Olympic gold medalist Amy Van Dyken-Rouen's fighting spirit is in center stage as she fights paralysis with a smile. INSIDE EDITION explains.
Amy Van Dyken-Rouen is an American golden girl. She is the winner of multiple Olympic gold medals for swimming. Now, she is winning accolades for another reason.
Her husband, Tom, said, "She has literally walked through Hell with a smile on her face."
She said, "I am going to get through it. It will be okay."
Two weeks ago, she was riding an ATV when she hit a curb. The accident severed her spine.
But 41-year-old Amy is inspiring the nation with upbeat messages like one she posted on Wednesday as she prepared to leave the hospital, saying, "Thank you for all of your support and I will see you later! Wheels up!"
She's smiling in every photo from her hospital bed, even goofing around with silly glasses.
Fans are bombarding her with messages of love.
INSIDE EDITION social media contributor Dr. Seth Meyers (@DrSethMeyers) said, "Amy Van Dyken is a true inspiration and a real reminder that attitude is everything, especially when coping with the terrible physical trauma as she did.
As she prepared to board a medevac flight to take her from Scottsdale, Arizona to a rehab facility in Denver, her extraordinary spirit was there for everyone to see.
She said, "I have gotten a lot of messages saying, 'We are sending you thoughts, prayers, positive vibes.' I feel them. It is helping me. I just want to say thank you to everybody."
Her husband said, "This is how she is everyday. She wakes up and she is happy to be alive, every single day."
Give this woman the gold for guts.
