Boston Bombing victim James Costello found love in the most unlikely place, the hospital.
After suffering burns on both his arms and legs in the April 15 bombings that left three dead and over 250 more injured, Costello, 31, spent months in the hospital. During his time in rehab, even President Obama came to visit him, but it was one of his nurses that ultimately lifted his spirits.
“I had noticed her in passing and shortly after that she came into my room to cover for someone on their lunch break and change the dressing on my leg,” Costello said during an appearance on NBC's "Today" show Friday alongside his fiancee. “We then realized we had mutual friends and got to talking.”
His chance encounter with nurse Krista D’Agostino, who was on a temporary six-week assignment at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital led to a first date at a benefit for bombing survivors. D'Agostino said she loved Costello's "smile," and after attending several more benefit events together, the couple got engaged in Paris eight months later.
Costello, who had to pull nails out of his stomach after the explosion, said on "Today" that even though he knows his wife-to-be hates when he says it, he was “glad he got blown up.”
“I don’t think I ever would have met her if I didn’t,” he said. “So yeah, I’m pretty happy.”