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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Listening to what Victoria Arlen told in this book made me realize, how strong she is.
She is a fighter with supports from her lovely family. Going through a rare condition for about ten years; paralyzed (you could say that) was no joke. Her life had been miserable and her wellness now I count it as a blessing.
And her experience in dancing in Dancing With The Stars made me know who she really is. I love this story and I love Victoria! ❤️
She is a fighter with supports from her lovely family. Going through a rare condition for about ten years; paralyzed (you could say that) was no joke. Her life had been miserable and her wellness now I count it as a blessing.
And her experience in dancing in Dancing With The Stars made me know who she really is. I love this story and I love Victoria! ❤️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Medical content, Medical trauma
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
When she was 11 years old, Victoria Arlen started to not feel well. Her body was not cooperating. Doctors were unable to diagnose her and labeled her as "attention seeking". They convinced her parents to send her to a rehab facility, that turned out to be a mental hospital, where she endured abuse, physical and mental. Luckily her parents got her out, but not soon enough. She fell into a coma due to constant seizures. It took 3 years to fight her way back to consciousness and then to prove to others that she was awake and aware.
She eventually was able to regain use of her upper body, though her legs remained paralyzed. However, she did not let that stop her dreams of being an Olympic champion. She trained constantly and 2 years after waking up, she broke world records and won gold in the 100 meter freestyle at the 2012 Paralympics. But the IOC questioned her coming out of no where and, despite a mountain of medical and empirical data, declared her not disability qualified to continue to compete.
She turned her anger to determination and, through a help from a special organization, regained the ability to walk and at the age of 23 competed on Dancing with the Stars.
+++++
It is hard to rate this book. Her story is nothing but inspiring. But... the writing of the story felt a bit ... juvenile. I understand that even at 23 she refers to her parents as Mummy and Daddy, but it made it feel like a child telling me the story (I listened to the audiobook) when she said "I looked to see my Mummy there waiting". Or something similar.
I would have liked more details in her struggle to recover. It felt glossed over when she went from waking up, to home, to playing sled hockey or swimming in the span of a couple paragraphs.
I have to agree with other reviews that while she has every right to tell her story her way, I think she would have benefited greatly by working with a professional biographer.
She eventually was able to regain use of her upper body, though her legs remained paralyzed. However, she did not let that stop her dreams of being an Olympic champion. She trained constantly and 2 years after waking up, she broke world records and won gold in the 100 meter freestyle at the 2012 Paralympics. But the IOC questioned her coming out of no where and, despite a mountain of medical and empirical data, declared her not disability qualified to continue to compete.
She turned her anger to determination and, through a help from a special organization, regained the ability to walk and at the age of 23 competed on Dancing with the Stars.
+++++
It is hard to rate this book. Her story is nothing but inspiring. But... the writing of the story felt a bit ... juvenile. I understand that even at 23 she refers to her parents as Mummy and Daddy, but it made it feel like a child telling me the story (I listened to the audiobook) when she said "I looked to see my Mummy there waiting". Or something similar.
I would have liked more details in her struggle to recover. It felt glossed over when she went from waking up, to home, to playing sled hockey or swimming in the span of a couple paragraphs.
I have to agree with other reviews that while she has every right to tell her story her way, I think she would have benefited greatly by working with a professional biographer.
Really quick read! Victoria is obviously not a writer, which definitely shows, however her ultimate goal was sharing her story, so I have to give her credit for that. I still gave her a high rating, because of how much I could relate to her story. I struggle with a life-threatening disability myself and many of her feelings and emotions are sometimes my exact thoughts and reactions. It’s nice to know you are not alone.
I found this book in the religious section of the bookstore. I respect that she didn’t shy away from keeping faith an important part of her story.
Her own conclusions mirror mine- family support is everything and hope is what keeps you going. Victoria is very driven. When she sets her mind to it, she will do it! She teaches us that there is no such thing as the impossible.
I found this book in the religious section of the bookstore. I respect that she didn’t shy away from keeping faith an important part of her story.
Her own conclusions mirror mine- family support is everything and hope is what keeps you going. Victoria is very driven. When she sets her mind to it, she will do it! She teaches us that there is no such thing as the impossible.
Horrifically heartbreaking and incredibly inspiring. This book shows what love, determination, and hope can achieve. As someone who has struggled with life long debilitating chronic illnesses myself, this book revived my hope that I too will dance again.