WHOA That's Good Podcast - The Toughest Climb Gave Me the Best View | Sadie Robertson Huff | Victoria Arlen

Episode Date: June 8, 2026

Victoria Arlen, Paralympic gold medalist, ESPN host, “Dancing with the Stars” alum, and author of “The View Is Worth It,” joins Sadie to share her unbelievable story of a missed medical diagnosis, being trapped in her own body for years, and learning how to walk, talk, and be whole again. She opens up about the miracle of getting her voice back, the power of her mom’s faith, winning a gold medal, walking again, and learning how to fight for joy after trauma. Victoria also gets so honest about anxiety, depression, and the moment she realized it was okay to not be okay — but it was also okay to heal in her own way. Go to https://trymiracle.com/WHOA and use the code WHOA to claim your FREE 3-piece towel set and SAVE over 40% off. Upgrade your sleep with Miracle Made! http://shop.taylordukeswellness.com/whoa — Get 15% off sitewide anytime + for the next 48 hours, you can also unlock free U.S. shipping on orders over $49! https://drinkag1.com/whoa — Get a free Morning Person Hat and free AG1 Flavor Sampler in your Welcome Kit with your first AG1 subscription (an $82 value!) when you use my link! - Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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You should have ordered from Wayfair. With Wayfair, there's no what if. Just style you love and quality you can trust. Visit Wayfair.ca. What's up everybody happy Well That's Good Monday. I hope you're having a great day today and a great start to your week. I can promise you and assure you it is about to get so much better. We have one of the most inspiring guests on the podcast today. Truly, like I always tell you all this, but whenever I'm prepping a podcast, I'm so blessed by the prep, just getting to read books and watch interviews and learn stories. And today this morning, I was feeling so encouraged by listening to the podcast. this girl talking my ear this morning and I'm so grateful she's going to be talking in your ear now. We actually have Victoria Arland and she has a new book, The View is worth it. And I can't wait to dive into your story, Victoria. Thank you so much for being here. Thank you for having me.

I'm a big fan. So this is very exciting. Well, it was really cool because we ran into each other at Dancing with the Stars back in November. Yes. And you were standing in front of me. We were waiting on that long line for the press. Finally, me, you and I both were like, we don't want to go I actually did. I was like, I did. Dang it. I should have joined you. I know.

I should have told you. I'm like, I'm going this way. Well, I ran into Dina and Dina Katz. And she's amazing. And she's the reason I was on the show. I don't know your story. Same. And it was so funny because I saw Dina on the corner of my.

And I had on that sparkle dress and she goes, well, if you can't win a mirror ball, you might as well wear it. And I was like, word. Thank you for that, Dina. I appreciate that. But anyways, I saw you. We had the quickest conversation, truly. And then I guess, how did we start DMing?

Yes. Yeah. I feel like we've done a lot of random DMs over the year. Like, yes, I love this. That's so true. I mean, I've like fan girl too. We're just everything you're about. And then I think we did talk.

You brought up the podcast. And I was like, oh. I was like, I was shook. I was shook. I was shook. Because I followed along, again, on Instagram. And I told you this today. I knew aspects of your story enough to know, like, you were super inspirational.

I love following you on Instagram, but I really didn't know the story until really after I asked you to be on the podcast, which is kind of a funny way to go about it. I knew enough to know you should be on the podcast because you're crushing it and so inspiring. But then as I dove into the story, I was like, whoa, okay, I didn't even know the layers here. You peel back the layers. And I was like, I'm so grateful that you're on. So before we dive into everything, I'll ask you the question to ask everyone who comes on the Well Let's Go podcast. And it's kind of a big one, but what is the best piece of advice that you've been given if you can think of one? Okay.

And then we'll dive into your story. Okay. I think it's a two for, it's a two for one, that it's okay to not be okay. And it's also okay to be okay. Oh, that's good. So like two can exist where it's, if you're not okay, that's okay. But when you are okay, that's also okay. Because when you live and fight and flight, you're like, wait, the water's.

different over here. Yeah. And so embracing that when things are good, let them be good. That's actually so good. I've never heard the back end of that saying, if you are okay, it is okay. Because I used to have, like, so much anxiety. And I felt like whenever I didn't feel anxious, then you start getting anxious about why you're searching for it.

Yes. Why you're not anxious. Yes. That's so true. And just to live in that. I'm like, no, things are good. And I actually challenged myself to that recently. I had like a prayer text and I text people like prayer request.

And the other day, I was like, you know what? I always text them whenever something like bad happens, but I'm going to text them and tell them, like, things are great, you know? And it was like so cool just to be like, hey, guys, like, thanks for praying me in the hard times. But I just want you all to know, like, things are really good. And I know that's because of answered prayers. And, like, living in the state of gratitude of, like, right here, right now. So I love to hear that from you.

And you represent that so well with your story. Okay, so let's go, like, all the way back. Like, tell me about childhood. Tell me about what you were like as a kid. So I'm a triplet. So there was a, I wouldn't get too free in the Ireland house. And what's so cool about God is my dad came from a very small family. And then my mom immigrated from England.

And my mom wanted two kids. And my dad wanted four. And they technically both got what they wanted because two pregnancies, four kids. So my mom's like, I should have been more specific with God exactly how I wanted on us to go down. So needless to say, I mean, God gave me the jackpot of us. a family because we just had such a fun childhood. And I was always keeping up with my brothers, because there's three boys and me. And we just, I mean, life was really good. I grew up in New Hampshire, and so we were always outside. We were always doing activities. We're always playing sports.

Like sports was a very, very huge part of my life. But I was also the kid at five years old. I told my mom I was going to win a gold medal as an Olympic swimmer. And her response was drawing an American flag with my name on the cap so I could practice the laps in the pool. So we were, But when most people were like, okay, that's a little crazy. She was like, okay. And then drew the American flag. And so that's the type of family I have is that they just were very much on be who you are, be a good person. And my mom always challenged all of us.

