Mother, daughter injured in Boston Marathon bombing get inspiring visit from Marines

Celeste Corcoran, 47, and her daughter, Sydney, 18, were both seriously injured in the Boston Marathon bombings as they waited for Celeste's sister to cross the finish line.

Celeste lost both legs below the knee.

Sydney, 18, suffered near-fatal shrapnel wounds. Her femoral artery was severed. She would have died if a good Samaritan didn't stop her from bleeding to death.

The two women are now recovering together in the same hospital room. On Sunday, Sydney took her first steps since the attack.

"They had a good day today," Tim Corcoran, Celeste's husband who came to her rescue after the explosion, told the Los Angeles Times. "Celeste was encouraged."

He was partly referring to an inspiring hospital visit by Marines who've survived similar injuries.

Two Marines shared their own stories of amputation, offering words of hope and encouragement, promising that "so many opportunities" will come their way from this tragedy.

"This isn’t the end," one Marine, identified as Sergeant Gabe Martinez, told the women. "This is the beginning."

Soon the Marines and the women were laughing together.

"Running's never been my thing because I always get the most horrible shin splints," Celeste joked about taking up the sport post-injury. "So I was like, hey, I don't even have shins anymore — I'm not going to get any shin splints!"

A video of the meeting quickly went viral.

"I served with Gabe, the Marine here who came to see you both, and I am so happy that he can be an inspiration to you as your life progresses past your injuries. Remember that your humour is what will always ground you in times of need, it's a beautiful thing to see you both smiling after what has gone on. Keep up the positivity and get back on your new legs on step at a time!!" Carter David commented on the Celeste & Sydney Corcoran Support Facebook Page.

The Corcorans' cousin set up an online fundraiser to help pay for the women's medical bills and projected prostheses costs. More than $500,000 has been raised so far.