Olympian Amy Van Dyken-Rouen says she’s so “thankful to be alive” following an all-terrain vehicle accident that severed her spine less than two weeks ago, according to NBC’s “Today” show.
Though the recovery process has been painful, Ms. Van Dyken-Rouen said it has been easy to maintain a positive attitude.
“I’m actually feeling really good, which is surprising,” said Ms. Van Dyken-Rouen, according to Fox. “I’m excited to get to this new part of my life. It’s almost like a rebirth a little bit.”
At one point, doctors told the Olympian that she may not survive the surgeries her injuries required. “We said our goodbyes. And to do that, and then to be here now and to be with him is the most amazing thing,” she said Wednesday from a stretcher during a news conference, “Today” reports.
She also said that her physical health from being an athlete probably saved her life, and is helping her recover quickly, Fox reports.
The six-time gold medalist was flown from Scottsdale, Arizona, to a rehab hospital in Denver Wednesday. The expected outcome of her rehabilitation is unknown, but Ms. Van Dyken-Rouen said she hope to be independent, according to Fox.
• Jennifer Pompi can be reached at jpompi@washingtontimes.com.
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