'I love you': Fashion editor, 23, utters first words and comes to terms with her horrific injuries after walking into a spinning plane propeller as family pray for her recovery



Stylist who worked on hit show Gossip Girl had been on short flight to see Christmas lights

Former model was able to tell doctor her name and tell family she loved them

Recovering in hospital after she had her hand amputated

Model and fashion blogger Lauren Scruggs is beginning to learn the extent of the horrific, life-changing injuries she sustained after walking into a spinning airplane propeller and has even been able to utter a few words since surgery.



The 23-year-old - who sustained graphic wounds to her head and shoulder and underwent emergency surgery to have her hand amputated - is beginning to come to terms with what happened to her as she recovers in ICU surrounded by her family.



A spokeswoman said on the weblog Caring Bridge set up in her honour: ' As Lauren begins to wake up, she is learning the extent of her injuries.'

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Prayers: Miss Scruggs' family has said she is currently resting peacefully in the ICU

Prayers: Miss Scruggs' family spokeswoman has said she is currently resting peacefully in the ICU after undergoing multiple surgeries

Tragic: Miss Scruggs suffered serious facial injuries when she climbed out of a 2011 Aviat Husky at the private airport in Texas (library picture)

'Brittany (her twin sister) was able to explain to her that she was in an accident, sustaining multiple injuries. She seemed to acknowledge what Brittany explained and confirmed it with a hand squeeze.



'She is able to open her right eye to see while her left eye is still bandaged. Please continue to pray for the vision of her left eye, as we will not know the status of her sight for some time,' stated the website.

It also revealed that when the doctor asked the 23-year-old what her name was, she was able to say 'Lauren'.

When her sister and mother told her they love her she told them, 'I love you too.'

Miss Scruggs, who created her own style website, was injured as she climbed out of a two-seater plane at Aero County Airport in McKinney, Texas, after a flight to see Christmas lights across the state two days ago.

Support: Lauren, pictured with her father Jeff and twin sister Brittany, is surrounded by loved ones at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas

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

According to RadarOnline, Lynn Lunsford, Mid-States Public Affairs Manager with the Federal Aviation Administration,said that an integral part of the investigation into exactly what happened is why the propeller was still moving when Scruggs got off the plane.



'It appears that the pilot left the engine running at idle while she exited the plane to switch places with another passenger. That's one of the aspects of the investigation,' she told RadarOnline.



The pilot has not yet been identified but he is thought to have been a friend of Lauren's and recently purchased the plane.

The 23-year-old, from the suburban area of Plano in Dallas, was taken to the Parkland Memorial Hospital where her devout Christian family, including her mother Cheryl, father Jeff and twin sister Brittany, gathered at her bedside.

A close family friend, who wished to remain anonymous, told MailOnline: 'I don't know anyone more gracious and sincere than Lauren. She always puts her family and friends first and everyone just flocks to her.

'But if there was someone who could make the best of this situation and come out on top, then she can.'

Family friend Janee Harrell said: 'Speaking for the entire Scruggs family, your prayers are greatly appreciated and felt every moment.

'Many of you know, our beautiful Lauren was in an accident. After exiting a propeller plane, an accident occurred where she walked into the front of the prop.



'Struck on the left side of her body, Lauren's hand, head, and shoulder area were hit.

Friends: Lauren with Ed Westwick, star of Gossip Girl, where she worked in the wardrobe department

A list: Lauren attends a fashion party in New York with actress Chloe Sevigny (centre) and a friend

Ambitious: Lauren Scruggs (right), from Texas, edits an online fashion magazine and is also a part-time model

'Following multiple surgeries, Lauren has received facial and shoulder reconstruction, as well as the loss of her hand.

'We are currently praying for healing on the left eye and brain. She is in a stable condition with ongoing surgery. Keep praying!'

In a later blog post, Ms Harrell wrote that Lauren was 'currently resting peacefully in ICU'.

She added: 'Earlier in the night, there was a victory. With her eyes closed, Jeff [her father] asked Lauren to respond by squeezing his hand, moments later that is exactly what she did! Praise the Lord.

Fashion capital: Lauren (right) and a friend enjoy a boat trip in Paris

Support: The 23-year-old has had parents Cheryl and Jeff Scruggs at her bedside

'Tomorrow, Lauren will be heading back into surgery so that the doctors can finish up the work on her left hand area. Pray that the surgery goes flawlessly, as well as there will be no infections.'

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) were investigating the incident.

In an email to MailOnline today, an FAA spokesman wrote: 'According to our preliminary information, the woman was a passenger in a 2011 Aviat Husky.

'She had just exited the aircraft when she walked into the propeller around 9.30 pm on Saturday at Aero Country Airport. We are still investigating and will interview the pilot and any other witnesses.'



The identity of the pilot would not be revealed while the FAA investigation was ongoing but he was believed not to have been injured. He is also believed to be a family friend.

Pleasure flight: The model and writer had taken a short flight from Aero County Airport to look at Christmas lights over her native Texas when the accident happened

The plane is believed that have been fairly new and the pilot was in the process of changing passengers when the accident happened.



Miss Scruggs worked in the wardrobe department of the TV show Gossip Girl. She is also the editor of an online fashion magazine Lolo.com, which she started four months ago, and recently interviewed Twilight star Kellan Lutz at New York Fashion Week.



LoloMag Kellan Lutz Interview from Aaron Craig on Vimeo.