Back in July, she walked away from a plane crash in the Cascades that killed her step-grandparents. Six months later, we're checking in on Autumn Veatch as she gets her first look at a book written about her survival story.
The 16-year-old surprised the world when she survived the plane crash and then hiked through rugged terrain for days until she reached civilization and safety. When Autumn emerged from the woods she was burned and bruised from the fiery crash. She was also severely dehydrated, but incredibly, she was alive.
We asked Autumn what her life in Bellingham has been like over the last six months.
"People recognize me at school and stuff from the news," she said. "But it's a lot less hectic than it was when it first happened."
Autumn says she never considered sharing her story in a book, until a local author from Sedro-Woolley approached her family.
"I was already impressed with Autumn before," said author Tara Ellis. "But after speaking with her and really getting the details of what she went through and her composure, I just felt really strongly, this needs to tell her story."
With permission from Autumn and her father, Ellis began working on the book.
"She's a true survivor in every sense, not just what she went through in the plane crash," said Ellis. "Autumn is a wonderful example of how strong you can be, even if you don't think you can."
The book is called 'Getting Out Alive: The Autumn Veatch Story' and is now available in paperback and e-book formats on Amazon. It includes photos from Autumn's hospital room recovery, as well as some of the tactics she says helped keep her alive and how she managed to keep going.
"I remember thinking after the crash that I didn't know where I was or what I would do," said Autumn. "I just started walking downhill. I was really scared and I kinda wished my step-grandparents were the ones that made it instead of me."
Ever since her survival story made national headlines, Autumn has been open about her struggle with mental health issues, depression, and anxiety -- issues she dealt with long before the crash. She says she's heard from teenagers all over the country who said her story inspired them, and that's one of the reasons she decided to share her story in a book.
"People were saying that they have similar mental health problems as I do and it's awesome to see that I can overcome something so big, and it makes them believe in themselves," she said. "I guess that's kinda what motivates me to speak about it."
On Tuesday evening, Autumn got to see the finished book, printed and published for the first time.
"I think it's awesome," she said. "I mean, I didn't ever think there would be a book written about me, like ever. So it's really cool. And it's a good story."
You can check out the book on Amazon here.
