New treatment may offer hope for injured Olympian

Posted: Published on June 13th, 2014

This post was added by Dr Simmons

An Olympic swimmer is fighting to regain use of her legs.

Amy Van Dyken-Rouen, now 41, suffered a devastating spinal injury that was once considered irreversible.

Van Dyken-Rouen posted photos on Instagram from her hospital bed Tuesday. One caption reads: "Doing great today. My room is the most decorated in ICU. Thx for ur thoughts & prayers!"

From her hospital bed, Amy Van Dyken-Rouen posted photos on Instagram.

CBS News

Van Dyken-Rouen was riding in an all-terrain vehicle last Friday when she flipped down an embankment. The six-time Olympic gold medalist was airlifted to a hospital in Scottsdale, Arizona, where she underwent emergency surgery.

Over the weekend a family member posted a statement saying, "Amy's spinal cord was completely severed at the T11 vertebra, but, miraculously, a broken vertebra stopped within millimeters of rupturing her aorta."

The T11 vertebra is in the middle of the back. Doctors say a complete severing of the spine is rare.

Doctors thought Dustin Shillcox's spine was completely severed after a car accident four years ago.

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New treatment may offer hope for injured Olympian

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