What did you do to make a difference in someone's life today? How did you make the world a better place? So I was always very aware that there was something bigger than myself. And I think even my mom, she would come down because we were brought up Protestant, very typical Protestant. So you go to Sunday school and you color pictures of Jesus and that's it. But I had a children's Bible. So I was always just very curious about my faith. And at the time I didn't know it was called my faith.

But my mom said she would come down and she was like, this kid's been here. Like she knows some stuff that she is like telling me. Because my prayers, I mean, we have video documentation. We're about 30 minutes long because I had to pray for every person I met and every single people I didn't. Very much so. And so my mom was learning a lot through me. And then when I was 11, I was. I started just showing a lot of random symptoms.

So the whole year prior to that, I just started getting sick all the time. But I was doing really well in school. I was doing really well in sports. So I would always bounce back. My mom was like, you'd get knocked down, but then you'd come back. So we never really thought that my mom would just say the stars are misaligned. And I was 11. So then when I turned 11, I just wasn't getting better.

And then we came back from Disney. And I woke up and I was like, something's not right. And so they thought I had appendicitis. They took out my appendix, but all the while I'm just continuing to lose all this weight. I'm getting weaker and weaker. And then within three months, I was, you know, a complete vegetable. I was in a vegetative state. But all in that process, I was misdiagnosed by doctors.

So they told my parents I was doing it for attention initially, which we learned by them doing that they actually missed a two-week really crucial window that had they taken our concerns, seriously could have prevented all of this by a single round of steroids. And they didn't. And because they just looked at me as an 11-year-old girl and thought, oh, you body image issues. And I was a very confident kid. So my mom's like, look, I understand that's a real thing. Not this kid. Like she's asking when she can go back to dance practice or swim practice or school. Yeah. And my mom's like, you also weren't the kid that sat down. So you couldn't even get up from the couch. And the doctors just wouldn't believe my parents or believe me. And it really

wasn't until I slipped into a complete vegetative state that it was actually taken seriously. So it was a lot of unfortunately neglect on the medical side. And that was also, 2006 was a very bad time to get those two conditions because transverse myelitis and acute disseminated encephal myelitis weren't very common. But it's basically your body's attacking itself and it attacks your spine and your brain. So my body was just getting absolutely destroyed and they just didn't know what to do. And then when they did finally take it seriously, my mom's like, you were gone. Like you were, you couldn't say anything. You couldn't do anything.

And that was where then I spent four years in a vegetative state and they wrote me off. I mean, they told my parents, people don't recover from this. She's probably not going to survive. Plan a funeral. Or if she does survive, the Victoria you once knew is not coming back ever. She won't be a functioning member of society. So they were just basically encouraging my parents to put me away and just move on with their lives. They don't know Jacqueline and Larry Arland because my parents refused.

They just said, what do we need to do to take her home? And they're like, you can't take her home. My mom's like, watch me. And so they set up a hospital room in our living room. And my piano became the medical table of all my, all of our supplies. and my parents were just like whatever time we do have with her, we're going to give her a really wonderful life and a great quality of life. And what they didn't realize is I was aware of the whole time.

Wow. So I could hear, I could see, I could, you know, hear the doctors talking behind my parents back saying, can you believe this kid's parents think that she's going to make it? This kid's a goner. You know, like, we don't, miracles aren't a thing. Because my mom was just like she, I mean, she was this warrior. And then everyone in my family followed C with her, but she found her faith in the middle of all this. And so it was in the ICU that she fell to her knees and just handed me over to God and said, God, I need you to guide me because they're giving up.

I'm not going to give up, but I need your help. And the way God showed up, I could hear all of it. And what's crazy too is they were essentially, I mean, it was really, I don't recommend being locked in, but it was also a place where I decided to try this whole God thing out. where I was like, well, if they can't hear me, maybe God can hear me. And that's where I started just talking to God all the time in my head. And I remember there was a really distinct moment because people in the medical field will treat you very differently when they think you're not there. And there was this nurse choking me.

And she was basically choking me to try to kill me. And I wake up in the middle of night and she's choking me and she has her hand around my neck. And I'm sitting there and I'm like, oh, this is, I mean, this is it. Like, I am, I'm going down. Like, I can't fight her. And it was like this moment where for three years I had been saying optimistic. I had been trying to get through. And then now I'm ending up in this place.

I'm like, well, maybe this is mercy. Maybe this is just getting me out of this really bad place. And because I'd been dealing with a lot of abuse from doctors and nurses behind my parents back. But I couldn't fight back and I couldn't say anything. Oh, my. And so I'm getting choked by this nurse. And it's like right as I'm about to lose consciousness. And I remember just saying to God, I'm like, God, I don't know what to do, but just like help me,

whether it's bringing me home or getting me through this. And her eyes widened and she just let go and ran out the room. So if that doesn't tell you that, you know, God shows up when you need him. And I remember, like, I'm gasping for air. And I'm having this moment where I'm like, I can't even fight back. Like, this is, like, it was my domy gloomy moment where I just was like, I don't, I got nothing. Like, I can't keep this up. And so in that moment I said this really not bossy, but a little bossy prayer where I said,

God, if you need to take me home, take me home. But I can't stay like this. But if you do bring me back, please give me my voice. Give me my abilities. And I promise you I will use my voice to change the world. I will use my voice to help other people who don't have a voice. I will not waste a single moment if you give me back my life. But not just give it back where I'm laying.

this hospital bed because I can't do anything. And if that's your plan, then let's go. Take it to heaven. I'm in. And so I said that prayer. And I have found from that time to many other times, it's when you're in your absolute darkest, most desperate moment is right on the verge of the sun rising. And that's why they say it's always darkest before dawn. So this was my dark moment. And then two weeks later, I started blinking. I were getting control of my eyes. And that's how I was able to start communicating with my mom who then asked me all the yes or no questions she could ask and realize I'd been in there. And also realized it was time to get me out and figure out how to help me come back. And that was really the journey from there, going, hitting an absolute low point to then being able to regain control of my eyes.

I have giant eyeballs. So since I was a baby, my mom's like, I've always known what those eyes were thinking. But she's like, for four years, I couldn't find you. and I kept searching for you. And then I got them back. So when someone's staring at you, like, just following you, that's when she knew. She was like, you see me? Are we doing this?

