Amputee model Lauren Scruggs learns to drive stick six months after propeller accident claimed her left hand and eye



Model and fashion blogger Lauren Scruggs, who had her left eye and arm chopped off after she walked into a plane propeller over Christmas, has now learned how to drive a stick shift.

Despite the 23-year-old Texan's life-changing injuries - she suffered a fractured skull, a broken collarbone and brain injuries during the horrific accident - she is determined to lead a normal life.

Scruggs made the announcement on Twitter on Monday. 'Randomly learned how to drive a stick shift today. It's kind of exhilarating,' she posted.

In the city: Just before the serious December accident that left her without a hand and an eye, she was working to build up her own fashion site and held interviews at New York Fashion Week

In the city: Just before the serious December accident that left her without a hand and an eye, she was working to build up her own fashion site and held interviews at New York Fashion Week

Scruggs released the cover to her upcoming autobiography last month, a testament to the fact that she is moving on with her life.

Her parents confirmed in April that Scruggs was working with a journalist to help her write about the life-changing incident.

On May 15, Ms Scruggs tweeted a picture of the cover, and affirmed her ever-present Christian faith has played a guiding role in her recovery.

She wrote: 'Humbled & thankful to share the journey God has chosen 4 me. Hope it helps others learn, as I have, that He is enough.'

Excited: The 23-year-old Texan made the announcement on Twitter on Monday. 'Randomly learned how to drive a stick shift today. It's kind of exhilarating,' she posted.

Excited: The 23-year-old Texan made the announcement on Twitter on Monday. 'Randomly learned how to drive a stick shift today. It's kind of exhilarating,' she posted.

The cover shows Ms Scruggs wearing a yellow top with her long blonde hair covering her left eye, which was replaced with a glass substitute after her real eye had to be removed due to the accident.

Opening up: Lauren Scruggs tweeted a picture of her book, which is expected to be released in November

Opening up: Lauren Scruggs tweeted a picture of her book, which is expected to be released in November

In the memoir, entitled Still Lolo, Ms Scruggs will write alongside New York Times writer Marcus Brotherton about that fateful night of December 3, 2011.

The book, slated for release this November, will also contain segments on faith and Christian belief.

Ms Scruggs signed with Tyndale Momentum, an imprint of Tyndale House Publishers who will be producing the reflective autobiography.

Though the book's title makes a reference to the model's nickname, there will also be excerpts from her parents, Cheryl and Jeff Scruggs.

The book deal, whose value is still unknown, is not the only financial gain that Ms Scruggs will be receiving out of the incident.

It is rumoured that she settled with the plane’s insurance company for more than $1million.

According to the Courthouse News Service, the plane which injured the model was insured by Aggressive Insurance Services, along with a separate plane owned by the pilot Curt Richmond, a friend of the Scruggs family from Dallas, Texas.

Mr Richmond’s policy extended to other planes he pilots, the service said. Both have a $100,000 limit for passengers riding in the planes.

Active: Lauren has been tweeting frequently during her recovery

Active: Lauren has been tweeting frequently during her recovery

The report stated that Mr Richmond’s insurance 'verbally offered' to pay Ms Scruggs $200,000 after the December 3 accident.

Lauren almost lost her life when she walked into the plane propeller after taking a short flight to see the Dallas Christmas lights from the sky.

She suffered a fractured skull, broken collarbone, brain injuries and lost her left hand. Two weeks after the tragic accident, doctors decided that they had to remove Lauren's eye.

Speaking on Good Morning America in early April, her father said that his daughter recalls nothing of walking into the plane's propeller.

‘She has the courage to wake up every day and do what she needs to do,’ Mrs Scruggs told GMA. ‘She’s doing remarkable.’

Mr Scruggs chipped in, saying their daughter is still the same buoyant person. ‘She has the same spunk, the same personality.’

Sunny outlook: Lauren posted this picture accompanied by the tweet: 'Such a fun weekend with sweet family and friends'

Sunny outlook: Lauren posted this picture of her and her twin sister Brittany accompanied by the tweet: 'Such a fun weekend with sweet family and friends'

Out on the slopes: Lauren Scruggs posted this picture earlier this month saying she was watching ski jumping with family and friends

Out on the slopes: Lauren Scruggs posted this picture earlier this month saying she was watching ski jumping with family and friends

Katie Couric, GMA’s guest host at the time, asked if Ms Scruggs has any memory of the accident. Mr Scruggs responded: ‘The last thing she remembers is getting out of the plane.’

She first proudly displayed her prosthetic eye while out and about last month after she was pictured leaving the gym with her mother.

Her mother Cheryl Scruggs has written on the devoutly Christian family's Caring Bridge website: 'How blessed we are to see God's Presence in Lo every single day. We never take this for granted.

'We are blessed beyond measure; blessed beyond our wildest dreams. Easy to say, hard to live.

'Not all of it appears, externally, as blessing, but "we know that all things work together for those who love God," and we believe this is true.'

'I don’t know how to thank each one of you, properly, for so much love during this difficult incident in my life,' Ms Scruggs wrote in January.

Family: Lauren Scruggs pictured with her father, mother and twin sister - who was suffering 'sympathy pains'

Family: Lauren Scruggs pictured with her father, mother and twin sister - who was suffering 'sympathy pains'

Recalling: Speaking on Good Morning America, Lauren Scruggs' parents, Jeff and Cheryl Scruggs, updated viewers on their daughter's progress

Recalling: Speaking on Good Morning America, Lauren Scruggs' parents, Jeff and Cheryl Scruggs, updated viewers on their daughter's progress

Still herself: Mr Scruggs said his daughter still has the 'same spark' and the 'same personality' that she did before the accident

Still herself: Mr Scruggs said his daughter still has the 'same spark' and the 'same personality' that she did before the accident

'My heart is so grateful beyond what I could ever imagine.

'Thank you dearly for the sweet encouragements, the precious words in letters and messages, the beautiful grace in pretty presents.

'But mostly I am so so thankful for you and your loving hearts and sweet spirits.'

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