After car crash 'miracle', Goulding dreams of Tall Ferns return

Earlier this year, Tall Fern Mary Goulding was critically injured in a head on collision in North Canterbury — an accident paramedics first on the scene didn't think she'd survive. Now six months on, she's defied all odds and expectations and bravely sharing her road to recovery with 1News Sports' Jordan Oppert.

All Mary remembers from the day her life and that of her family's flipped upside down is that she was off to the gym.

"I don't remember getting in the car, saying goodbye to Dad or anything like that but I know I was going to the gym," she recalled.

She has since learned she was in a head-on collision and that she's extremely lucky to be alive.

"Everyone on the scene including policemen and paramedics, they didn't think I'd have a chance.

"And the doctor, he didn't think it looked good either and was pretty honest with my parents telling them, 'she might not make it'."

Following the accident, she spent 12 days in a coma and underwent an emergency craniectomy to relieve pressure from her brain. Her shaved hair and scar, a visual reminder of it every day.

"I really can't deny the fact it was a miracle — the odds I'd survive and be able to talk to you today were not high at all."

Prior to the accident, Goulding was about to make her comeback for the Tall Ferns in their tour of Europe before the Asia Cup, having been out of action for nine months with a major Achilles injury.

That injury, and other little roadbumps in her sporting journey, made her think she knew what "suffering" and "trials" were but that all changed when she woke up from her coma.

The 27-year-old was alive but she would have to learn how to eat, drink, walk and talk all over again.

"They said my fitness, strength and youth really helped but it was hard because my mind was telling me I could do things, but getting my body to follow was another story," she said.

Thankfully all the while she had a constant stream of support to help her when she was overwhelmed with a quick glance at her phone showing hundreds of messages wishing her well and praying for her recovery.

"To have this much support and the amount of communities around the world praying for me, it was just overwhelming," she said.

"I remember asking my sister, 'was it that bad?' and she was like 'yes, Mary, you nearly died' — and I just remember crying because I just had no idea."

Though the severity did eventually sink in when she was told she was unlikely to ever play basketball again.

"Hearing those words, the rebellious side in me was like, 'we'll see, we'll see — you can say that, but you don't know me'."

That's when Goulding's resilience shone. Just like she'd always been dedicated to her craft, she got stuck in to her rehabilitation.

Within six weeks of coming out of her coma she was walking and after only three months she was running, having already gotten back in the gym building back her strength.

And now six months on, she's able to run 8km.

"At first, they said the chances of me making a full recovery was 0% but when they saw how well I did in hospital for the next two weeks they were like. 'you know what, this is beyond our understanding, she's doing so well'.

"And as months go by, they think I'll make a full recovery, and personally I'm very optimistic," she said.

Fast forward to a week ago, she finally got back on court, albeit an empty one, and shot her first hoop.

"I just couldn't stop smiling," she said.

"I can't shoot a 3-pointer, that's still beyond me, however a free-throw was beyond me a month and a half ago so give me another few weeks or month, I don't see anything standing in my way."

Getting back on court has been a big source of motivation for Goulding.

"I don't see why I couldn't. I'm not sure what level, but I'll work hard and whatever level it is, I just know I'll be so grateful to play again," she said.

But her Tall Ferns teammates are like a second family so in a testament to her character, she put their worries at ease as they toured Europe while still being in hospital.

"I had accepted that. 'okay, I'm not going be playing basketball at the moment and I'll miss the tour' but what about the team?" she recalled.

"So, I asked Dad if we could send them a message to let them know I was okay because they were so supportive wanting to know how I was doing but I couldn't be on my phone cause of the stimulation it took to reply.

"But a 20 to 30 second video I could handle, and I know it was so well received on their end."

The team went on to earn their best finish at an Asia Cup, placing second in their pool before beating the Philippines to earn a spot in the semifinals, eventually finishing fourth.

Goulding, who's dedicated her life to playing basketball at the highest level, is now determined to one day re-join her second family and don the Silver Fern.

"Honestly I would cry. Even thinking about it now I'm emotional.

"There are just no words for it — to get back to that point would be another miracle in itself."

If there's a silver lining to Mary's accident, it's that it brought her family even closer together. One of six children, her siblings now live all over the world but the minute they learned of Mary's crash, they were on the next flight home to be by her bedside.

And they never left.

"I've never doubted they loved me, but this was different, it was a tangible love. Their devotion, nothing else mattered except me," she said.

She's grateful her parents and siblings documented her journey, with dozens of photos and videos throughout, for Mary to now reflect on. They also kept a daily journal, as recommended by the Intensive Care social worker.

"Each of them would write something — what was going on, how they were feeling. When I finally moved my hand for the first time they were like, 'today you moved your hand and we're really excited'... just things like that."

Mary believes it was family, and faith that got her through the darkest of days.

"It was acceptance knowing whatever happens I know good can come from it. I know God can turn all horrible situations into good and that trust and faith, that gave me a lot of hope," she said.

"And when you've got the whole world praying for you, all the odds were always in my favour."

Mary has since gone to the scrapyard to see her beloved, broken and beaten-up car with her sister to get some closure.

It also helped her understand what had happened.

"I was having nightmares sleeping so I just wanted to see it for myself to try make some sense," she said.

"I already knew how serious it was and how miraculous my recovery's been but seeing the car made me take a step back and go, 'holy cow'.

"It was just a lot."

On a slightly lighter note, it was also a chance for Goulding to retrieve basketball gear since she basically "lived out of her car" like her father.

"There was probably three basketballs, five pairs of shoes," she joked.

While Mary is tracking towards a full recovery, there's still a long way to go.

She still gets tired easily and suffers headaches often. She has to really plan out her days and limit social interactions. She also struggles with noise.

"I'm just learning to be kind to myself and it's something I wish I had learned sooner," she said.

After all, she is acutely aware she is very lucky to be alive.

"I thought I was a grateful person beforehand but I'm just so grateful now, and so thankful — that's really the biggest thing," she added.

"It's cheesy and probably a bit vomit-worthy, but I just see life as really beautiful. And yes, I have bad days and it's not all rainbows and butterflies.

"But life never is."