November 15, 2012 NBC NEWS EXCLUSIVE: LAUREN SCRUGGS NATALIE MORALES SITS DOWN WITH LAUREN SCRUGGS IN HER FIRST PRIME TIME INTERVIEW SINCE HER HORRIFIC PROPELLER ACCIDENT Interview to Air on NBC’s “Dateline” Friday, November 16 at 10p/9c Scruggs to Appear Live on NBC’s “Today” Friday, November 16
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NEW YORK – November 15, 2012 – In December 2011, fashion writer Lauren Scruggs was struck by an airplane propeller that severed her hand and caused her to lose her left eye. It took six surgeons and over ten hours of operating to save the then 23-year-old’s life. In her first prime time interview, nearly one year later, Scruggs sits down with NBC News’ Natalie Morales and speaks out about what happened that fateful night, her remarkable recovery, and her book, Still Lolo: A Spinning Propeller, a Horrific Accident, and a Family’s Journey of Hope.

The interview took place at Scruggs’ home in Dallas, Texas, and will air on NBC’s “Dateline” Friday, November 16 at 10p/9c. On the morning of November 16, Scruggs will appear live on NBC’s “Today”.

Excerpts from the interview follow. If used, mandatory credit NBC’s “Dateline” with airdate, Friday, November 16. Photos from the interview available at www.nbcumv.com.

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NATALIE MORALES:

Your father said perhaps you went back to thank the pilot or something to that effect. Do you think that was what you were trying to do in that moment?

LAUREN SCRUGGS:

I don't think I was going back to thank him because I thanked him in the plane.

NATALIE MORALES:

Describe--

LAUREN SCRUGGS:

--the reason.

NATALIE MORALES:

--the tarmac for me, too. As I understand it was pitch black. It was pretty dark.

LAUREN SCRUGGS:

It was. It was dark and rainy outside and kind of foggy.

NATALIE MORALES:

Did you see the propeller?

LAUREN SCRUGGS:

I don't remember. I just-- I literally just remember climbing out of the plane and touching the ground. And that was it.

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NATALIE MORALES:

There have been days where you would lay crying on your bed and not wanting to get out of bed at all.

LAUREN SCRUGGS:

Right. Sometimes I think I would just wake up and think, "Did this really happen?" I would think I had dreamt about losing my hand or something and I'd wake up and it wasn't there … And the doctors even told me that losing a hand is like losing a family member or a sister, because it's part of you … And still have those moments today.

NATALIE MORALES:

You still do? You still struggle?

LAUREN SCRUGGS:

Sometimes. Yeah. For sure. Just because it's a part of my everyday life and a lot of days are wonderful and a lot of days'll just-- kind of things'll hit me.

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NATALIE MORALES:

Do you allow yourself to ever go down that path where you think, "What if?"

LAUREN SCRUGGS:

No, I don't really let myself go to the what if questions or why did this happen to me. I just-- I don't believe--

NATALIE MORALES:

You never--

LAUREN SCRUGGS:

--in that.

NATALIE MORALES:

--ask God like, "Why have this happen to me?"

LAUREN SCRUGGS:

No, I just have learned through reading the Bible and also just growing up as a Christian, I've realized that God will only put things in your life that he knows you can handle … And so my life has just deepened and I don't think I would trade that.

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