What excuse did Blair Hornstine give after being caught plagiarizing?

Blair Hornstine, a high school valedictorian, claimed that her plagiarized work was the result of a misunderstanding and that she had inadvertently included unattributed material in her research. She argued that her health issues, including a chronic illness, affected her ability to properly cite sources. Despite her explanations, the controversy led to significant media attention and scrutiny of her academic integrity.