It was December 22, 2011 - a day she cannot remember, but a date she will never forget.
The 10-year-old was on a pedestrian crossing in Calton Hill, Dunedin, when a car struck and nearly killed her.
In the hours that followed, her heart stopped twice and was restarted by Dunedin Hospital doctors, and she had several operations to repair broken bones and remove two bone flaps from her skull to allow her brain to swell without causing too much brain damage.
She was on life-support in an induced coma because she had severely damaged lungs, and doctors initially told her family she was unlikely to survive.
Four years later, Shania (now 14), says she has no recollection of anything that happened from the week before the accident until April 2012 - five months later.
She said one of her first memories, post-accident, was while she was receiving physical and speech therapy at the Wilson Centre in Auckland.
"I had no idea why I was there and why my body wouldn't work properly. I remember Mum and Dad saying everything was going to be OK.''
It was a frightening time for the 10-year-old.
Shania said her life now was significantly different from what it was before the accident.
"I can't run. Before my accident, I could do different stuff with my family, like play games or sports. But I can't do that now,'' she said.
"And my brain is a bit different to what it used to be. I get tired really easily now.''
On a more positive note, she was pleased with how far she had come. Just learning to walk and talk again were massive achievements.
She was looking forward to starting secondary school at Queen's High School this year, Shania said.
"I'm really excited and looking forward to making new friends.''
One of the highlights of her day is spending time with her horse, Bailey.
Initially, she started out cleaning up horse poo, and has progressed to being able to ride horses. She giggles when it is suggested she does not need to be able to run because she has a horse that can do that for her.
Bailey had become one of her best friends, and had inspired her to become a farmer when she left school, she said.
"I want to be a farmer with all different types of animals, but not chickens. I don't like chickens.''
Shania's mother, Jane Hutton, said her daughter had come a long way in four years.
"Considering when she first woke up - her eyes just rolled back in her head and they said she might stay that way. She's come a long way.''
The journey had been long and arduous, but Shania's health had improved "out of sight'', Mrs Hutton said.
"She's improving steadily. She's very stubborn - that's why she's come so far.''
