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Slain boy’s sis to walk again

FOREVER SCARRED: Denise and Bill Richard — here with kids (from left) Henry, Jane and Martin — said yesterday that the girl was healing after losing her leg in the Boston attack. Martin was killed, while Henry escaped serious injury. (
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The family of the little boy murdered in the Boston Marathon bombing revealed yesterday that his young sister — whose left leg was blown off — may soon be walking again.

Bill and Denise Richard said their 7-year-old daughter, Jane — whose brother Martin, 8, was the youngest to die in the April 15 attack — underwent her 11th surgery Wednesday and has made great progress in her recovery.

“While she has more trips to the [operating room] ahead of her, last night’s operation marked an important milestone, as doctors were finally able to close the wound created when the bomb took her left leg below the knee,” the family said.

“Part of the procedure involved preparing Jane’s injured leg to eventually be fitted for a prosthesis.”

The girl has battled infections and other complications — and had to deal last month with the devastating news that her big brother had been killed.

“After not being able to communicate with Jane for the first two weeks, she woke up with difficult questions that needed to be answered,” the family said.

“There are not words to describe how hard sharing this heartbreaking news was on all of us.”

The Richards — who with eldest son Henry were also at the race — were released from Boston’s Beth Israel Medical Center about a week after the attack, which killed three in all and wounded more than 250.

“While no sight has returned to Denise’s injured eye, her doctors have been pleased with how she is healing from her surgeries,” the family said.

“Bill is healing from the shrapnel wounds and burns to his legs, and we remain hopeful there will be improvement over time from the hearing loss he suffered.”

Henry, 12, was not seriously injured in the blast.

The family, from Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood, also thanked first responders and others in the community and beyond for the outpouring of support they’ve received.

“Well-wishes reach us, and they help more than anyone can know,” the Richards wrote.

“We will need help, as we cannot get through this tragedy on our own.”

They also asked people to respect their privacy.

“We know how difficult it is to stand idle when something terrible happens, so we thank you for respecting our privacy and giving us space to not only recuperate and rest, but also to ensure the one thing the attack does not break is our bond as a family,” the Richards wrote.

“As hard as it is for us to do so, we ask for your continued patience as we work through something for which there is no roadmap and there are no instructions,” they said.