Brothers Injured in Bombing Recovering Together at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
Brothers JP and Paul Norden reunited last Friday at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, where they are both undergoing care for injuries sustained in the April 15 Boston Marathon bombings. Used to seeing each other several times a day before the explosion that left them both without one leg, the brothers were glad for the reunion, though it will be short-lived—Paul is expected to be released from Spaulding soon for out-patient care, while JP will remain behind. “I can’t even describe…” Paul, 31, said when asked what it was like to be back with his brother. “I didn’t see him for 14 days, and it was so tough. I see him every day of my life. So it’s just amazing to be back to normal.” JP, 33, said of their reunion: “It’s the best thing ever.” At a press conference held Monday at Spaulding’s new location in the Charlestown Navy Yard, the Stoneham natives spoke about the many emotions they had experienced over the past month, the ups and downs of rehabilitation and their special bond as brothers—which comes with a healthy side of competition. Paul even joked that the hospital that treated him after the bombing, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, was better than Brigham and Women’s Hospital, which treated JP. (Both brothers had nothing but good things to say about their respective medical teams.) At Spaulding, the brothers are able to visit each other’s rooms, and Paul said, once he’s been discharged, he plans to visit JP every day. “Unfortunately, I do believe it does help [to be recovering together]. I’d rather it not be that way, but it is that way,” Paul said. “We’re going to work hard and get through this.” The pair also said they were grateful for the overwhelming support of their family, friends, doctors and first responders—as well as people they had never met who have rallied around them to raise funds or just to say hi. “The managers must go nuts here [at Spaulding]—we’ve got 30 visitors a day,” JP said. “They’re the ones that keep us positive.” “I’ve had Facebook people from Britain asking how I’m doing. It’s really been nice to know that people care,” he added. The brothers said they are concerned about friends who were also injured in the bombing but that they were focusing on their own recovery. “We think of all the other friends of ours that got hurt, but we have to focus on ourselves getting better first,” Paul said. JP and Paul Norden were spectators, waiting for a friend to finish the Boston Marathon, when the two explosions went off. The moments after the explosions […]
Categories: Arrests Tags: Bombing, Brothers, Hospital, Injured, Recovering, Rehabilitation, Spaulding, Together
Friends Raising $750,000 for North End Woman Injured in Boston Marathon Bombings
Friends of a North End woman severely injured in the Boston Marathon bombings last week are hoping to raise $ 750,000 to help her with hospital costs and other needs during her recovery. According to a post on GoFundMe.com, North End resident Roseann Sdoia had attended the Red Sox game at Fenway Park on Monday, April 15 and had walked over to the finish line at Copley Square to watch the rest of the marathon when she was injured by the explosions. “Roseann suffered serious injuries as a result of the explosions and has lost a leg above the knee,” wrote Christine Rousseau Hart, who attended high school and college with Sdoia. Hart posted a photo on the GoFundMe.com site that shows Sdoia watching the race in front of the restaurant Forum, standing three people away from eight-year-old Martin Richard of Dorchester, who was one of three people killed in the bombings. Sdoia reportedly has undergone several surgeries for her injuries. “It will be a long journey of recovery, both physically and emotionally, but Roseann is a fighter. She has an infectious personality and loves Boston with all her heart. She is a true Bostonian, living in the city and being one of the most loyal sports fans I know,” Hart wrote on GoFundMe.com. Hart has set a fundraising goal of $ 750,000 and as of Monday at 11:30 a.m. had raised $ 208,676. She encouraged people to donate in memory of a loved one “whose name will help inspire Roseann through her treatment and recovery.” All gifts donated through the GoFundMe.com site will be transferred to Enterprise Bank for Sdoia to use for any expenses incurred because of the bombings. Donations can also be sent, with checks made payable to the “Roseann Sdoia Recovery Fund,” to Enterprise Bank, 1168 Lakeview Ave., Dracut, MA 01826. South End Patch
Doctor: ‘Cautiously Optimistic’ on Injured MBTA Officer’s Recovery
