Help Boston victim find her rescuer
Erika Brannock could have died from her severe injuries after the Boston Marathon bombings were it not for a good samaritan. Part of Erika's left leg was blown off in the blast and her right leg was broken. A compassionate stranger, who she recalls having the name Joan, made a tourniquet out of a belt to stop the bleeding.
"I had a conversation in my head with God and I told him I wasn't ready to go," remembers Erika. "It was almost instantaneously ... this woman kind of crawled over to me and she grabbed my hand ... she said 'My name is Joan from California and I'm not going to let you go,' and she stayed with me the whole time."
The preschool teacher has overcome many obstacles in her recovery, including 11 surgeries, as well as the fear of another attack. Every time she was wheeled into the operating room, she had to pass the section of the hospital where bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was being treated. The FBI assured Erika that he would never hurt her again.
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Post by: Filed under: Boston Marathon Attack |
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Tonight on AC360: Last Boston bombings survivor leaves hospital
Erika Brannock took the next step on her road to recovery today. The survivor of the Boston Marathon bombings left the hospital where doctors treated her after the attack.
She was the last patient wounded that day to check out of the hospital. CNN's Randi Kaye was with her for the milestone, and will have her story of survival tonight on AC360.
Erika was with her sister and brother-in-law at the finish line; they were there to cheer for her mother who was running in the race. The blast destroyed part of Erika's left leg and her right leg was broken.
She believes she could have died if not for the compassion and quick thinking of a stranger. All Erika can remember about the hero is that her name is Joan and she said she was from California. Joan tied a belt around Erika's leg to help slow the blood loss.
Do you recognize Joan in this picture taken after the bombings? If so, help Erika find the woman who saved her life by emailing FindJoan@cnn.com.
