Preschool teacher injured in Boston Marathon bombing reunites with her students

Erika Brannock, 29, lost her lower left leg in the Boston Marathon bombing this April.

The Maryland preschool teacher was waiting at the finish line for her mother to cross the finish line when the explosion changed her life forever.

Her injuries kept her away from her classroom for months.

This week, Brannock returned to school. She appeared at the opening of the brand-new Davenport Preschool in Towson, Maryland, where she's one of the 18 educators on staff teaching more than 100 kids aged two to four.

Even though the school is new, Brannock is very familiar with the students registered to attend. And many of her young students were happy to see their favourite teacher again.

"He sees her and it's just Ms. Brannock. He doesn't care that she looks a little different,” said John Baker, the father of preschooler Henry. “It doesn't bother him at all. He's just happy to see her."

"It has definitely been a while since I've seen them,” Brannock told NECN. "They've all gotten so big since the last time I saw them. It's been a few months, but it's good to see them all."

She added, "As a teacher, it's really hard being away from your students... because they become your kids. So it's hard to be away from your kids 'cause they have your heart.'"