Beauty is More than What You See

In 'Still Lolo', Lauren Scruggs and her family relive the horror that cost her an eye, an arm and much more. And how she fought her way back to prove she is 'Still Lolo'.

Lauren Scruggs' childhood story opens with a 'prophecy' from a homeless man given shelter by the family. "She will always win battles," says the stranger, "...her words will penetrate the hearts of men and women.” Nothing in relation to the danger of whirling aeroplance propellers, but there you are; prophets are often short on that kind of helpful detail.

In fact, there’s quite a lot of premonition and foreboding in the build up to the accident that changes Lauren Scruggs' life. There's also a lot of retrospective story telling by Lauren’s dad (Jeff), mum (Cheryl), and sister (Brittany). And I mean a lot, even from way before the accident, even before Lauren’s birth. Do we really need to know when her parents left of using brith control to conceive her?

Much of the writing is rather emotional and a little clichéd for me; but then it’s not set in a world that particularly interests me (fashion and fashion journalism) either. Even so, it is one astounding story of the triumph of faith, human determination, family devotion and – let’s not forget, medical and technical brilliance. Lauren’s recovery, restoration and rediscovery of her true worth and beauty in her own eyes is a lesson in self esteem, in moving forward and in not dwelling on the what might have been.