During a press conference Sunday afternoon at Mount Auburn Hospital, Dr. David Miller said he was “cautiously optimistic” about Winchester native and MBTA Officer Richard Donohue Jr.’s recovery after he was wounded during a shoot-out with the Boston Marathon bombing suspects on Thursday night. Following the conference, Dr. Russell Nauta, professor of surgery at Mount Auburn Hospital, explained what happened to Donohue Jr. “He was shot through the anterior thigh and there was an entrance wound and no exit wound so the bullet remains in the leg,” Nauta said, adding that there were no fractures and partial transection of three out of the four blood vessels that are in the leg. “There was bleeding from the wound that led to cardiac arrest at the scene.” Nauta said cariopulmonary resuscitation was started on Donohue Jr. at the scene and continued in the emergency room, where there was a “tranfusion of fluids and blood products to the point of restoration of the pulse and pressure at which point he went into the operating room.” Donohue Taken to Operating Room “We made an incision in the lower abdomen to clamp the artery to the leg (because) you could not clamp it through the wound and you could not see anything through the wound,” Nauta said. “We stopped the bleeding and we called in our cariovascular folks to reconstruct the blood vessels to and from the leg.” From the time of the shooting to the time he was in the operating room, less than an hour had passed, with about 15 minutes for transport and 45 minutes spent in the emergency room, according to Nauta. Nauta, who also serves as chairman for the Department of Surgery at the hospital, said the bullet remains in the leg. During the conference, Nauta said Donohue Jr. had not spoken, as there is a breathing tube inserted in his mouth. Donohue Jr., 33, of Woburn, is currently “medically sedated” to maximize subsequent organ function, Nata said. “He is sedated and gets special treatment on the respirator to maximize the chance his central nervous system and his circulation will be fine,” Nauta said. If Donohue Jr. shows improvement, Nauta said he expects the officer to be able to walk again. Hospital Staff Ready for Anything After the conference, Jeanette Clough, president and CEO at the hospital, praised the work done by first responders, nursing staff and physicians the night of the shootings in Cambridge and Watertown. She said that her staff trains for situations similar to what happened the past couple days. “Those are two of our closes communities and to have this going on in […]
Categories: Arrests Tags: 'Cautiously, Doctor, Injured, MBTA, Officer's, Optimistic', Recovery
Brother of Injured MBTA Officer Releases Statement
The brother of Winchester native Richard “Dic” Donohue Jr., the MBTA Transit Police officer injured during a Thursday night shoot-out with the Boston Marathon bombing suspects, has released a statement, according to a Tufts Medical Center press statement. In the statement, Edward Donohue, a Winchester Police officer, said: “Dic still has a long road to go before we can safely say he has made it out of the woods. We are proud of his actions and extremely grateful for those courageous officers and EMTs on scene who braved gunfire and explosives to render critical care to Dic that has brought us to this point. The Mount Auburn Hospital doctors and nurses have performed extraordinarily well and their staff has been incredible. This week has been difficult for everyone and on behalf of the extended Donohue family, we would like to thank all of the citizens in the surrounding communities for cooperating with police efforts in the search for the suspects. We would also like to thank all of the law enforcement agencies who have worked tirelessly to bring justice to our country. Lastly, we keep in our prayers all those who have been affected by the tragedies this past week, especially Sean Collier, Dic’s friend and academy mate.” The statement was sent on behalf of the Donohue family by Tufts Medical Center. South End Patch
Police Continue to Hunt for Clues as Explosions Leave Three Dead, Dozens Injured
