APACHE JUNCTION, Arizona. – A Valley woman who was nearly killed in a horrific crash two months ago is on the road to recovery.
Steel pipes were sent through his car, sending him to the hospital in a coma, after a horrific crash on US 60.
Victoria Cardenas makes her living making one-of-a-kind pottery at the Goldfield gold mine in Apache Junction in front of the old Western-looking shop called Slingers.
She finally returned here on Thursday, December 19, for the first time in a long time.
Cardenas is back, and it’s nothing short of a miracle.
“I feel lucky to be here. That’s the best part. I’m lucky to be alive and I’m lucky to be here,” she said.
Victoria – who goes by Tori – was left in a coma after a semi-trailer jackknifed, sending pipes and poles straight into her car.
She survived, but still suffers serious injuries that could take months to heal.
“So many people stepped up: my mom, my aunt, my friends from high school that I didn’t remember. I’m just lucky,” she said.
Friends and family kept Mudslingers open while Tori was away so she could focus on getting better.
“She was in the hospital for 48 days, in the intensive care unit for 40 days. After that it was like a prison. So when she came out it was just every day with a smile,” said Amber Cardenas , his mother.
Tori’s return doesn’t mean she’s back to work, not yet.
Rather, it’s an opportunity to take a look around, share a few smiles and say thank you.
“I realize I’ve been given a second chance and I’m not going to waste it. I’m not going to waste it. This life is going to mean something. I promise you that,” she says.
Goldfield Goldmine is hosting a cookie and ornament decorating event this Friday and Saturday.
Proceeds will go to Tori. She also donates a portion of the profits to the Superstition Food Bank to help pay it forward.
A GoFundMe page was also created for Cardenas’ family.
The source : Information for this story was gathered by FOX 10 reporter Brian Webb.