Boston Bombing Survivor Welcomes Baby Girl

He was the face of a tragedy. But on Sunday Boston Marathon bombing survivor Jeff Bauman welcomed baby girl Nora Gail Bauman with his fiancée and longtime partner, Erin Hurley. Bauman and Hurley announced Nora's arrival in a Facebook post. "Everyone is happy and healthy!" the post gushed. It was first uploaded to the site on Monday afternoon, and by evening it had already garnered tens of thousands of likes.

Bauman lost both of his legs in the bombing and became the face of the tragic event after an Associated Press photographer, Charles Krupa, got a shot of him being transported to an emergency room in the blast's immediate aftermath. Bauman attended the marathon to watch Hurley compete, The New York Times reported last year. It was her first marathon. He was also well-known for waking up and immediately scrawling on a piece of paper that he'd seen the bomber; he ultimately helped identify the suspects.

Bauman and Hurley announced their engagement earlier this year, also on Facebook.

We are so happy to share with you exciting news that has happened over the last few months...Jeff and Erin became engaged and are expecting their first child in the summer!!! Congratulations Jeff and Erin!!

The Times documented Bauman's rehabilitation a year ago, when he was learning to walk again and also to deal with issues related to his hearing — the bombing destroyed his right eardrum and heavily damaged his left. Bauman has since published Stronger, a memoir about his experience.

In the book, Bauman tells readers he remembers everything that happened the day of the bombing. The Boston Globe quotes a passage that shows Bauman's fierce struggle to convince people that in the wake of what happened, he's still just like everybody else.

I’ll always be different. That’s my life. But that doesn’t mean I’m not normal.

Bauman's Facebook page is plastered with photos that show him looking happy, relaxed, and, well, completely normal with family and friends. On Saturday — the day before the baby was born — he participated in the "Run for Bauman," a 2.62 mile race. Donations from the race went toward the Wiggle Your Toes foundation set up to help amputees. According to the race site, Bauman credits the organization with helping him move forward after losing his legs.

Along with his tireless physical therapy hours and courage, Jeff has been working closely with this foundation to get him where he is today. So as a way to say thank you, the Run for Bauman team looks forward to another stellar event this summer!

Also on Monday, Lionsgate announced that it was developing Bauman's book into a feature-length film.

Image: Facebook/Jeff Bauman