Boston bombing survivor’s charity gives 1st artificial limb

The Heather Abbott Foundation was established by Abbott, who lost a leg in the 2013 terrorist attacks at the marathon finish line.

“This is the first time I am looking at myself with two normal-looking legs”. She says: “My life now is limitless”. “When I told her that she said, ‘heels are my favorite things ever!'” said Cohen. She found a kindred spirit in Abbott.

She had her right leg amputated above the ankle two years ago at the age of 24.

Prosthetic limbs can cost up to $100,000. She started the foundation to help other amputees.

Hillary Cohen will be fitted with a custom-made leg Monday at the office of her prosthetics specialist in Newton.

“I had mentioned to her that I had never been able to wear heels before because of this genetic condition that I had that caused tumors to grow in my nerve endings, so I had never gotten to experience that”.

“She’s never been able to wear heels, so she thought that after her leg was amputated she would really never be able to wear them”.

Eventually, she hopes to procure a leg that will let her resume running and chase her goal of completing a marathon – an achievement that, in a sense, would bring her full-circle with Abbott, her benefactor. “Words can’t even begin to describe how much this means to me”, said Cohen.

“It is going to change her life”, Abbott said.