Asthma saved Fil-Am from being hurt in Boston Marathon explosion

One of the Filipinos who participated in the Boston Marathon said she is OK and back at her hotel room. Her asthma condition prevented her from reaching the finish line, she said.

Susan Marie Sobrepena posted on her Facebook wall: “Just got back to my hotel room. Was close to the finish when I heard the two explosions and got stopped moving forward by the police. I feel quite lucky and blessed that my asthma held me back today from my usual faster pace. Thank you to all for your concern and thoughts. I am keeping those hurt in the explosion in my prayers.”

Messages from friends asking how she is doing have been streaming on her wall, including one from Zulma Andrews: “Susan, talk to me.”

To allay her friends’ concerns, Susan, who comes from Bacolod and Lanao del Norte, posted her short response above.

Susan, a New York resident, works as a movie producer. She graduated from the New York Institute of Technology.

Susan’s asthma condition may have saved her life when a series of explosions ripped through near the Boston Marathon finish line on April 15. Two people were confirmed dead and more than 100 are being treated in hospitals for injuries, ranging from minor bruises to amputations, according to reports.

Fellow marathoner Mia Fernandez described Susan as a “veteran” who has been “running all her life.”

“She might be responding to people. I won’t be surprised if she helps out over there somehow,” said Fernandez.

The Philippine Embassy said there are no reports of Filipino casualties in the Boston Marathon explosions. Spokesman Elmer Cato said the Philippine Consulate in New York remains in coordination with Boston authorities and with the Filipino American community to make sure all Filipinos who were in the area are accounted for. Bloomberg is reporting that 10 Filipinos qualified for the marathon. - The FilAm

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