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double amputee Marine visited severely injured victims of the Boston Marathon bombings Monday, offering survivors words of encouragement.
Sgt. Gabe Martinez visited Celeste Corcoran, who lost bought her legs in the blast, and her daughter Sydney, who sustained near fatal injuries from the bomb's shrapnel.
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The mother and daughter were standing near the finish line cheering for Celeste's sister, who was running in the race. The sister was not injured in the blast.
Martinez, a combat engineer who lost both his legs in 2010 in an explosion in Afghanistan, told the women to stay strong.
"I'm telling you, with all my heart, you are going to be more independent than you ever were," Martinez said. "This is basically the start, you know, this is the new beginning for both of you, and you know so many opportunities are going to come your way.
"You've gotta have that positive attitude to really pull through," he added.
Another unidentified Marine who was also a wounded combat veteran leaned over and gave a tearful Celeste a kiss.
"Obviously she got her pretty looks from you," he told Celeste, referencing Sydney. "You look good, real good."
Celeste's spirits soon lifted, and she began to joke about her condition with the Marines.
"I like to work out and stuff, but running's never been my thing because I always get the most horrible shin splints," Celeste said. "So I was like, hey, I don't have shins anymore. I can do this."
The mother and daughter pair currently share the same room at Boston Medical Center, where they celebrated Sydney's 18th birthday on Tuesday. Sydney was able to take her first steps Sunday with the help of a walker.
The pair also got a visit from actor Bradley Cooper earlier this week, according to Celeste's husband Kevin Corcoran.
Kevin Corcoran said he waited two days to report lacerations to his legs that he sustained from the blast because he was busy tending to the needs of his wife and daughter, the Los Angeles Times reported.
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