--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It started off with flu-like symptoms and…" description: "\"It started off with flu-like symptoms and pain; then, I started feeling really funny. In two weeks, I was paralyzed from the waist down, and it spirale..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1f/victoria-arlen-11467_ability_it-started-off-with-flu-like-symptoms-an_3001475.jpg" --- # It started off with flu-like symptoms and pain; then, I… ![“It started off with flu-like symptoms and pain; then, I started feeling really funny. In two weeks, I was paralyzed from the waist down, and it spiraled down from there. Every ability I had was slowly slipping away.” quote by Victoria Arlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1f/victoria-arlen-11467_ability_it-started-off-with-flu-like-symptoms-an_3001475.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1f/victoria-arlen-11467_ability_it-started-off-with-flu-like-symptoms-an_3001475.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1f/victoria-arlen-11467_ability_it-started-off-with-flu-like-symptoms-an_3001475.jpg) > “It started off with flu-like symptoms and pain; then, I started feeling really funny. In two weeks, I was paralyzed from the waist down, and it spiraled down from there. Every ability I had was slowly slipping away.” [Victoria Arlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A rapid health decline can be terrifying, highlighting the fragility of physical ability and the need for resilience. **In simple terms:** Sudden illness erodes abilities quickly. Key Takeaway Cultivate mental strength and support networks. Themes health resilience vulnerability Mood somber empathetic Type narrative inspirational When to use this quote - medical diagnosis - rehabilitation - caregiver support - personal coping Key Concepts chronic illness spinal injury Questions to Reflect On - How can society better support those facing sudden disability? - What coping strategies help maintain identity? A Different Perspective Medical progress may be limited; outcomes vary. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Pain Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain-started-1427667/) [Paralyzed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paralyzed/) [Slowly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slowly/) [Started Feeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-feeling-981318/) [Started Flu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-flu-4767691/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Weeks Paralyzed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weeks-paralyzed-4767690/) ## Related quotes > [I thot love was a good feeling, but I hv got nothing to gain. Just sorrows n tears and a lil more pain. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-flores/i-thot-love-was-a-good-feeling-but-i-hv-got-nothing-to-gain-just/) [Frida Flores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-flores/) > [“This wasn't her room or her bed, and it sure as hell wasn't her body. Tears welled and trickled slowly from eyes not her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-mayer/this-wasn-t-her-room-or-her-bed-and-it-sure-as-hell-wasn-t-her-body/) [Dale Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-mayer/) > [You made me cry. You tore me apart. You left me in tears. I thought love was joy. but i've got nothing to gain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-made-me-cry-you-tore-me-apart-you-left-me-in-tears-i-thought-love/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I wasn't very good about the pain. I started screaming for painkillers after the third contraction and didn't stop until my daughter was eating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-sunshine/i-wasn-t-very-good-about-the-pain-i-started-screaming-for-painkillers/) [Linda Sunshine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-sunshine/) > [The pain started years ago, but I'd lived with it for so long at that point that I'd accepted it as an inevitable part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-pain-started-years-ago-but-i-d-lived-with-it-for-so-long-at-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [She is still away from me. The final quarrel was an exclamation mark to everything that have led to this point,I released her from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paritoshik-sharma/she-is-still-away-from-me-the-final-quarrel-was-an-exclamation-mark/) [Paritoshik Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paritoshik-sharma/) > [While paralyzed, I won a gold and three silver medals as a competitive swimmer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/while-paralyzed-i-won-a-gold-and-three-silver-medals-as-a-competitive/) [Victoria Arlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/) > [I was told it couldn't be done. My dream was impossible. But on March 3, 2016, after spending 10 years in a wheelchair paralyzed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/i-was-told-it-couldn-t-be-done-my-dream-was-impossible-but-on-march-3/) [Victoria Arlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/) > [I had promised myself when I first got started that if I got to the point my life where I started feeling 'Gee, I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-finkelstein/i-had-promised-myself-when-i-first-got-started-that-if-i-got-to-the/) [Bernie Finkelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-finkelstein/) > [It was definitely a big boost when I went into Australia. That's what really got my recognition going. I started scoring. I started feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-mcdonald/it-was-definitely-a-big-boost-when-i-went-into-australia-that-s-what/) [Jessica McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-mcdonald/) > [I was shy at dancing. I practice at home. I was practicing in the mirror. Dancing everywhere. Then I just started feeling good. