Advertisement

Boston Marathon bombing survivor engaged to firefighter who saved her

Click to play video: 'Boston Marathon bombing survivor engaged to firefighter who saved her'
Boston Marathon bombing survivor engaged to firefighter who saved her
WATCH ABOVE: A rare story of loss and love after a woman who lost her leg in the Boston Marathon Bombing becomes engaged...to the firefighter who saved her life. – Feb 2, 2017

A woman who survived the Boston Marathon bombing is set to wed the first responder who came to her aid in the moments following the blasts.

Roseann Sdoia was watching the race at the finish line on April 15, 2013 when two homemade bombs detonated and she was hit by shrapnel. Firefighter Mike Materia comforted Sdoia and went with her to hospital.

READ MORE: Against all odds, Montreal couple finds true love

A few days later, Materia went to visit Sdoia, who was in intensive care. Even as her daughter lay injured in hospital, Sdoia’s mother couldn’t help but play matchmaker.

“In the hospital, my mom tried to set me up with him,” Sdoia told the New York Post.

“She was like, ‘Oh, did you see that firefighter? He’s so cute.’ And I was like, ‘Mom, I just got blown up.'”

Story continues below advertisement

WATCH: Boston Marathon bombing survivor Roseann Sdoia inspires Sask. marathon participants

Click to play video: 'Boston Marathon bombing survivor inspires Sask. marathon participants'
Boston Marathon bombing survivor inspires Sask. marathon participants

Sdoia testified in 2015 at the trial of bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev that she saw two flashes of white light at her feet near the finish line. When she looked down, she saw her foot dangling from her mangled leg.

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

“It was almost like I was starring in a horror movie, as everybody else was around me,” she told the court.

Three people died in the blasts. At the conclusion of the trial, Tsarnaev was handed the death sentence.

Sdoia continues to heal. Her right leg was amputated above the knee, burns cover parts of her body, and she has undergone multiple surgeries over the years.

READ MORE: 8 secrets to a happy and lasting relationship

But from tragedy, came love: Sdoia and Materia began dating a few months after they met amidst chaos, and got engaged in December 2016.

Story continues below advertisement

“He’s seen me on my worst day,” Sdoia said. “I do feel that, in a sense, some things happen for a reason.”

They’re planning a wedding for sometime this year.

— With files from the Associated Press

Sponsored content

AdChoices