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Jamie Lynn Spears opens up about daughter's ATV accident: 'We thought that she had passed'
Nine years after an ATV crash nearly claimed her life, Maddie Watson, now 18, is pursuing a medical career. She told People in an interview published June 20, "Hopefully I'll end up going to medical school and end up being a pediatrician."
In February 2017, an 8-year-old Maddie was driving an ATV near her Louisiana home when it flipped into a pond and briefly pinned her underwater. Her mother, Jamie Lynn Spears, and family members rushed to rescue her from the water.
After being airlifted to the hospital, Maddie spent two days in a coma. Jamie Lynn recalled that a priest was called to administer last rites, and she marks the "miracle anniversary" of her daughter surviving every year.
Studying health sciences at the University of Southern Mississippi this fall, Maddie plans to become a pediatrician. Jamie Lynn said her daughter "would be a great pediatrician" and is "giving me something to brag about."
Reflecting on the experience, Maddie views the trauma as transformative, stating, "In the end, I think such a negative experience affected us positively." She credits this perspective with shaping her career aspirations and dedication to her studies.