(NECN: Josh Brogadir) - It may seem like just yesterday, but it's been nearly one year since the bombings at the Boston Marathon finish line.
And as we look back on the attacks, we are learning more about what it is has taken to recover from wounds both physical and emotional.
Surgeries and infections; shrapnel and court cases have taken over their lives this past year.
Ron Brassard just went back to work last week.
His wife, Karen is up and around, too.
They won't forget, but they are doing very well nearly one year later.
“It was just electric," said Karen. "Being in the crowd and everybody watching - everybody watched their family come through."
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Wide, expectant, ear-to-ear grins show the rewards of what Marathon Monday has always been for sign holding spectators.
Ron and Karen, who grew up in Lowell, Mass., had never been to the Boston Marathon before.
How quickly that magnificent moment changed into the scene of torment, anguish, uncertainty and pain - above all, pain.
“Just, in a blink of an eye, it was just devastating," said Karen. "So yeah, it's tough to think back to it. It's still hard.”
“I think instinctively, the first thing you think about is your child. And we had Krystara and her friend Victoria there,” Ron said.
Ron's condition was grave - a severed artery and missing chunk of flesh from his left leg.
Karen had pieces of the bomb lodged in her body.
He went to Tufts; she went to Boston Medical Center, as did their daughter, Krystara.
And they all recovered.
Weeks later, the Brassards were at Fenway Park, where they were honored by the Red Sox. Ron was wheeled onto the diamond by their son, Karen crutching along, Krystara limping behind.
And they put on the Boston Strongest faces they could muster.
On a cool March day, snow still masking any sign of spring in Southern New Hampshire, the sign of hope is revealed in a casual stroll down their street.
The Brassards are ever grateful that they are now walking, and in this place, once again.
But one look around their home is to know that they have not been forgotten by others.
And they too will never forget.
“To say people were phenomenal after the fact would be shortchanging people. Because it was just so incredible how everybody was,” Ron said.
“It sounds crazy, but I say all the time, that it's actually been a gift to see the goodness of people,” Karen said.
The gift, then, for these best friends, is that they helped each other to recover.
One month away, both plan to attend the April 15 commemoration and this year's marathon six days later.
“We have a few friends that are running. We were going to say, 'Hey, we'll be there, and we'll see you at the finish line,'" said Ron. "Ultimately, I said to Karen, 'I don't think we should make any firm commitments on anything.'"
“Just not knowing how we're going to feel, going back there, there's a little anxiety in that. But I'm also anxious to do it and looking forward to it, as well,” Karen said
But their views on the criminal prosecution of the accused bomber couldn't be more different.
Karen has been at the hearings and will attend the trial.
Ron says he trusts the experts will hold people accountable and he would rather not go.
