Birth of her daughter reunites Boston Marathon bombing survivor with nurse who cared for her

• Jacqui Webb was treated by Nurse Nichole Casper when she was injured in the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013.
• After eight years, Jacqui returned to Tufts Medical Center to give birth to a daughter.
• Nurse Nichole assigned herself to Jacqui because she “wanted to be there for her again.”

---

When Nurse Nichole Casper was checking a list of incoming patients at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, she saw a familiar name — Jacqui Webb.

Jacqui is a survivor of the Boston Marathon bombing. During the 2013 incident, Nichole, who was working in the medical-surgical unit, cared for Jacqui after she was rushed to the hospital with severe burns. She was also hit by shrapnel in different parts of her body.

“No matter how much time has gone by, there are some patients that you never forget,” Casper, 43, told TODAY Parents.

“Jacqui was in so much pain — emotional and physical — but she somehow she managed to stay upbeat and positive,” Nichole recalled. “She was constantly thanking us.”

Jacqui’s fiancé, Paul Norden, lost his right leg in the bombings.

On August 21, Jacqui returned to Tufts hospital and gave birth to a baby girl, Ella.

Nichole, who now works as a maternity nurse, said she assigned herself to Jacqui.

“I wanted to be there for her again,” she said.

After more than eight years since they last see each other, Jacqui recognized Nurse Nichole immediately.

“Nichole had this instant calming effect,” she said, noting that the reunion brought her joy and comfort.

She noted that she had some anxiety about giving birth and she still carries emotional scars from the double bombings.

“It would be hard for me getting rushed back to a hospital. I still have a lot of trauma,” Jacqui shared . “There are good days and bad days. As time has passed, I’ve had fewer bad days, which is awesome. But there are definitely triggers.”

But seeing Nichole again brought her some closure.

“I’ve been a nurse for almost 21 years. It was one of the worst times in my career seeing all those people that were intentionally harmed…. It never left me,” Nichole said. “Being able to see Jacqui during such a joyful time with Paul and their baby… it was just amazing to be able to share that with her.”

Source: TODAY