After a traffic accident left her in a coma, Valley pottery artist Victoria Cardenas has made an inspiring recovery, returning to her work. According to FOX 10 Phoenix, just two months after the severe crash on US 60, where her vehicle was struck by steel pipes from a jackknifed semitruck, Cardenas visited Mudslingers, the pottery shop where she creates her distinctive pieces. Her return to the business at Goldfield Goldmine in Apache Junction yesterday was described as a "miracle" by Cardenas, considering the severity of her injuries.
Cardenas' recovery journey has been a significant moment for the community, with her loved ones providing support for both her and her business. "I am just lucky," Victoria, or Tori as she's known, told FOX 10 Phoenix in a statement brimming with gratitude towards her mother, aunt, and high school friends who have been a support network throughout the ordeal.
12 News reports that the accident's impact was devastating, but despite the near-total destruction of her vehicle, Cardenas emerged alive, albeit with significant facial, foot, and wrist injuries. "The second I found out that she was alive, I was just like, thank you, because I felt like, if she were to die, I would have to die with her," her mother, Amber Cardenas, conveyed in an interview with 12 News.
Fundraisers have sprung up in support of Cardenas, with Goldfield Goldmine hosting an event featuring cookie and ornament decoration to contribute to her mounting expenses. In an act reflecting her spirit, some of the proceeds will be directed to the Superstition Food Bank, in a bid to pay the kindness forward. Moreover, friends and family have established a GoFundMe campaign to assist with medical costs and help Cardenas acquire specialized equipment necessary for continuing her pottery enterprise, as noted by 12 News.
The local community has observed Cardenas's determined recovery and her steadfast dedication to her craft. “I realize I’ve been given a second chance and I am not going to screw this one up," she stated to FOX 10 Phoenix.
