"It's a beautiful thing to see a turtle who had overcome so many obstacles," Ranly said.

Last summer, Andre was spotted by beachgoers on a sand bar on just a few miles from Loggerhead.

Andre had been struck by two boat propellers and was near death. He had a collapsed lung, severe infections and three pounds of sand resting on his shell.

Andre's injuries were so serious, Bethlyn McCloskey, a Loggerhead volunteer, didn't think he was going to make it.

"I thought we were wasting our time," McCloskey said. "But this staff performs miracles."

Ranly said Loggerhead used a "wound vacuum" to draw out all infectious fluids. The center also used grafting material to repair Andre's spinal cord, which was exposed.