Parkway Grad Injured in Boston Marathon Bombings Thankful for Friends, Family

The crowdsourcing website gathering money for a Parkway Central High School alum injured in the Boston Marathon bombings is now only $3,000 away from its $100,000 goal.

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Caroline Reinsch graduted from the high school in 1992 and was standing near the finish line with her boyfriend Christian Williams close to where one of the two bombs exploded. The blast “shredded” their legs and caused serious injuries, particularly for Williams, who remains in the hospital, according to a page started for the couple on GoFundMe.

The incredible amount of money raised for the couple, $97,148 as of Tuesday morning, is likely in part due to the way they have used the site to share much of their story with detail and emotion. Posts describe horrific leg injuries that have required multiple surgeries, but also retain an unyielding sense of gratitude for their friends, family and hospital caregivers.

A friend of the couple, Steve Kolander, helped start the GoFundMe page friend and also works at the New York Ad Agency Small Army, where Williams is employed as an art director.

“I can tell you that these two people are absolutely amazing in their outlook on life, even in the face of what has happened to them,” Williams told Patch in an email. “They continue to see that they are extremely lucky, despite their extensive leg injuries.”

Reinsch was discharged from the hospital on April 26th, according to the site, and wrote in a post that she had mixed feelings as her day to leave approached.

“Yes, I was excited to be going home, to sleep in my own bed to see my dogs,” she said, adding however, that she also wasn’t ready to leave the safety and comfort of the Faulkner Hospital. “The nurses, assistants, doctors and physical therapists instantly become my family.”

Reinsch also noted that the condo where she lives is only four blocks away from the Boston Marathon finish line and her work is only two blocks distant. However, being discharged from the hospital meant she would finally have a chance to visit Williams. The couple had not seen each other in 10 days and Williams wrote on the site about their emotional reunion.

“We cried, laughed, kissed, whispered I love you and held one another so tightly you’d never think we could be pulled apart,” he said. “It was the moment I’d been waiting for ever since I woke from the bombing. And together again we soared.”

Their story has also garnered wider attention.

Reinsch went to middle school in the San Diego and a local TV station in the area spoke with her aunt about the fundraising effort. Trade publication Ad Age also noted that William’s employer, Small Army, was one of many area ad agencies that have pitched in to help in the wake of the bombings.