Model Lauren Scruggs, 23, Speaks Out For First Time Since Tragic Accident

Model Lauren Scruggs has spoken out for the first time since her tragic accident when she suffered severe injuries to her face, shoulder and left hand after walking into a moving airplane propeller.

The 23-year-old fashion model wrote a note of appreciation for supporters on her blog, Lolo, Monday.

I don't know how to thank each one of you, properly, for so much love during this difficult incident in my life. My heart is so grateful beyond what I could ever imagine. So 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, Scruggs wrote.

I wonderfully know that we are all so adored by the amazing and powerful Lord, and nothing is greater than walking in His planned-out lives. Jesus Christ is imaginably glorious and worthy of all praise even in the hardest moments. Love, Lo, she continued.

Scruggs returned from a flight on Dec. 3, 2011 after watching the Christmas light displays across Texas. When she climbed out of the two-seater plane at Aero County Airport in McKinney, Texas, she accidentally walked directly into the small plane's propeller and the blade sliced the left side of her face and shoulder and severed her left hand. She was immediately taken by helicopter to Parkland Hospital in Dallas.

Following multiple surgeries, Scruggs' face and shoulder have been reconstructed, but surgeons were forced to amputate her hand and remove her left eye.

Although the Texas blogger is slowly recovering from the accident, she has been experiencing severe pain. Doctors continue to encourage Scruggs, explaining that she has had a miraculous recovery and is progressing well considering her circumstances.

But we still have a long road ahead of us, Cheryl Scruggs wrote on CaringBridge.com.

Even so called simple things, she continued, have become more difficult for her daughter. Taking a walk, buttoning jeans, typing an email and trimming a bothersome hangnail are all tasks that have become more challenging.

Scruggs left the hospital for the first time with her mother on Jan. 4.

[At Whole Foods,] we had many complete strangers stop us, with tears in their eyes, saying they have been praying for Lo and for our family. Many have told us how the accident has them seriously thinking about how important God needs to be in their lives, or how it has helped them refocus where they have gotten off track in their spiritual walk, Cheryl Scruggs wrote on CaringBridge.

Despite Scruggs' path to recovery remains lengthy, she has been surrounded by family and supporters. The fashion model and online blogger was surrounded by family and friends over the holidays and her family says she has made great strides since her accident.

Lo has been talking, lately, about JOY.......it brings tears to my eyes as she says, 'This isn't what I would have chosen, but God knows what He is doing, and I have Joy in knowing that He has chosen me to Glorify Him in this. I am excited to see how I can be used,' Cheryl Scruggs wrote on CaringBridge.

Prior to her accident, Scruggs was the Editor-in-Chief for an online fashion magazine, Lolo Magazine. She had also worked as a part-time model and in the wardrobe department of the CW television Show, Gossip Girl. She recently interviewed Twilight star Kellan Lutz for New York Fashion Week.

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