So that was kind of that moment. And then from there, I mean, it could only be described as a miracle. And what was crazy is so many doctors were just not believers, but they believed in something because people don't come back from this. People don't recover from this. And I started, you know, I would start to learn to talk. Well, that's just, you know, we don't know. she's probably not going, there's probably a lot of damage done. So they just kept trying. And my mom's like, look, we're going to just continue to do this hope and faith thing and, uh, lace it all with love and see what happens. And, and then literally I, I came out of the vegetative state early 2010 and I was in school that next fall. Mind you, going to high school when you've only been in fifth grade and four years had gone by. iPods had screens. Justin Bieber was a thing. Reality television was a thing. I mean, there was,

It was such a culture shock, but then I'd also just been through this whole traumatic ordeal. So there was just a lot. There was a lot going on. And then it just kind of, I mean, I'll try to cliff notes wrap it up here. But it really just don't. This is why we love podcasts. We have time. We tell the story.

This is what I did not get from social media. I know you share your story on social media. Now I'm seeing it with new eyes. Like you have it pinned like a bit of your story. But I didn't know that. Like hearing it is. it's unbelievable but only believable because there is a God who is a very present help in times of trouble. And it's like when you read the scripture, it's like, oh, that's how this could happen because there's a God who's the God of the impossible.

And he really is your strength whenever you are weak. And he really does fight on your behalf. And then like seeing what your mom is doing and the prayer she was praying and the way she was believing and what you had going on internally. like it's only possible because of God. It's so unbelievable. Like you said, like doctors have no other way of believing that unless it's God. That's so insane. Y'all know I'm very serious about good sleep because when you're a mom and life is full and days

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And when you use the promo code, whoa, you'll get an extra 20% off, a free three-piece towel set. They make an amazing gift and with a 30-day money-back guarantee, there's no risk. That's try miracle.com slash woe with the code woe a checkout. So I'm like speechless, which is the worst place to be on a podcast. But that's crazy. So you literally were stuck with your thoughts for four years. I want to talk about that for a second because so many people struggle to have positive thoughts. And you had a four years where it's like, that's all you had was your thoughts. Was there a moment internally where you started thinking to yourself, like, I have to start thinking differently?

Like, I have to start being, I mean, you write in your book about, like, victim to, like, victory. Like, how do you, how did you go from like, okay, I'm a victim in the situation to I'm going to actually start, like, using my thoughts for good? Yeah. Because that would be so hard. It was very hard. I think it was probably about three and a half years in and we had a bunch of family gathering around and I didn't realize they were gathering around to basically say goodbye because it had gotten really bad. And I had kind of in that period of time wrote an obituary and also a bucket list because I was like, well, might as well keep myself entertained. And I remember they're all gathering around and my nose started to itch. And I, I, As silly as it sounds, all I could think about was my nose itching. And the more you think of an itch, the itchier it gets. And in that moment, I'm going, oh my gosh, my nose is soap. Can somebody please scratch my nose? Can somebody please scratch my nose? And then it was like this gut punch of a realization of how much my life had fallen apart. Because I couldn't even scratch my own nose. I couldn't even ask for help. I couldn't even do anything. I couldn't do anything. And I think that's when it hit me. And then I found myself catching myself in saying, if we keep going down this path, it's going to get dark and we probably won't climb out of it.

And this has been the temptation all along to go negative. And somehow you've stayed afloat. And so I immediately switched my thinking to how amazing is it going to be the day I get to scratch my nose. And oh my gosh, what else am I going to want to do? What am I going to say? What am I going to, you know? And then I just started thinking about the things that. I would be able to do, including scratching my nose. And I think that from that moment on, I knew,

look, my circumstances were terrible. The prognosis was even worse. And I think there was enough negativity that was, you know, working against me that maybe we, maybe we try this hope thing out. And maybe we try this, you know, lean into what's possible, not what's looking impossible. And I think that was a huge shift for me. was then I got excited about, okay, I made it to another day. Ha ha, ha, guess what? Like, still here. And so I started just changing the internal dialogue into, you know, I'm still here.

And I even got to the point where I was like, look, I still have my thoughts. I have my memories. I'm still me. And yes, while I'm in this body that's failed me, my brain hasn't failed me. God's not failing me. Like, I'm still here when they think I'm gone. So if nothing else, they can't take that away from me. You can't take my spirit away from me.

And so I just started holding on to the good and then seeing the good around me. My family loves me. We have a home and we have, you know, medical care and all these different things. So I just started to make my list of things I was grateful for, not realizing that my mom would wake up every day and it was so bad that she started the day with, thank you, God, I can take care of my child. Wow. So we were both doing the same thing. Wow. And she's like, because it was so bad, Victoria.

So powerful. So I had to be reminded of we're not in a third world country. We have good health insurance. We have the ability to take care of her. I can give her a shower. I can paint her toes. Like I can do things for her and she's still here. Wow.

And all my brothers bought into that. My dad bought into it. Like everyone bought into the fact of look what we do have. And I think that was the changing point too. That is so powerful. There's a verse in Philippians and it says, don't be anxious about anything, but in everything with prayer and Thanksgiving.

present your request to God. And then it talks about how the peace that surpasses all understanding will come to you. And then it talks about like to think about these things. Whatever is true, whatever is honorable. And it's like that whole passage in Philibians is exactly what you're talking about. Like lived out. Like that's so crazy. So it's so interesting.

So after that you go into high school and then you have all these new challenges. Like now you're in high school. And were you in a wheelchair at this point? Okay. So you're in a wheelchair. You're having to. It's not a feeding to. Like literally I was a rolling target for bullies.

Oh, God. Which is so ridiculous. Like, how can you, like, I can't even imagine being mean to you. Like, that's just, that's so unfathomable, but it's also like the nature of our world and so sad that people are like that. But like you go to high school, you're being bullied. You have a feeding tube. Like, for crying out loud, like you're doing, like you're living. You haven't been here for four years.

