Former Edmonton waitress in life-changing crash to be honoured for her courage

Lana Kisslinger had just finished her serving shift at Earls Tin Palace in Edmonton when her life changed forever. As she crossed Jasper Avenue in a marked crosswalk, she was hit by a car.

That was July 9, 2014. The City of Edmonton installed traffic lights in that location a year later. Lana’s recovery has taken much longer.

READ MORE: Construction underway to install lights at busy downtown Edmonton crosswalk

At the time of the crash, Lana was a 19-year-old NAIT business student. She suffered a fractured pelvis and a severe brain injury.

“We were told if she survives, the best-case scenario is a long-term care facility,” Lana’s mother Colleen Kisslinger said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We were told <em>if</em> she survives, the best-case scenario is a long-term care facility," Lana's mother Colleen Kisslinger said.

After three surgeries, including one to remove part of her skull to relieve brain swelling, Lana was unresponsive for 11 days.

“The neurosurgeon got really close to Lana’s ear and shouted, ‘Lana give me a thumbs up!'” Colleen recalled.

“Her thumb came up and we knew there was some brain activity at that point… That was a great day.”

View image in full screen

Less than two months later, Lana was transferred from the University of Alberta Hospital to the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital.

Get weekly health news

Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday.

Sign up for weekly health newsletter Sign Up

By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

“When I first met Lana, she wasn’t able to sit unsupported, she wasn’t able to stand, walk or even talk,” physiotherapist Lauren Richardson said.

READ MORE: Earls employee struck in marked downtown Edmonton crosswalk

“We were working on things like eye contact… listening when someone was talking, looking to a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’ on a board,” speech language pathologist Trina Wetter explained.

View image in full screen

For three years, at both the Glenrose and the Halvar Jonson Centre for Brain Injury, Lana worked every day to overcome her injuries.

Today, the former goalie still has issues with balance and strength, but she can walk short distances with two canes. And she recently managed to do a speech at her childhood bible camp.

“I miss quite a bit, but I’ve adapted to this life now,” Lana told Global News.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I miss quite a bit, but I've adapted to this life now," Lana told Global News.

She’s now 22 years old and doesn’t remember much of the past few years, except that she sometimes couldn’t picture her future.

“I just couldn’t see myself really living out of the hospital.”

WATCH: Mayor demands safety review of Jasper Ave crosswalk after 19-year-old hit 

Despite that, she pushed through her therapies.

On Oct. 2, her Glenrose medical team will present her with an Award of Courage at their annual ceremony.

“Often, we think about courage in these big, bold acts, but Lana has showed courage every day for the last three years,” Wetter said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Often, we think about courage in these big, bold acts, but Lana has showed courage every day for the last three years," Wetter said.

Lana says the award is motivating.

“I was at the gym… like, ‘Well, I’m getting a Courage Award. I have to do this even harder!'” she laughed.

“I’m just happy to be here, on earth, because technically I wasn’t supposed to be on earth for very long.”