Law enforcement officials are searching for who is responsible for detonating two explosives that killed three people and injured up to 125 near the finish line at the Boston Marathon. Moments after two explosions occurred on Boylston Street Monday afternoon, panicked runners and spectators began fleeing Copley Square as police quickly cleared the area and locked down the Back Bay. “All of a sudden everyone turned around and was running in the opposite direction,” said Mary Bickford, 21, of Abington. Bickford was near the finish line when the bombs denoated. “All the runners, all the people cleared out, and police were going toward the finish line.” Near the finish line, several survivors lay injured, some who had limbs torn off in the explosions. Others were crying as they took in the chaotic scene and first responders rushed in. Several victims, including an 8-year-old boy who died, were children. Childrens Hospital reported that those treated there included a 9-year-old girl, a 7-year-old boy, a 12-year-old, and a 2-year-old, the Boston Globe reported. Mass General Hospital said it was treating eight patients in critical condition. Police were stationed at the entrances to the hospital. Brigham and Women’s Hospital received the most, with 26 treated, including two in critical condition, according to the Globe report. Monday night police were questioning a “person of interest” who was among the victims there. As victims were rushed to area hospitals, police from Boston and surrounding towns not near Copley Square were assembling on the Boston Common to discuss how to proceed. Around 4 p.m., about an hour and a half after the two explosions, the Boston Police bomb squad staged a controlled blast. Early Monday evening the FBI said “the situation remains fluid and itremains too early to establish the cause and motivation.” The FBI has issued a national tip line for any information related to today’s bombings. Anyone with information can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), and select prompt #3. “No piece of information or detail is too small,” wrote the FBI in the release. The Park Plaza Castle will again serve as a resource center on Tuesday. Residents and runners can go there for counseling services, to arrange for shelter, find runner belongings and other services. When asked if the explosions were a terrorist act, Boston Police Commissioner Edward F. Davis said, “We’re not being definitive on this right now, but you can reach your own conclusions based on what happened.” At a press conference Monday night, President Barack Obama said, “We still do not know who did this or why. People shouldn’t jump to conclusions until we have all the facts… We will find out who did this and […]
Scores Injured by Explosion at Boston Marathon Finish Line
Dozens of people were injured and two were reportedly killed by two explosions near the Boston Marathon finish line. There are multiple reports of victims with missing limbs, bloodied heads and other extremely serious injuries. WBZ-4 reported at least a dozen victims with “grave injuries.” “This is a horrific day in Boston,” Governor Deval Patrick said. “My thoughts and prayers are with those who have been injured. I have been in touch with the President, Mayor Menino and our public safety leaders. Our focus is on making sure that the area around Copley Square is safe and secured. I am asking everyone to stay away from Copley Square and let the first responders do their jobs.” Marathon Bombings: Important Phone Numbers, Websites Newtown Runners Reportedly ‘Safe’ Following Boston Tragedy Witness: ‘All of a Sudden Everyone Turned Around and Was Running in the Opposite Direction’ Foxborough Resident Maria Stephanos Describes Boston Marathon Explosion as ‘Very Chaotic’ Lexington Officials Respond to Boston Marathon Explosions Vineyard Runners Reported Safe after Marathon Explosions Cranston Councilman Works in Boston, Took Today Off Three EG Runners Confirmed OK after Bombs Explode at Boston Marathon Finish. Mansfield Resident at Marathon: All Hell Broke Lose Grafton Family Near Boston Marathon Finish Line When Bombs Explode Angie Miller Sends ‘My Heart to My Home’ Portsmouth Runner: Felt ‘Like a War Zone’ Medfield Marathoner Was Detoured Near Finish Line Running to Ministry: Church Reaches Out After Boston Marathon Explosions Tewksbury Nurse, ‘It Was Like A War Zone’ Tragedy Mars First Boston Marathon Veteran Milford Marathoner Describes a Chaotic Scene in Boston Exeter Marathon Runner ‘Grateful to be Alive’ Somerville Marathoner Guides Blind Runner Yards Away From Explosions “It was the loudest thing I’ve ever heard it stopped us in our tracks,” said Marathon spectator Jennifer Curro. Updates below: The Park Plaza Castle will remain open as a resource center until 11 p.m. Monday and will reopen again at 9 .m. Tuesday. Residents can get several services there, including counseling services, sheltering services, find runner belongings and more. Displaces runners can stay at the Castle overnight. ***** 8:45 p.m. The FBI has taken over the investigation. Gov. Deval Patrick asked residents to have a “heightened vigilance” in the aftermath. Patrick said that the city of Boston will be open on Tuesday, but “not business as usual.” The “blast area” is considered a crime scene and the National Guard has secured it and is allowing limited access. The investigation will affect Copley Square in the next day or two as the investigation continues. “It will not […]