Amy Van Dyken-Rouen Shares First Photo Since Spinal Cord Injury: Says She's "Doing Great Today"
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Amy Van Dyken-Rouen is already on the road to recovery after severing here spine in an ATV accident last week.
The six-time Olympic gold medalist shared the first picture of her in the hospital, where she appears to be sitting up and smiling.
"Doing great today. My room is the most decorated in ICU. Thx for ur thoughts & prayers!" she wrote.
And considering an accident report noted that Van Dyken-Rouen told paramedics she couldn't feel her legs, seeing her sitting up is downright fantastic!
Her family revealed more about the 41-year-old athlete's terrifying ordeal in a letter released to Swimming World magazine.
"Amy's spinal cord was completely severed at the T11 vertebrae, but, miraculously, a broken vertebrae stopped within millimeters of rupturing her aorta, and she did not suffer any head trauma," the letter continued.
"Amy awoke within hours of surgery acting like her typical spunky, boisterous, ebullient self and has spent the last 24 hours entertaining her family and her medical staff in the ICU. She has made at least one male nurse blush. Amy's attitude has been overwhelmingly positive and optimistic. She has been far more of a comfort to us than we have been to her."
Her family continued, "She is a fighter. With the unconditional love and support of her friends, family and fans, Amy welcomes the challenges she will face as she opens this new chapter of her life."