Watertown Strong: Survivors Give Back at Blood Drive

Survivors Heather Abbott, Dic Donohue were on hand to pay it forward

Like many victims of the Boston Marathon Bombings, Heather Abbott says blood donors saved her life.

She lost her left leg in the blasts.

"I lost a lot of blood, and if people didn't give blood, I wouldn't be here to talk about it now," she said. "So it's taken on a new meaning for me."

To mark the second anniversary of the bombings, she's paying it forward, with MBTA Police Officer Dic Donohue by her side.

Donohue nearly bled to death after he was shot during a gun battle between police and the bombers.

"It's coming full circle from being in such great need for blood donations and to be able to give back," said Donohue.

Saturday's "Watertown Strong" blood drive benefited the Red Cross and Mt. Auburn Hospital. That's the same hospital Donohue says saved his life.

It's another symbol of how far these survivors have come.

Abbott says the guilty verdict in the trial against Dhokhar Tsarnaev helped the healing process.

"I'm glad it’s over," she said. "I'm looking forward to moving forward and keeping looking forward rather than focusing on the past."

She also said that what happens during the death penalty phase of the trial no longer matters to her.

She's focused on this year's marathon and what she hopes will be a celebration.

"I will be spending the day there with my friends watching just as I have every year," she said.

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