_ When Roseann Sdoia was laid up with an amputated leg in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombing, love was the last thing on her mind. But her mother, ever the matchmaker, saw a perfect opportunity as handsome firefighter Mike Materia hovered nearby. Roseann says her mom was like, “Oh, did you see that firefighter? He’s so cute.” And Roseann says she was like, “Mom, I just got blown up.” But Mom’s persistence paid off. The victim and her hero struck up a romance that will soon lead to marriage. On Wednesday Roseann and her firefighter fiance were at the Empire State Building for the annual race up the 1,576 stairs to benefit charity.
On the day of the bombing in April 2013, Sdoia was near the marathon finish line when the pressure-cooker bombs went off. Her now-fiance rushed to her aid and comforted her during the ride to Massachusetts General Hospital in a police vehicle.