[4] Arlen, at the age of eleven,[5] developed two rare conditions known as transverse myelitis and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis.

This was an extremely rare scenario, and Victoria quickly lost the ability to speak, eat, walk, and move.

Arlen spent nearly four years "locked" inside her own body, completely aware of what was going on, just unable to move or communicate.

[7][clarification needed] In April 2015, Arlen made the transition from professional athlete to sportscaster and joined ESPN as one of the youngest on-air talents hired by the company.

In 2020, Arlen became a co-host of American Ninja Warrior Junior for its second season, replacing Laurie Hernandez as the latter prepared for the 2020 Summer Olympics before it was postponed to 2021.

BBC Outlook Weekend related her story in an interview with Harry Graham; Arlen described being able to hear what others said while she herself could not communicate in any way during her years of the worst phases of the diseases.