Critically Injured Missionary Honored at Former High School

Stansbury High’s gymnasium was full of high school students and parents Thursday who came out to honor a former student and basketball player who is recovering from a critical brain injury.

More than four months ago, Kendal Levine was struck by a car, leaving her critically injured, while serving a mission in Australia for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Many people have reached out to Levine and her family, offering their support throughout her recovery process.

Since her traumatic brain injury, Levine has been in rehab at the University of Utah. Levine’s mother, Melodie, told FOX13,

[pull_quote_center]It’s been 4 months, she’s actually come a long way. She’s recovering a lot faster than she should be recovering. She’s come out of everything that the doctors said she would never come out of.[/pull_quote_center]

The former star player was welcomed back to her high school’s court at the rivalry game between Stansbury and Tooele. KUTV reports that in a pre-game locker-room meeting, Levine told the girls to “kick some butt.” In that same meeting, Coach Kenzie Newton told the Lady Stallions,

[pull_quote_center]We’re not only playing for the stallions, but we’re playing for [Kendal] tonight so let’s get out there and do it.[/pull_quote_center]

The school also recognized Levine on the court prior to tip-off. In honor of the former player, each member of the team wore a shirt with the number 10 on it—the number Levine sported on her jersey throughout her high school career. Stansbury played their hearts out for Levine and defeated Tooele 55 to 51.

According to FOX13, Levine’s family says that she intends on completing the last six months of her mission once she has made a full recovery.