Rebekah Gregory, a survivor of a horrific terrorist bombing, shared a story of hope, gratitude and purpose at a recent Christmas Banquet hosted by the Women’s Refuge of Vero Beach. Close to 300 guests arrived at the Oak Harbor Club in festive holiday attire to hear her inspirational talk and enjoy an elegant dinner, complete with musical accompaniment by the Vero Beach High School Symphony Orchestra.

Gregory, a young wife and mother whose life was forever changed on April 1, 2013, captivated her audience, relating that she and her then 6-year-old son Noah joined the crowds at the Boston Marathon to cheer on a friend.

“My son and I were just 3 feet away from the first bomb that went off,” said Gregory. “My son had gotten tired of watching the runners so I asked him to sit down at my feet, leaning his back against my shins. That’s where he was when the bomb exploded. I found out later that because I placed him in that position, it literally saved his life. I took the force of the bomb on the back of my legs and shielded him from the worst.”

Severely injured, Gregory eventually woke up from a coma; her life focus changed forever. It would take 67 surgeries for skilled surgeons to piece her back together, but they couldn’t save her left leg.

“After experiencing pure evil, I’ve come to appreciate all the good and love in this world,” she said. “I used to take everything for granted, but after 56 days in the hospital and 18 months in a wheelchair, I live each and every day to its fullest. God obviously isn’t finished with me and I’ve got a lot of good to do before He calls me home.”

Gregory and her husband recently founded Rebekah’s Angels, a foundation funding treatment for children with PTSD. She explained that her son struggled with PTSD in the aftermath of all he witnessed that terrible day, but that as a result of proper treatment early on, he is thriving as a sixth-grader today.

Gregory’s message of hope, survival and love mirrors the message and purpose of the Women’s Refuge, founded in 1997 by Donna and Ted Robart. Their live-in facility offers troubled women a place to find peace and sanctuary within a Christian-based healing environment, and their support programs offer emotional and spiritual counseling.

“I had a vision of opening the refuge 25 years before it actually happened,” Robart explained. “I was praying and the Lord showed me the plan. I thought it would be in Romania, because I had lived there for eight years.”

After stopping in Vero Beach for a few months, she said she met, fell in love with and married her neighbor, Ted. “One month later we opened up the refuge here in Vero Beach.”

Bolstered by the optimistic messages of hope and healing, guests reached into their hearts and wallets to help support others on their paths to recovery.

For more information, visit womensrefugevb.org.