So it's like, okay, now you have a whole new, I'm sure, struggle. of thoughts and patterns and like how did you get through that stage of your life? I mean my family for sure. I mean, I think my mom said, you know, we almost have to pray for the people that try to hurt us because hurt people hurt others and how sad that they feel like they need to inflict hurt on someone else, which I didn't want to do. I was what, 16? I was like, I don't want to do that. And having my brothers, having that support. And then also just not, I mean, I think I came home the first day and I just burst into tears because my family didn't look at me differently. My family just loved me as I was. And then I go out into the world and the world's very different. And high schools are very different.

And so when I came home, my mom said, you know, I said, I was like, why, like, why am I stuck here? Why am I having to now deal with this? And my mom just said, you know, we're never going to leave any stone unturned for you to get back what was taken away from you. But also, let's find what, let's find the good. And so that's when I found sports. That's when I found my community. but also too I saw it as a blessing because I was trying to make up five years of schooling in three years to graduate on time with my brothers. So the blessing of not having the best social situation in school allowed me to really just focus on what mattered, and it was training and swimming and then just graduating on time. So that really is I was able to kind of shift my focus. And also too, it didn't matter.

Yeah. I didn't, I just went through this whole ordeal. I'm not going to worry about my homecoming dress. Yeah. Or what kids are thinking about me. Perspective is shifting. Yeah, like it was something where. And then also, I mean, I think there was one day.

There was this hallway where there was like tons of kids. And I just was, I was really fed up one day. I just started runway rolling down. I'm like, if you're going to stare, I might as well give you a show. And just like popped a wheelie and said, okay, are we good? Oh, my gosh. I'm like, are we good? Because I'm not going to give you the reaction that you want.

And also, I might run over your toes. So, accidentally. I'll use what I have. Yeah, like we're going to work with what we got here. But I think it was just I refuse to see myself as anything less than. But I also had a family and people around me that did the same. So if anyone's going to look at me and think less of me, that's on them. This is so good.

I hope every single high schooler listening to this walks with the same kind of confidence. I'm not going to think of myself less than. I'm not going to put myself out. You can look at me like that. and I'm going to show you the type of person I am. So many people let the way people look at them, the way people speak of them, change who they are.

And it's like, thank God you had a mom and a family and the Lord and a personality that God clearly... Well, stubborn, yeah. Clearly put in you for a reason that you're like, no, I'm not gonna, no, we're not doing that. I'm not rewriting my story. I've been, four years I've been stuck.

I'm not going to stay stuck in that. Like, that's just so powerful. And so many people don't go through what you went through, but struggle so deeply with that insecurity. And man, it's like, put your shoulders back, stand tall, you can walk, walk. Like, I just love hearing that from you. It's so powerful because so many people, it is such a big struggle. What is our homecoming dress?

What does everybody else look like? How is everybody else looking at me? And it's like, God has something unique for everyone in their story. And when someone's owning it, man, it's like, it's just so, there's so much freedom in that. There's so much joy in that. And so. Be the vibrant crans. I like to say.

I love it. You know, kids grab and want to play with or have that boldness because it's one of those things we give our pen to everyone else. And we try to let people will try to rewrite our story or define who we are. And it's like, no, no, no. You don't get the pen. You don't get the pen. Oh, that's so good.

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Plus, for the next 48 hours, you can also unlock free US shipping and orders over $49. That's shop. com. Talk to me, though, about the power of your mom's belief in you. Your mom is a rock star. Like, just her words, how it has that? Do you feel shaped to you become? Because I think for a lot of moms listening to this podcast, it's very encouraging.

encouraging to hear like a mom's words matter so much. And I've experienced a lot of that in my life. Like there's so many things that I've done that I would have never done had it not been my mom's voice in my ear saying, you can do this, you know, you are, you know, it's not even you're stronger than I think. God is stronger than you think inside of you. I love how my mom would say, it's not that I even fully trust you, but I trust God in you, you know. And I love that. And I'm like, okay, there's something bigger than me. And this is four more than me. My mom would always be like, stop thinking about yourself. You're thinking about yourself too much. This is bigger than you. Like having someone just say those words where it's like, oh, it helped me so much. And I know not everybody

has a mom who's listening to this podcast who's like that, but maybe it's a friend, maybe it's a grandmother, maybe it's a mentor, a pastor, a podcast you're listening to. What is the importance of having someone who does believe in you? Oh my God. It's everything. I mean, I think it's so easy to put a limit or a ceiling on what you're capable of. And I think a lot of people do that to be safe or to think they're being safe, but they're actually, it's not safe at all. And so I think with my mom, there's been a few really significant defining moments. I think the first one was when I was coming out of the vegetative state and how, you know, encouraged, she just encouraged me constantly, but she always reminded me that if you don't fully recover, I still love you. You're still loved. You're still

wonderfully made. You're still something. And then I was like, we're not saying like, this Jacqueline, like I'm just saying. And she's like, I was having a moment with you. But so she always just, she never saw what I couldn't do. She just continued to water what I could do and show that. And then when I got into sports, I think every coach in the world thought that I was not going to make the U.S. team. And I remember there was one in particular. I'd done really well at this meet. And the coach was like, what are your plans? And this was 2011. I was like, oh, I want to make the team next year for Team USA. And he goes, you mean like in a year? And I was like, yes, sir. Absolutely. And he goes, he's started laughing at me and he's like, honey, I was like, don't honey anyone in that sense, right? And he goes, no, I think it was a sweetie. It was a sweetie. Sweetie? He goes, come on. People have been training for years. And I was like, um. That's all you needed though. Yeah. And well, I was pretty defeated. He basically told me not even to try and that I shouldn't embarrass myself. And I get in the car. And you know when, you know when your mom is just she has something on her mind and

she's driving a certain type of way. So I was like, what's wrong with, what's wrong with her? Like, what's going on? And she pulls the car over. We were in a Dunkin' Donuts parking lot in the middle of Boston. And she pulls over the car and she goes, I need to say something. I was like, yes, ma'am. I was like, what are we doing?

I didn't even think you were a big coffee drinker. And she's like, she gets out her finger. And you know, like, you know the finger. And she goes, don't you ever let someone tell you you can't do something. You haven't gotten this far by listening to anyone saying what you were capable of. She goes, if you believe you can do it and you work hard at it, you can do anything. And she goes, and I'm on your team. Are you on the team?

