A blood drive and fundraiser for fashion blogger Lauren Scruggs resulted in 43 pints of blood and $4,000 in donations Sunday.
Friends of Lauren Scruggs got together at Lifetime Fitness in Plano to support the 23-year-old model and fashion blogger who walked into an airplane propeller a couple of weeks ago and lost an eye and a hand.
Getting into the chair and rolling up their sleeves, one person after another gave blood in honor of Scruggs.
"Just really one of those things that just really hits close to home," said Angela Deaton, of Frisco. "It's not going directly to her. I hope it helps people all over the Metroplex."
Complete strangers were touched by her story and moved to give.
"She had a whole career ahead of her and now it's not going to be the same," said Amy Beachum, a blood donor from Plano.
Scruggs is recovering in a Dallas rehabilitation center. A close friend tells NBC 5 her appetite is coming back, and she's riding a stationary bike.
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"She's ready to get back in the gym on the stepper machine," said friend Amy Havenor. "Lauren has a long recovery, although she's doing very, very well. She's recovering well. Her spirit is wonderful. The same old Lauren."
Friends say Scruggs will get a prosthesis for her eye but hasn't decided on what to do about her hand.
Scruggs' generosity is what friend Lora Ewing said inspired her to make hats named after Scruggs' online magazine, "LoLo," and sell them to raise money for her medical bills.
"When that happened to her, we wanted to do whatever we could to help her," said Ewing, co-owner of LeeLee Rox. "I couldn't believe it. I was shaking. I didn't know. I still can't believe it."
Donations for the Lauren Scruggs Hope Fund are being accepted at any Frost Bank or through the website for LoLo Magazine.
