Locked In

The Will to Survive and the Resolve to Live

By: Victoria Arlen, Valentin Chmerkovskiy

Narrated by: Victoria Arlen

ESPN personality, former Dancing with the Stars contestant, and Paralympics champion Victoria Arlen shares her courageous and miraculous story of recovery after falling into a mysterious vegetative state at age eleven and how she broke free, overcame the odds, and never gave up hope.

When Victoria Arlen was eleven years old, she contracted two rare diseases simultaneously and fell into a mysterious vegetative state. For two years her mind was dark, but in the third year, her mind broke free, and she was able to think clearly and to hear and feel everything—but no one knew.

Her doctors wrote her off as a lost cause, and Victoria remained a prisoner in her own body for nearly four years. But every day, silently in her own mind, Victoria would pray to God, and she promised Him that if He gave her a second chance, she would make every moment count, and change the world for the better.

At fifteen, against all odds and medical predictions, Victoria woke up. Finally she was able to communicate through eye blinks, and gradually, she regained her ability to speak and eat and move her upper body, but she faced the devastating reality of paralysis from the waist down because of damage to her spine. However, Victoria didn’t lose her strength or steadfast determination, and two years later, she won a gold medal for swimming at the London 2012 Paralympics. She went on to become one ESPN’s youngest on air-personalities and, after nearly ten years of paralysis, she learned to walk again and even competed on Dancing with the Stars.

In Locked In, Victoria shares her inspiring story—the pain, the struggle, the fight to live and thrive, and most importantly, the faith that carried her through. Her journey was not easy, but by believing in God’s healing power and forgiveness, she is living proof that, despite seemingly insurmountable odds and challenges, the will to survive and resolve to live can be a force stronger than our worst deterrents.

Inspiring young woman

love this as an audiobook. It’s like Victoria is talking just to me, telling me her story. My husband saw her speak at a National conference in Nashville recently while I slept in. I could tell I missed something big. All these big guys who were excited to hear Payton Manning talk said Victoria stole the show and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house, with an audience of 10,000. I was so glad I could hear her whole story for myself.

Locked In leaves me motivated for life!

I really enjoyed listening to this book. Victoria was amazing to listen to and truly "hear" her story!

Miraculous story

Enjoyed the story of Victoria. Her life is miraculous. Such a blessing about her recovery and life success. Her work with Project Walk has led to numerous individuals regaining strength and independence. Thank you.

Raw, Honest & Necessary

Victoria Arlens’s raw and honest account of her journey exposes the atrocities of the doctors and medical professionals in power at a major hospital, who lacked professionalism and kindness in their interactions with children. This is a necessary read for any parent with a sick child who is battling to find answers. More importantly, it is a necessary read for young men and women, walking or rolling down a similar path, to know that there are countless angles who will fight alongside them, who will encourage them to keep their head held high and to never give up the fight.

Wow! Powerful

I heard Victoria on a podcast and wanted to hear more about her life journey. She has had a journey that will bring tears to your eyes and a God-given recovery that is astonishing. Victoria is inspiring and has a more profound message of how important family is and God’s love for her.

Equipped

This book will help equip you to handle the crisis when life hits hard. Great book.

Great testimony of her life!

I loved the book! Ver inspirational. The only thing I didn’t care for was her calling her mother mommy.

Amazing story

Victoria’s story is amazing and inspirational. I almost cried at several points throughout this book. Victoria isn’t a professional author, so this doesn’t read as smoothly as a well polished novel (as other reviewers have pointed out). But I’d rather sacrifice that to hear the story on her own words and from her own voice. I highly recommend this book!

Wonderful

This book was great! Motivating and captivating. The narration was really good and I couldn’t stop listening to it

AMAZING

Love how Victoria was the one reading. Don't ever stop Victoria!! Didn't even know anything about you until I came across your 30 for 30 one day. It was in the middle of the broadcast so i only saw half. Once I saw it I pre ordered the book.