And she just really was like, don't. And I was like, wow. Yes, ma'am. Yes, I am. I 100% am. A year later, I won a gold medal. And so it was, but it was something where she just, and then same thing with walking, right? Like the doctor said I would never walk again.

And my mom's like, okay. And they were like, don't mortgage your house, you know, trying to go after this. Like she's, it's been almost, you know, a decade. She's not going to walk again. And we went out to California and found these activity-based recovery modalities and centers. And my mom's like, we need this on the East Coast. You know, when are you guys going to be going to the East Coast? And like, well, you know, you just have to find the right people.

And God struck her with lightning that day because all of a sudden she goes, really, so what does that entail? And I'm looking at her and I knew. Like, you know the look. She's doing it. When the Holy Spirit's like, bingo. And so next thing you know, we're on a plane. And I'm like, what are you about to do? She goes, I just have to make a phone call.

So she calls my dad. And she goes, remember how we talked about now that Victoria's doing well and everyone's off to school and everything that like, what's my thing, right? What's my next chapter? And he's like, yes, absolutely. And God bless my dad. And she goes, well, I figure out what I want to do. I want to open up a neurorecovery center where Victoria can get the help.

But other families like us who were. basically told it was a lost cause can have a safe healing space. And we can, we can do it if we mortgage the house. And then she follows up, well, she never tells the second part of the story. She goes, and if you say, no, New Hampshire's 50, 50. So I'll just divorce you and take half. All right, we're taking off. Love you. Bye. More dad for like six hours. Like, oh my gosh. Like, what's going on? They mortgaged the house and opened up Project Walk New England. And it became, it's now 10 years later become this like world renowned neurorecovery center. She didn't even know how to work a laptop, but she just knew how to listen to God and knew how to just be guided.

And now she's changing like lives all over the world. And myself included, and a year later, I started walking. So that's just who she is. And then even with this book, I mean, I went through a really tough time a couple years ago. And she was the one that jumped in the water to help me. And when I was kind of seeing light for the first time and coming out of that, I remember saying to her, I have so many friends that are struggling. I have so many people that are searching for answers. And I'm trying to help them, but I can't find a resource that doesn't just feel like it's shaming them or yelling at them or telling them to get themselves out of bed.

And she looked to me and she goes, well, I think the answer is your question. Yeah. And I was like, I'm not writing another book. I'm not writing another book. And so that, and then a year ago, she just kind of was kept encouraging me with that. And then even the, I mean, these are some of the more significant ones. And then even back in December, I had a terrifying health scare. And I was paralyzed from the neck down.

I couldn't move. It was the closest to being in a vegetative state. But it was one where I didn't think I was going to pull through. And that sang a lot from me. And when I came out of it, she just said, she's like, we got home from the hospital. And my wheelchair was there. and we thought I was going to be back in a wheelchair. And I looked at her and I just was so broken.

I was probably the most broken. I've been in a very long time because my body had failed me. My spirit was just shot. My mind was shot. Like I was just like, I got nothing. I really, I have fought long enough that I don't know. I don't know what's going on. And she looks at me and then I told her I want to cancel the book.

And we had already put the fun. The final edit had already been put in. And I said, I want to cancel it. I don't want to inspire. people. I don't want to motivate people. I was like, I can't. I just want to curl up in a ball and just stay there. And she looks at me and she goes, so what are we going to do about it? And I was like, I don't know. And she goes, well, are we going to like Thelman Louise this? And I look at her and she goes, hmm, should we? I mean, look, we're just checked out, right? We're done. We're done.

Like, finito. Like we're done. And she just goes, I was like, I think I was like, I mean, yeah, let's do that. And she goes, okay, love that enthusiasm that I'm kind of seeing, but two problems. And I was like, okay, what are the two problems? She said, there isn't a cliff nearby and I don't have a Cadillac. And we'd probably survive in my Tahoe. And that would just be ugly and how are we going to explain that? And I was like, fair, fair. She goes, so what's plan B? And I was like, I don't have a plan B. And she goes, why don't we, why don't we, why don't we, why don't we have a conversation with God and why don't we ask him what we can learn from this and what this is trying to teach us? And let's see how he operates because he hasn't let us. And he hasn't let us

down yet. And then she handed me my manuscript. And she was like, why don't you read it not as the writer, but as a reader? And then how God showed up from that and how he led her, which led me. And that's who she is. I mean, she's been someone that when, you know, metaphorically, you're drowning, she just jumps in the water and reminds me that I can swim. She reminds, and she's a swimmer. So it's, and she's just someone that has never let me not choose me or bet on me even when every single odd was stacked against me. It's beautiful. So she is, I mean, she's so powerful.

She's everything. It's so cool. And it's such an example of like what we can be for people in their lives and how far it goes. Your story is like, it's so amazing how many times. Your mom actually said this in an interview I saw and this was years ago. So I can't imagine how she'd say it now. But she's like, she's not just one miracle.

She's like six miracles. And I was before all the other stuff. I would say there's 100 miracles. I mean, we could keep going. And I've learned with miracles through my own situation, it's like, you know, people always pray for miracles. When we sing worship songs, we want miracles to happen. But then when you live through a miracle, you realize that in order to get a miracle, you have to have been faced with an impossible situation. You had to have been in a position where you only could get out of it had the Lord intervene, which is actually a really scary place to be.

Yes. It's really painful. very painful. And so sometimes we don't know what we're asking when we're asking, like, we want a miracle, we want this. It's like, okay, well, then you're going to be placed in a really hard position that you can't do anything about and you're going to have to depend on God to come through and supernaturally save you. The end result is powerful, but there's trauma involved with that because you went through something really hard. In your story, I remember just as I've watched different interviews of you speak, it's like you're so funny, you're so

dynamic, you have such a confident presence, and then you'll hear these stories where it's like, okay, you do get down, like you do have these moments. And then you read the book and you're like, whoa, like, thank you for being so vulnerable. Thank you for being so honest because there are so many people who it's like, and I'm this way too. It's like, I know truth. I can speak truth. I can tell you all day long the truth. But then sometimes I get in my head. Summer is one of those seasons where everything feels fun, but also kind of all over the place, travel, wait nights, weekends, pat with plans, all of it. And that's honestly why I love having AG1 as a part of my routine.

