race and cheer for friends who they knew were running. Had my friend not been complaining about how hungry she was, I would undoubtedly have still been there when the bombs went off. It would have never been my idea to leave at 2:30PM when the bulk of runners were going by. My friend told me today that her husband actually forgot about one additional friend who was running who he meant to look for... if he had remembered he was looking for her, we would have still been there. We were sitting eating lunch when the bombs exploded. Two police officers on their lunch break went flying from the back of the restaurant and sirens followed. Minutes later, the news reported explosions. Minutes after that, the restaurant was full of people pouring in from the streets. The cops were busy dealing with the situation so none of us knew what we should do- do we stay where we are or do we try to get out asap? My car was parked at a T station between miles 22-23. The T shut down immediately. The city shut down all cell phone service out of concern that there may be other bombs that could be detonated with a cell phone. I was getting countless texts from people asking if I was ok but I couldn't send any responses. After navigating several street closings and finally making it back to my car on foot, I was able to drive home. Looking at the news I realized that the second bomb actually exploded in the exact intersection I had been standing in. On Thursday night, I went to bed just before they broke the news of what was going on. I had horrible dreams and tossed and turned all night, just as I have every night since Monday. I woke to a phone call at 6:30 am on Friday morning from my per diem job saying that they were closing at the request of emergency personnel. I thought "oh crap" and went downstairs and turned on the news. As I was about to leave my house, the Governor announced that all of Boston had to shelter in place. I am a visiting nurse in the city of Boston and immediate surrounding suburbs. I have patients in ALL of the communities that were locked down Friday. Friday felt like it lasted for about a week. I watched the news conference at 6PM in which they lifted the lockdown and still knew it wasn't safe to go out. Less than an hour later, the national news cut back to the local news as they reported on more gunfire from Watertown- the most exciting thing about this town on your average day is that it has a Target. Relief at 8:45PM when they said they had him. Yesterday morning, while watching the news, I discovered an association that I had with the man whose boat the suspect was hiding in. This has been a horrible week but it feels like it's been WAY more than seven days since this happened. I was talking to my friend (the friend who I was at the Marathon with) earlier today at lunch and relaying a story about something I had done last weekend. As I was telling it, I couldn't remember when it happened because this week has been so long that last weekend seemed like it was several months ago.

Quote from BillDockhamI am a Primary Care RN and was volunteering in the main Medical Tent this year. This was my second year and it was a perfect day weather wise. We had been busy but certainly not as bad as last year. We were treating mostly muscle cramps and mild dehydration.All of a sudden we heard a loud bang that shook the tent. The tent announcer told us to remain calm and keep treating our patients. Then the second explosion went over. Before they could tell us what was going on the TV started showing what was going on. I think at first the whole group that was working on our team were in shock. When the first victims started being rushed in and straight to the ambulances by thought was I am going to die today. Then I was able to re-focus and everyone just started jumping in taking care of what came through the front of the tent. At that point Boston EMS was in full disaster mode. We went from a triage/treatment area to a full blown Trauma treatment tentI didn't have to to think about what had happened until I went home and watched it on TV and then I just said everyone of the Marathon Volunteers had angels watching over them.It has been tough since then but I am beginning to heal. The arrest has brought some closure and then today I visited the memorial site which is right down the street from where this happened. It will take time to heal but I have already committed to returning next year as a volunteer

My floor has quite a few victims and I have taken care of one of them for my last few shifts. It's been hard but an honor to be able to care for her. She is so strong despite everything she has been through and will continue to go through. She, and all the victims are an inspiration and a reminder of why I went into nursing.

PediLove.......thanks for sharing.I especially like this part of your post:She, and all the victims are an inspiration and a reminder of why I went into nursing.

I have worked the Marathon a few times myself......To my Boston friends!!! My heart is with you! You do us proud!This is a great article !!!!!!!!!!! It echos my friends thoughts who were workingBoston nurses tell of bloody marathon aftermath

Esme, feel free to encourage your friends to post their experiences here. Sharing thoughts and feelings about events like this can be very therapeutic.Thanks for sharing the link. Very powerful!!!!

I was not in Boston on April 15th, but the events of that day have affected all in the area and across the country. It was unthinkable that anyone could do such a thing on any day, but especially this day when Boston is at its best. I knew that a couple of my friends were running and several more had planned to be at the finish line to watch. Fortunately, all checked in by text, Facebook, or Twitter and let us know they were safe. In the following days I spoke with a friend who works at one of the ERs where victims were brought. He described it as a "war zone" , and stated he just went into autopilot, pushing all emotions aside. He's having some difficulty now processing it all, and hopefully he will seek some assistance with this. The entire week seemed like it lasted a month. There were lots of rumors circulating and I don't think anyone in the Greater Boston area felt safe. Friday's events added to that feeling. My sister lives in one of the towns that was on lockdown and says it was the longest day of her life. I'm several towns removed from the scene, but there was still a sense of fear. It was a beautiful day, it was school vacation week, but there were no children playing outside. It's going to take a long time for the physical and emotional damage to heal, but Boston really came together as a community this past week. We're a "wicked" tough bunch and we'll come back stronger than ever.

At 1450 today please observe a moment of silence for the victims of this tragedy...Church bell across the Commonwealth Of Massachusetts will ring in their honor.