Winnipeg lawyer Maria Mitousis, who was injured by a mail bomb last summer, is sharing her gratitude for the emergency responders, coworkers and strangers who supported her during the traumatic incident.
Mitousis lost her right hand after a mail bomb exploded in her office in July 2015.
Four of Mitousis’ colleagues at Petersen King law firm and all the emergency personnel on scene the day of the explosion were recognized for their work at a ceremony Thursday.
"Sometimes your co-workers become more than just co-workers, and that's definitely what happened in this situation,” Mitousis said.
The first person by Mitousis’ side was lawyer Connie Petersen.
"There was a scream and a second scream, and so then I ran down the hallway and saw Maria coming out of her office,” Petersen remembers.
After hearing the blast, Petersen sat with Mitousis in the halls of their office.
Petersen said Mitousis calmly told her exactly what happened to pass the time as they waited for emergency crews.
“It was really her ability to be calm that allowed us all to take a deep breath and stay calm,” Petersen said.
Paramedic Barry Rochon rode with Mitousis in the ambulance after the explosion. He said Mitousis’ demeanor made his job easy.
“I remember her saying she just needed to focus on her breathing and remain calm, and let us do what we needed to do,” Rochon said.
Mitousis said the support she received helped her during her recovery.
“From strangers, friends, people I went to elementary school with, people who felt connected somehow to what happened to me, that overwhelming response in July and August made such a difference to me.”
“It gave me the positive energy, and it helped me get through the really hard times.”
Nearly a year since the explosion, Mitousis said she’s been adjusting to a new way of life, which includes returning to work.
"I'm looking to get back to normal, whatever that means. I am hoping that by the end of the summer, things will be back to normal, a new normal though."