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Christian and I have literally drank AG1 for like five years now, I feel like. You've probably heard me talk about it for about five years, but it really just is like the easiest thing to stick to. It's something you could always go back to and it's really just addressing so many different health things that you have going on. So visit drinkag1.com slash woe to get a free morning person hat and free AG1 flavor sampler in your welcome kit with your first AG1 subscription and $82 value. That's drinkag1.com slash woe. There is a part of your story and if you're willing to share that you were really down and you were like thinking maybe this is the end. And I want to talk about that because you've overcome so much that you would think for you.

It's like, oh, you got there, but it's like so human and so relatable. And that was even a time you called your mom, can you speak to that a little bit? Absolutely. I had no one really talked about anxiety or depression or PTSD because I was this miracle. They just don't really give you a manual. Like you said, no one really understands the cost of a miracle. So for me, I'm put in this crazy position for multiple years and then I come out of it. And then all of a sudden I'm having success with sports. And then my story was shared without my permission. So all of a sudden I had to essentially start talking about these very traumatic events. And it's funny, only just about six months ago, my therapist was like, when I say the word

fame, what comes to mind? And I said my trauma being glorified. Whoa. And I'm expected to be that superhero. I'm expected to put on the cape and say, I'll save the day when I was being suffocated by the cape. And so for most of my 20s, I feel like I was on stage doing all these things because everyone wanted hope.

And I love that. but I was slowly, I was the one that was feeling hopeless. Whoa. So I'm pouring in but not realizing how much I'm actually emptying out. And it got to this point where panic attacks were a normal thing. Anxiety, depression, like literally writhing back and forth in like a hotel room in the middle of this incredible city and this, and being very much like, what am I doing? And it finally got to a breaking point where it was 2021.

And I was just not in a good place. I had been very much, I mean, I had the wrong people surrounding me and I was just going. And there was so much happening and so much success, but I was just absolutely broken. And so it was one night where I had been, I think I had had like four panic attacks that day. I couldn't even go to the grocery store. That's how bad my anxiety had gotten. So all I could do was show up for TV or show up for the stage. And then that was it.

And I had to kind of, I would then just fall apart. And I remember I'm sitting in my room and I just was like, I'm done. I'm done. I can't do this anymore. And I tried to take my life. And I was going back and forth and back and forth. And I was like, I can't write a note. My hands are shaking too bad.

So I was like, I'm just going to leave a message for my mom because I want her to know out of everyone else that it's not her fault. And that I couldn't, I just can't do it anymore. And I tried and I failed. And I'm sorry. And I just wanted her to know, though, it's not her fault. Because when I was really sick and I almost died, I was like, all I wanted to do was tell her I love her and thank you. And so in that moment, I'm like, I just need to say that. It's 3 a.m.

She's not going to pick up the phone. I just need her to know. It's not her fault. And then the second to last ring, she picks up the phone. And she's like, I had gotten up. And I had just was, I was just like gotten a glass of water. Like she wasn't even supposed to be up. and she picks up the phone and I'm like, oh, crap.

And I finally, I wanted to hang up so badly. And she said, Victoria, Victoria. And I just said, I was like, I'm not okay. And I said, I can't do this anymore. And instead of freaking out, instead of, you know, having this, you know, like getting hysterical, she just, she's like, God took over the conversation. And she just said, she goes, okay. She goes, and that's okay. She was, it's okay to not be okay?

And I'm like, is it? Because I don't know. I don't know. I don't know what we're doing here. And then we spoke on the phone for like three hours until the sun came up. And then she got in the car, called me again, drove back and drove down to me. And it was the first time I was given permission to not be okay. And that was okay. And then after that, we made a plan. And she had seen, you know, when she came down to me, she saw how much weight I had lost. She saw just this, like there was nothing in my fridge. And I said to her. I was like, I can't even go the grocery store. Like, all I can do is go to work, you know, put on the makeup, do my thing. And then I was like, that's all I got. Like, I can play a character for so long. And then instead of shaming me, instead of telling me, you know, we'll get it all to. She goes, okay, I'm going to go to the grocery store.

And let's, you want to come with me? Like, let's go when it's really quiet. And then all of a sudden, and then we made a plan. And it was something where I started working with the trauma specialist. I started consulting, you know, going back to my faith because I felt like I kind of had run away from it. And that night in particular, God showed up in such an incredible way that it was like he just kept showing up. And so then we made a plan. And then all of a sudden, my dad happened to just be in the area.

They lived three hours away from me. Be in the area. And I'm going to take you to dinner. I'm going to bring you meals. And just every my village just surrounded me. And then I was getting help and realizing what I went through was really traumatic. But then being thrown into the public eye in the midst of it all and then being expected to be this character. also just it's just like pouring gasoline.

And so then, but what's crazy is three days later, I went back to work. And God, God, I say has a sense of humor, but also lets you know that he's got your bag. We were given the segment and they said, oh, just read the PSA at the end of the segment. It was the suicide hotline PSA. Wow. And it was like if you were someone you know is struggling, you are not alone. Wow. There are resources.

There are people that are here to help you. And I'm sitting there reading it and I'm, you know, you know, like looking and I just I remember just grabbing my cross afterwards and being like, okay, I hear you. And also people will pick up the phone. And so when all that was going on, I actually just started to heal and realized, wow, I haven't been enjoying the view. I haven't been celebrating myself. I haven't been allowing God's love in my life because I didn't think I deserved it. I just thought I had to just keep getting on with it. And I think so many of us go through that where we're, I almost was anesthetizing my pain with accomplishments. And I just thought if I did more, if I did more, something was going to

break or I was going to feel better. I was going to, and it wasn't even about that. It was really stripping it all down to saying, no, God still loves me regardless and God shows up regardless. And my worth is not my work. My worth is, what does God think of me? What does my family think of me? How am I showing up? I can't show up for people if I'm not even able to show up for myself. And I had gotten it twisted. But the more I'm showing up, the more And what's crazy is there were so many signs along the way that even I was meant to be on those stages. I was meant to be doing those things. I just couldn't see it.

