She was a carefree teen, laughing and chatting with her girlfriend as they walked home from the convenience store. In a flash that, mercifully, she is unable to remember, Candice McFarlane was hurled in the air and thrown to the pavement, her body twisted, broken and bleeding. The driver of a truck did not see her until he hit her as she crossed fast-paced Ralph Fair Road in her neighborhood at Fair Oaks. The terrifying scene replayed itself when Candice was immediately struck again, this time by a car.

During the next critical minutes, it was as if a legion of angels were watching over the 14-year-old girl. An off-duty EMS technician saw the accident and lent aid. The police arrived in seconds. A volunteer EMS crew from Leon Springs was on the scene quickly. And an AirLife helicopter was summoned and made it to the site in just minutes. In less than a half hour from the moment of impact, AirLife had transported her to University Hospital where a team of doctors, nurses and technicians began the unimaginable task of putting Candice’s shattered body back together again.

Her mother, Kathy McFarlane, an RN, recalls with photographic detail the events that followed. As a nurse, she understood everything, and she read beyond the noncommittal looks on the faces of the health care providers as they kept her updated on Candice during that first night at the hospital. “We’re doing everything we can,” they assured her. Her interpretation: “There is little hope.”

Kathy feared the odds. Candice had sustained catastrophic injuries – including a fractured right ankle and right hip; her pelvis fractured in six places; ruptured spleen; lacerated liver; bilaterial renal contusions; punctured right lung, fractured right humerus; fractured left clavicle and humerus; skull fracture with concussion in the frontal lobe … and more scratches, bumps and bruises than could be counted. Her injuries more closely resembled an academic list of the most wretched injuries that could befall an accident victim than a real diagnosis.

She lost her life three times that night – at the accident scene and in the AirLife helicopter – and miraculously returned to life, although she would remain unconscious in a medically-induced coma for weeks to come. Throughout those first 12 hours of surgery to repair the ravaged remains of this girl who had been the picture of health, wholeness and youthful energy just hours before, she needed blood. She received the incomparable gift of life-giving blood transfusions to replace and restore the loss she had suffered.

“They gave her 22 units of blood and blood products during those first 24 hours and additional blood during her stay in ICU,” Kathy remembers. “If it hadn’t been for the blood, if it hadn’t been available, she never would have survived. You never know when a catastrophic accident may occur – it happens all the time. And hospitals need huge amounts of blood on standby to save lives. Donors need to give, not once, but constantly. And everyone needs to give,” Kathy says.

“I go frequently to give blood, but my hemoglobin is too low and they turn me away. I always try again. I’m frustrated that I can’t give, but I pray that others will. It doesn’t hurt; it’s not dangerous in any way. It is the best way to give life to another person,” she says.

Kathy believes that her daughter was saved by a combination of “divine and human intervention.” On the human side, she credits the EMS workers, doctors, nurses, technicians and all who donated blood. On the divine side, she and Candice credit God and are grateful for their deep faith.

Candice’s life has returned to a teenage routine. She is in the 9th grade. Thanks to at-home tutoring from her school and the continued aid of teachers who have rallied ‘round Candice to help her succeed and transcend the missed weeks of school, she was able to keep up with her studies and her peers. Rehab can probably rectify the slight limp she still carries. Fortunately, neither her face nor her teeth suffered damage in the accident, but she wears many scars on her body that will be lifetime reminders of the trauma she suffered. Candice is now free of pain medication, but has endured a few setbacks – including some seizure activity and gall bladder surgery.

Family, friends and faith have helped keep her going … along with Coco, the Maltese puppy that her mother brought her after she was released from the hospital. An anonymous benefactor from their church bought Candice a laptop so she could keep up with her friends online, and she is an avid reader who loves quiet time spent with her beloved books.

Life will never be quite the same for Candice … but her family is grateful every day that she survived the accident and that her life has become somewhat normal. Kathy says, “She has a great attitude and is really thankful. She is not sure why God saved her, but she plans to serve others because of what happened to her.” Kathy says her daughter wants to be a teacher, to work with children and others who have been through trauma so she can inspire and encourage them.

With all that magnificent blood circulating through her body, bringing healing, life and hope … Candice can do anything. Thanks to you.