Community Corner

Michelle Obama Visits Hern Family in Boston Hospital

Aaron Hern, an 11-year-old Martinez Junior High student, is recovering from two surgeries after being wounded in the Boston Marathon bombing.

The First Lady stopped by the Boston Children's Hospital Thursday to visit with 11-year-old Aaron Hern and his family.

Hern, a student at Martinez Junior High, was injured by shrapnel during the Boston Marathon explosions on Monday. His mother Katherine was running in the race. Michelle Obama was photographed with the family, including Alan Hern and daughter Abby.

The Hern family has been providing updates to the community on Aaron's recovery process. He underwent a second surgery on Wednesday, which involved closing the wound on his thigh by pulling the muscle fascia together, according to Katherine Hern. Aaron's oxygen tube, catheter and neck brace were removed Thursday.

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"All that's left is pain medicine and fluids," said Katherine Hern in an email update, adding that this is a "huge step forward" and Aaron could "be out of the ICU as early as tomorrow."

The Obamas attended an interfaith church service Thursday morning for the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings before visiting the injured at local hospitals. President Obama went to Massachusetts General Hospital while Michelle visited the children's hospital.

Find out what's happening in Martinezwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The visits were off limits to the media and came on short notice for security reasons, according to CBS.

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