I mean, there was a speech I did where I had had a complete nervous breakdown prior. And my mom and I prayed and she was like, ask for a sign. I was like, I shouldn't be on these stages. I don't know what's going on. After this speech, someone grabbed me and this gentleman had informed me that he was planning to take his life. And that this was the last thing he was going to do to essentially not raise any alarms. but he had gotten his affairs in order. And then hearing me talk, he said, I'm going to, I'm going to put one foot in front

the other. And I'm like, I almost like, I burst into tears afterwards because like, I'm struggling. And I don't know how to speak up. And then when, and it's a crazy thing when you begin a healing journey because the way that healing, yes, you don't want to feel it, but then you actually set yourself free from it. And I had been still living in this prison cell. I mean, there was a, there was a moment in. early in the journey where doctors had essentially like locked me away in a unmarked psych ward.

And they were torturing me for 10 days and they were keeping my family away from me. So I realized so much of it, I was still stuck back there in that children's hospital. In a place where I thought I had to, I thought my only way out was jumping out the window. And I couldn't because the windows were bolted down. But through my healing journey, realizing I've been carrying all of this pain and high, behind a smile and I don't need to anymore. The hospital bed's empty. The little girl is safe now.

And I think that was a huge turning point for me. And when I knew it was a turning point was we were on a family trip about two years later. And my therapist was like, I want you to watch the sunrise. And I was like, what are you talking about watch the sunrise? She's like, get up when everyone else isn't awake yet and go out on the beach and watch the sunrise. And I, so I get up. And literally no one was awake, which there's a lot of tiny humans when we're all together. And no one was awake.

And so I walk out in the beach. I'm like, this is silly. I didn't have my phone on me. And I'm sitting on a rock. And you know the scene in the Grinch where his heart gets bigger? And he's like, what am I feel? Like he's making all these emotions. I start like ugly crying, but then laughing, but then feeling just this peace.

And like my heart finally, it's that piece that surpasses understanding. Because when I was really struggling with my mental health, I remember texting my mom and saying it was easier being in a vegetative state than it is with what I'm dealing with right now. I'm like, where is that peace? Where's that strength? It was always here, but I just was kind of ignoring it. And so here I'm watching this sunrise. And I'm like, oh my gosh, this is what joy feels like. This is what peace feels like. This is what God's been trying to wrap his arms around me, but now I'm accepting it. And I'm letting it in. And then I remember then all my family comes out. And I was like, guys, I get it now. I get it now. And they're like, what do you mean? I was

like I can be happy right here right now. It doesn't have to be dependent on a thing or an achievement or when I get somewhere. I can just be right here right now. And that was such a sign that after that, I was like, I don't want anyone to ever deny themselves of that. And feel alone like I felt, felt like they were drowning in plain sight. And that was really what kind of started that whole other journey of ask someone how they are twice. Because nine times out of ten, the second, the second can answer. They'll tell you what they're going through. And then meet people where they are. It's going to just jump in the water. Like, not everyone's going to have a mom that picks up the phone at 3 a.m. So how can I jump in the water to remind people, hey, you can swim or let's stand up.

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sign up for your $1 per month trial today at Shopify.com slash woe. Go to shopify.com slash woe. Again, that's shopify.com slash woe. So good. Gosh, it's so powerful. And it's so cool to hear when that advice was spoken to you. It's okay to not be okay. Like so many times when people say their best piece of advice,

it came at such a pivotal time in their life. And knowing the context of that puts so much weight behind it. And then it's okay to be. okay in that place on the beach you're like hey I'm actually okay and nothing changed circumstantially but I think that that's the thing like when you think back to you being in that state you were fully dependent on God and God was supernaturally filling you with his spirit which is love joy it doesn't make sense but that's the presence of God and then we get to this place where it's like I got to do I got to wear I got to prove I got to do this and we lose our dependency on God we lose that

strength and like everybody you know no matter what you've gone through in life your story might look different my story looks different most of our stories look different but it's that same i lost my dependency and i lost my you know your your strength in me i tried to do it in my own strength i tried to work my way to success and perfection and doing all this up and it's like but i forgot god like you're the one that sustains me you're the one that gives me that um so powerful such an encouragement it makes me think of um the woman in the bible who blooded for 12 years. And it's so crazy. So basically she was kind of exiled from her community because back in the day, if you were bleeding, you were outcast. And it says that she had exhausted all of her

options that so many physicians didn't know what to do with her. They overlooked her. And then she thinks, I've heard about Jesus. If I could just touch his garment, then maybe I can be healed. She bust her way through the crowd. She touches his garment and she's healed. But then Jesus says, who touched me? And the disciples are like, what do you mean who touched you? Everybody's touching you, Jesus. Like, why are you stopping? Why are you making this thing? And he's like, no, who touched me?

And it says, the woman with fear and trembling, knowing it was her, comes up to him, and she tells him the whole truth. And then Jesus says to her, and it's the first time Jesus ever called someone daughter in the story. And he says, daughter, your faith has healed you. Go and be healed and go in peace. And I love that because it's like, God, Jesus didn't just want her to be healed physically, but he wanted her to be healed emotionally, spiritually. He wanted her to be seen in that moment.

It reminds you of your story. It's more than just being unstuck physically. It's being unstuck spiritually, emotionally, being free. And so many people, although you're not stuck physically, you're stuck spiritually, emotionally in that place. And to hear you say, that was harder. I was, like, at the end of it, there. Like, it just speaks to what people are going through

who are listening to this podcast, are struggling. And it's like, hey, you got to let your story be known. Like, you were willing to call your mom, you know? You got to, like, even the hotline, like, call a hotline. Like, call somebody. Let them know. That's why Jesus was like, I'm not going to let this person get away unknown.

