Maddie, the 14-year-old daughter of Jamie Lynn Spears, realizes she is fortunate to be alive after surviving a near-fatal ATV accident five years ago.
“We did a lot of work, obviously, to digest it, and now it’s more about concentrating on the good and the fact that it’s a miracle,” the 31-year-old actress says in an exclusive new interview with Page Six.
“We were fortunate. “Such occurrences do not occur randomly,” she continues.
“This is how we now debate it. It is our anniversary of a miracle, not of an accident. And Maddie and I are really appreciative.”
In February 2017, Spears and her 8-year-old daughter Maddie visited the parents of her husband, Jamie Watson, where Maddie rode her ATV. The ATV was submerged in a pond, with Maddie still fastened to it.
Jamie Lynn Spears spoke with Page Six to promote her role in the new reality series “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test” on Fox.
Maddie sustained no brain damage and finally made a full recovery, a miraculous change of events.
While filming Fox’s new reality series “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test,” Spears relived the harrowing, but miraculous, incident.
The “Sweet Magnolias” actress was one of 16 celebrities who flew to the deserts of Jordan to participate in a series of physically and emotionally taxing trials devised for U.S. military training.
In 2017, Maddie, Spears’ 14-year-old daughter, survived a near-fatal ATV accident.
The group, which included ex-“Bachelorette” Hannah Brown and “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star Kenya Moore, was instructed to jump from a helicopter into open sea few hours into shooting.
The “Zoey 101” alum reflects, “I was beyond horrified and obviously triggered.” “But I simply had to do it, endure it. And I’m so pleased I did.”
Spears, who immediately erupted into tears and even vomited after completing the adrenaline-inducing activity, felt better in the end despite the accompanying surge of emotional suffering.
Spears was one of sixteen celebrities that flew to Jordan’s deserts to take part in a series of arduous trials devised for U.S. military training.
“It was crucial how they utilized the physical factors to promote mental recovery. Having to through that experience with Maddie was obviously really heartbreaking for me,” she explains.
“And despite the fact that it was a miracle that she lived, the water and elements involved in the helicopter flight were difficult for me. I vomited as soon as I was asked if I was okay. My body recalled the trauma of Maddie’s accident, but it was also extremely therapeutic.”
The subsequent outpouring of emotions seemed cathartic, according to the mother of two, who also raises Watson’s 4-year-old daughter Ivey.
At one point, Spears jumped from a helicopter and dove into the open water.
“I cried for the subsequent hour or so. I required that. I never really allowed myself to go there, and the only way I could get there emotionally and intellectually was by pushing myself physically,” she says.
It’s intense, but I’d say it was successful.
After hearing more of her and Maddie’s tale on “Special Forces,” Spears hopes families who have endured similar challenges would feel “less alone.”
Spears tells Page Six, “It’s our miracle anniversary, not our accident anniversary.” And Maddie and I are extremely appreciative.
“Me having to discuss this on national television and having a discourse about it will likely make a lot of other people feel less alone,” she says.
“I wanted to make myself entirely exposed so that others who have also traveled this path can find healing.”
Fox premieres “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test” on January 4 at 8 p.m. ET.
»Jamie Lynn Spears: Today, Maddie, 14, and I talked about her near-fatal accident«