Told she'd never play soccer again, NJ teen proves doctors wrong

PENNSAUKEN, N.J. (WPVI) -- When describing herself as a soccer player, 14-year-old Jade DiSanti, doesn't hold back.

"I think I can be intimidating sometimes because I get into it. When I play soccer, I don't think about anything else, just the game," Jade said.

And it was on the field, her favorite place in the world, where this up and coming superstar saw her life change forever.

"A girl just took her out and I never heard her scream like that," Jade's mom Kelly said.

Jade tore her ACL, a serious, but very common sports injury; in fact, there are more than 200,000 cases a year.

"Unfortunately, she had a complication from her surgery," Jade's dad Mike said.

She developed compartment syndrome and lost blood flow to her leg.

She had multiple surgeries and an emergency bypass.

"I was scared to death, but I didn't want to lose my daughter. So I'd rather lose a limb than her life," Kelly said.

So doctors made the decision to amputate above the knee.

They also told her she'd never play soccer again.

Well, less than a month after being fitted with a prosthetic, the Pennsauken 8th grader was back playing the game she loves.

"It's refreshing. It's nice. I missed it so much. It's just a feeling I get in any sport I play," Jade said.

Her goal is to make the soccer, softball, and lacrosse teams when she gets to high school next year.

"I think everything happens for a reason. I think the outcome is going to be good. I think it'll be good," Jade said.