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CANBERRA, Australia — A sister missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was seriously injured when a vehicle struck the car she was getting into Friday.
Sister Kendal Briquel Levine, 20, of Stansbury Park, is in critical condition as she receives medical care, according to LDS Church spokesperson Jessica Moody.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Sister Levine, her family and her companion during this difficult time,” Moody said.
According to Levine's aunt, Mindy Jones Blake, Levine was taking a photo of a double rainbow on the side of the road before she started to get back into the car and was hit.
Blake said Levine's responses to paramedics were incoherent at a hospital, and doctors decided to put her in an induced coma. After a full body CT scan, they noticed that she had some bleeding in her lungs and head trauma, but did not have any broken bones.
Doctors also found that Levine did not suffer any swelling to her brain, Blake said. Levine did have contusions and internal bruising, and doctors were monitoring her for blood clotting, according to Blake.
Levine is no longer on the medication that put her in the coma, and doctors were waiting for her to come out of it on her own, Blake said.
Levine's parents, who moved to Hauula, Hawaii, shortly after the woman left to serve a mission, were arranging to fly to Australia to be with their daughter.
Miracles have been happening. Lots of prayers have been going out from all across the world. It seems at this point it's been spread everywhere, and it's been amazing to see what should've happened but what's reality.
–Mindy Blake, Kendal Levine's aunt
Blake said she attended a football game at Stansbury High Friday night, where Levine graduated from in 2012, and donations totaling $1,253 were collected from the crowd to help Levine's parents make the trip.
"Miracles have been happening," Blake said. "Lots of prayers have been going out from all across the world. It seems at this point it's been spread everywhere, and it's been amazing to see what should've happened but what's reality."
Jenn Klenk, a family friend, said Levine is well-loved by the Stansbury community, and many have offered their assistance to the family.
"She's a legend here," Klenk said. "Kendal is just the person who is not afraid to do anything. … She's part of everybody. She's part of the community. She's part of us. So I think that's why they love her."
Blake described Levine as a role model to her children — Levine's cousins — and said she earned a full-ride scholarship to Casper College where she played basketball prior to her mission.
"Everybody looked up to her," Blake said of Levine. "She kind of grew up a tomboy — very beautiful — but just loved sports."
A fund has been set up at any Wells Fargo bank under "Melody and Dave Levine, Tooele Home Branch 84074, living in Hawaii." People can also donate* to father David Levine's PayPal account at D45bulldog@hotmail.com.
Contributing: Brianna Bodily
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*KSL.com has not verified the accuracy of the information provided with respect to the account nor does KSL.com assure that the monies deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account you should consult your own advisors and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