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-gronkowski/i-was-shy-at-dancing-i-practice-at-home-i-was-practicing-in-the/) [Rob Gronkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-gronkowski/) > [America had taken my father from me. And over most of the years of his illness, I gradually started feeling this support system from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-davis/america-had-taken-my-father-from-me-and-over-most-of-the-years-of-his/) [Patti Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-davis/) > [Once I started feeling better and healthier and learned to walk on my first prosthetic leg, I realised I'm not going to be satisfied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-schultz/once-i-started-feeling-better-and-healthier-and-learned-to-walk-on-my/) [Mike Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-schultz/) > [It was only in my forties that I started feeling young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/it-was-only-in-my-forties-that-i-started-feeling-young/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [“Still, as much as I had experienced, there was more waiting to be found. I had started out with a feeling of burning dullness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-jenkins/still-as-much-as-i-had-experienced-there-was-more-waiting-to-be-found/) [Peter Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jenkins/) ## More by Victoria Arlen > [There's always going to be something positive that can come out of any negative situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/there-s-always-going-to-be-something-positive-that-can-come-out-of/) [Victoria Arlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/) > [When you have a spinal or brain injury, or any kind of devastating illness, you kind of fall through the cracks in a sense.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/when-you-have-a-spinal-or-brain-injury-or-any-kind-of-devastating/) [Victoria Arlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/) > [Being competitive is in my nature. I actually think being competitive saved my life. It's given me the constant drive to be better, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/being-competitive-is-in-my-nature-i-actually-think-being-competitive/) [Victoria Arlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/) > [I want the other Victorias out there, the people that are suffering or going through something, to keep fighting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/i-want-the-other-victorias-out-there-the-people-that-are-suffering-or/) [Victoria Arlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/) > [When I was really sick, I loved watching 'Dancing With the Stars.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/when-i-was-really-sick-i-loved-watching-dancing-with-the-stars/) [Victoria Arlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/) > [I'm a firm believer that every morning brings a new opportunity for me to conquer the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/i-m-a-firm-believer-that-every-morning-brings-a-new-opportunity-for/) [Victoria Arlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/) > ['Good Life' was my gold-medal song and is what I sing when I need to get focused and keep calm. It also just makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/good-life-was-my-gold-medal-song-and-is-what-i-sing-when-i-need-to/) [Victoria Arlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/) > [We're a huge hockey family. I took to it really quickly, and I was in love with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/we-re-a-huge-hockey-family-i-took-to-it-really-quickly-and-i-was-in/) [Victoria Arlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/) > [I come from a family of go-getters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/i-come-from-a-family-of-go-getters/) [Victoria Arlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/) > [I know from my experience as a swimmer that you put in the work and practice, and come game day, your body is ready,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/i-know-from-my-experience-as-a-swimmer-that-you-put-in-the-work-and/) [Victoria Arlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/) > [My hope is to be the first disabled swimmer on an able-bodied team at the Y Nationals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/my-hope-is-to-be-the-first-disabled-swimmer-on-an-able-bodied-team-at/) [Victoria Arlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/) > [I was told it couldn't be done. My dream was impossible. But on March 3, 2016, after spending 10 years in a wheelchair paralyzed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/i-was-told-it-couldn-t-be-done-my-dream-was-impossible-but-on-march-3/) [Victoria Arlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/) > [Each of us can provide a positive example to others in our lives, and that's powerful. When I visit those with difficult health conditions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/each-of-us-can-provide-a-positive-example-to-others-in-our-lives-and/) [Victoria Arlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/) > [I was written off as a lost cause. But I'm living proof that miracles can happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/i-was-written-off-as-a-lost-cause-but-i-m-living-proof-that-miracles/) [Victoria Arlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/) > [We all have challenges. We have to face them, embrace them, defy them, and conquer them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/we-all-have-challenges-we-have-to-face-them-embrace-them-defy-them/) [Victoria Arlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/) [Explore all 59 Victoria Arlen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It started off with flu-like symptoms and pain; then, I started feeling really funny. In two weeks, I was paralyzed from the waist down, and it spiraled down from there. Every ability I had was slowly slipping away.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Victoria Arlen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/it-started-off-with-flu-like-symptoms-and-pain-then-i-started-feeling/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/it-started-off-with-flu-like-symptoms-and-pain-then-i-started-feeling/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1f/victoria-arlen-11467_ability_it-started-off-with-flu-like-symptoms-an_3001475.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1f/victoria-arlen-11467_ability_it-started-off-with-flu-like-symptoms-an_3001475.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1f/victoria-arlen-11467_ability_it-started-off-with-flu-like-symptoms-an_3001475.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It started off with flu-like symptoms and pain; then, I started feeling really funny. In two weeks, I was…” — Victoria Arlen", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Victoria Arlen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It started off with flu-like symptoms...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/it-started-off-with-flu-like-symptoms-and-pain-then-i-started-feeling/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/it-started-off-with-flu-like-symptoms-and-pain-then-i-started-feeling/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```