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Boston Marathon Bombing Victims Continue Road to Recovery

It has been nine months since the Boston Marathon bombings stunned the nation and forever altered the lives of those who were injured in the blasts at the race's finish line. Here are a few of those survivors' stories.

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Triathlete Nicole Gross progresses with physical therapy months after the April 15 bombing.
Triathlete Nicole Gross progresses with physical therapy months after the April 15 bombing.
Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports

Nicole Gross

Triathlete Nicole Gross became a symbol of the horror of the Boston Marathon bombings when the photo of her, stunned and bleeding on the pavement, was transmitted around the world. The former University of Tennessee swimmer spent a month in the hospital recovering from severe injuries to her lower legs. Upon her release she observed "I have to re-learn how to walk."

In October, Gross had made enormous progress with physical therapy and began doing water workouts again. In November she served as the official starter of the Thunder Road Marathon in Charlotte, N.C. and walked the race's 5K event with her husband Michael and her sister Erika Brannock who were also injured in the blast.

J.P. and Paul Norgen

Brothers J.P. and Paul Norgen were both severely injured by the blast, each losing a leg and suffering a host of other injuries. The Los Angeles Times recently profiled the Norgen family and the enormous changes the event has forced on them all, not just the injured brothers. It's a sobering read about the day-to-day struggles survivors and those around them must endure.

Ryan McMahon

Ryan McMahon's back and both arms were broken when she fell from the viewing stands in the blast. The Springfield Republican profiled her and her using art -- photography and film -- to cope with the struggle to recovery.

You're Ok from Ryan C. McMahon on Vimeo.

Christian Williams and Caroline Reinsch

While Christian Williams and his girlfriend, Caroline Reinsch, were recovering from their injuries suffered in the blast they also learned they would be parents. On Dec. 18, the couple's daughter, Marlowe, was born. Both are continuing to endure surgeries to recover from their injuries.

Roseann Sdoia

Newton real estate firm executive Roseann Sdoia continues to cope with the changes in her life from losing a leg. While she has returned to work, she has found there are a host of unforseen issues that make returning to "normal" a constant struggle. That is in addition to physical therapy as well as the mundane process of finding the right fit for the prothesis to surgeries to rebuild her eardrum. While she is hoping to resume running, an attempt at skiing was not quite sucessful.

Celeste Corcoran

Celeste Corcoran who lost both of her lower legs in the blast, recently began running again using blade prosthetics. Her daughter, Sydney, was also seriously injured. Their Facebook support page can be found here.

Karen Rand

Karen Rand was at the finish line waiting for her boyfriend to cross when the explosion occured. Her sister died in the blast and she lost a leg. During recovery, she learned of the plight of a girl in El Salvador,  Estefania Salinas, who lost a leg in a traffic accident. Rand then launched an effort to provide the girl with a prosthetic leg and pay for her travel to Boston for physical therapy.

Rebekah Gregory

Rebekah Gregory continues to fight to save her leg which was severely injured in the bomb blast. After more than a dozen surgeries and setbacks in physical therapy, Gregory was able to take a step for the first time just before Thanksgiving. The prospect of amputation continues to loom, but she has taken to Facebook to recount her battles to return to normal.