A man who survived the Boston Marathon bombing and inspired the film 'Stronger' was in Dallas Tuesday with the Hollywood star who portrays him to meet with a group of amputees.
Jeff Bauman lost his legs in the Boston Marathon bombing and was the subject of a famous photograph taken in the aftermath of the bombing.
He and actor Jake Gyllenhaal, who portrays Bauman in 'Stronger,' met with amputees at Scott Sabolich Prosthetics and Research in North Dallas.
"It's just amazing to be with other amputees. It's like this bond that you form. It's like being part of a club," Bauman said.
"They can see the sense of hope, encouragement and sense of accomplishment that someone who has sustained insurmountable injury, like Jeff, can overcome that adversary and really shine and really be, as the movie says, stronger," said Randy Titony, with Scott Sabolich Prosthetics.
"My job is incredible, because you get to get into a world you never imagined yourself in and it changes you if you allow it," said Gyllenhaal, now one of Bauman's biggest cheerleaders.
"Walking around here, I see that there are a lot of people that are running and a lot of people are starting to run, so all that is in my head right now is how do we get him running!" Gyllenhaal said.
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Keylee Latham, 14, of Martinsville, traveled two hours Tuesday to meet Bauman.
She became a double amputee after an ATV accident a few years ago and is an inspiration herself, as she's training to become a cross-country runner.
"We are here to see Jeff. He sounds like a nice guy," Latham said.
"To meet other amputees, especially other prosthesis amputees, they're the most interesting people in the world to me," Bauman said.
'Stronger' opens in select theaters this Friday.