Like, she doesn't just get to be healed and walk away. Like, I want to look her in the eyes and say, like, you are healed daughter. Like, I have a personal relationship with you. And so I just encourage the listener, if you're struggling. struggling, please let your story be known. Please call someone. I love Victoria, how you continue to reference your therapist, how important therapy is. Oh, my gosh, yes.

Your book also gives so many practical tips, like sour candy, I think, was one of the tips about, like, just so many practical things. It's so helpful for people who are walking through really hard things and overcoming trauma. You were so inspiring. I have to shout out, just the hand of God. At five years old, you said you're going to win a gold medal. You end up winning that gold medal. Olympic gold medal.

Hello, that's insane. 10 years old, you said you would want to be on dancing with the stars. And hello, you were on dancing with the stars. When I was coming out of the vegetative state, how I learned to hold my head up and sit up on my own, was watching. No way. And I would sign. And I was signed that I still want. And my mom's like, I remember.

And she's like, but hey, we got to hold our head up so that you can hold up all those sequins. So that was how she encouraged. Yeah, that was how she encouraged me. You got to tell us a story before this podcast ends. How did you get on dance with the stars? How did that happen? Because that's so crazy. Well, all of it's crazy.

You went from blinking to dancing with the stars. I mean, that's quite the leap. What's crazy is that whole progression because even winning the gold medal, that was a God thing. Because I had gone silver, silver, my mom woke up the day of the race and said to my sister-in-law and my grandma, I need to go pray. And they all were like, okay, like, where are we going to go pray? And they went to this amazing, you know, cathedral in downtown London. and as they were praying, they finished a prayer, and they looked up, and the sun had just hit the windows.

The whole church turned gold. Wow. My mom looks at, they all kind of grab each other's hands and they're like, she's going to do it. And no joke, it was the first thing I said to my mom after the race was, someone was carrying me because I was in such this place of unknowing where I just was like so joyful in that, that when I touched, I was like, oh, snap, like there's nobody else here.

You broke a record, too. That too. Like, I didn't even know. Like, I was just singing my song. I was just really in this state of peace when there was so much chaos. And then with Dancing with the Stars, I mean, I, when my mom opened up Project Walk, she had put on a plaque of Mayer Dream of walking and dancing and heels come true. So a year later, after I had learned to walk, it was only a year.

And so the gold medal was two years coming out of a vegetative state. So then Dancing with Stars, a year after I was walking, I was in, Minneapolis, Minnesota, you know, covering the X-Games. And I had met with Dina. I had met with everyone because they found out I was a fan of the show. And there was a lot of synchronicities there. And I was like, I just love what you guys are doing. I think it's amazing.

And Dina is someone special. And so I had a great meeting with them. But I was very much. I mean, I am not in any way, shape, or form, like, qualified to be, you know, considered a star here. And I was because I was new in my TV space and everything. So I get a phone call and my agent was like, hey, so dancing with the stars want you this fall. And I'm like, oh, I was like, no way.

I was like, look, I'm about to be on TV. So like, let me, let me, can I call my mom? Like what could? Yeah. I was like, I can't freak out yet? Because I'm in a tunnel. And I remember, I was like, can I call my mom? Like, well, yes, you can tell your mom.

So I call my parents. And my mom, I basically said, I was like, guys, guess what? I'm going to be on Dancing with the Stars. And my mom's like, what? And I was like, yeah. She goes, do they know that you have been walking for a year? year. Only six months ago, you got rid of like, you know, the leg braces and all these other modalities. And I was like, yeah, it's fine. We'll figure it out. And my dad's like, does that mean I need

a new suit? I'm like, yes, dad. I think I need a suit. And so literally we, I said yes to it, not realizing, you know what it takes to ballroom dance. I can't feel my legs. And I had not been twirled. So it was very, but I, they embraced me. And everyone there was was amazing. But it was a really, it was, but it was also the, I knew I wasn't going to be the best answer. That was certain. But as Val said, he was like, we're going to tell the best story. And he goes, and if one person watching doesn't give up on their loved one or realizes what they're capable of, then we've done our job. Wow.

And if I don't go home first. Yeah, that too. That's so powerful. I mean, I want to end on this. You call yourself the mayor of Rock Bottomville, which is really, I love how you're humor. Like, you're so humorous and the hardest things. And I think that's a gift, honestly. Like, you know, I think so many people go through life and it's hard to laugh because it is hard to life because life is hard.

But one thing that my family has taught me, everyone's a huge fan of my uncle's side, because he's really funny. And it's like the joy of just laughing through hard things. Sometimes that's why I think like the joy of the Lord is our strength. That's where it becomes like strength in our life. I mean, it's true. Like it's so true. And so you laugh through some hard things calling yourself the mayor of Bonneville. And one of the things that you say is like it's not just about reaching the top and staying there.

Like there's going to be so many rock bottoms in life and so many mountain tops. How do you just encourage our listeners? Maybe they're at the top, maybe at the bottom. Like how do you just encourage them to keep going to tomorrow? I think it's something where life is going to keep lifing, whether we like it or not. And that was a hard pill to swallow. And I was like, no, I just want sunshine and butterflies. Well, that doesn't really.

It's like, oh, I got through it. Yeah. Yeah. And it's like, look, dishes are a lot better when you add a little spice to it. And so I think I looked at it of, you know, it's what's keeping it interesting is the things you're going through, but not forgetting what you're capable of. So if you're at the valley or if you're at the peak, don't forget who got you there, how you got there, and that you've done it once, you can do it again.

And I have always said the toughest climbs have the prettiest views. And that's really what the inspiration behind the view is worth it, because I tell people, I'm like, I know you're in that climb. I get it. But if you keep going, just one more day, one more step, that view is going to be spectacular and it is worth it. So that's really what I say is it's like if you're in the valley, if you're at the peak, like remember that view. Remember what you're working towards. But also remember like where you've come because all of us are living in some answered prayer in some moment where years ago, never in a million years, would we imagine that we'd be where we are.

Don't forget that. It's so good. Don't forget that whole journey to it all. That's so good. Victoria, this was amazing. I am incredibly inspired by you. Thank you for coming on this podcast. This is a dream.

And I know that so many people are going to be inspired by this. So thank you so much. Thank you.