<p>MIT's medical personnel are helping in today's bombing. Many MIT students were volunteering for the race.</p>
<p>My daughter is an MIT Camp Kesem Counselor (a service group at MIT) and they hold their big fundraiser at the finish line of the marathon. She and her fellow volunteers were posted RIGHT ON THE SCENE OF THE FIRST EXPLOSION but they had wrapped up and headed back to campus less than 30 minutes earlier. Had the bomb exploded earlier some of MIT’s student leaders would have been victims of this horrendous attack. I want to hug my daughter but I am 3000 miles away. She is OK and her friends are OK but they are all shaken up and in shock.</p>
<p>This thread title seems kinda misleading…</p>
<p>Glad to hear, Bellevue, that your daughter and her friends are ok. Hope the MIT community is ok.</p>
<p>Sent earlier today: </p>
<p>To the members of the MIT community:</p>
<p>This afternoon, we all shared the feelings of horror and disbelief at the terrible news of the bomb attack at the Boston Marathon. It will take some time before we can understand what has happened.</p>
<p>I am writing now simply to let you know that, as far as we know at this moment, none of the direct casualties were members of the MIT community. Yet, they are fellow human beings, victimized in the most appalling way, and our hearts go out to them and their families.</p>
<p>If you live on campus, in any of our FSILGs or elsewhere nearby, it may be helpful to safety officials if you can stay home tonight. The Boston route of our Saferide shuttle service is cancelled tonight because of bridge closings; the Cambridge route will run as usual. If this event has further practical implications for our community, we will offer updates via text and the MIT homepage. As always, MIT Medical is available to anyone who might need expert counseling services.</p>
<p>Times like these require that we stay together and take care of each other.</p>
<p>In sympathy,</p>
<p>Rafael Reif</p>
<p>bellvue,</p>
<p>I am so glad to hear your daughter and her friends are ok.</p>
<p>My son was also at the race near the finish line but left about 1/2 hour before it was over. He is also shaken up but he and his friends are ok, as well.</p>
<p>I am also 3000 miles away.</p>
<p>We are praying for the people affected. This is most difficult and tragic.</p>
<p>I was going to be a ham radio volunteer at the finish line, but since MIT had a 4-day weekend instead of a 3-day weekend, I decided to visit family instead. My housemaster was 10ft from the blast (thankfully, she is okay).</p>
<p>A tragic and bizarre day out here :(</p>
<p>I am so pleased with the support my daughter receives from the MIT community. She just posted on FB that everyone is pulling together, checking on each other, talking and taking care of their friends. She said she is exhausted and sad from the day’s horrendous events but so proud to be part of the MIT and Boston communities. As a parent, I have to share that this is the second time she has had those collective “MIT arms” around her during time of crisis. Last year she fell on campus and shattered her elbow, requiring an ambulance trip and surgery. She was not only taken care of by friends until we could get across the country to be with her, but MIT personnel jumped in to stay in touch and to make sure she was OK. MIT medical, S^3, Dean on call, professors - and I can’t even remember who else - all went out of their way to help her continue with her classes and stay mentally, emotionally and physically strong (except archery which no accommodation in the world would have made it possible). I love MIT being my daughter’s home!</p>