So two years ago, you were in a wheelchair
paralyzed from the waist down.
And now, not only are you out of that wheelchair and walking,
you're dancing?
Yes.
This is-- how--
what?
I mean, how?
That's my response, as well.
What?
Yeah.
OK, so because you were 11 when this--
what happened exactly at 11?
I developed two incredibly rare neurological conditions
called transverse myelitis and acute
disseminated encephalomyelitis, which
basically my body attacked my brain and my spinal cord,
and it went misdiagnosed.
And so I lost every ability possible
and slipped into a vegetative state
and was pretty much written off as a lost cause.
Right, so vegetative state is different than a coma,
I learned this morning.
So you were-- it seemed you were not there
and people would think you're not there.
But you're avail-- you--
It was there.
--could hear everything, you could see everything,
you just couldn't respond.
Mm-hm.
Wow, that's got to be so frustrating to not
be able to say, I'm here.
Yes, and you wouldn't believe what
people say when they think you're not there,
especially doctors and stuff.
So I had to kind of find that inner fight within me.
But I have an amazing family that
just loved me tremendously.
And I just had so much life I wanted to live,
so I wasn't done yet.
So I didn't really care what the doctors were saying.
I was pretty set on living.
And not just living, but really making every moment count.
And how long did that go for?
That was about four years.
Four years?
OK, so were you watching-- did you
watch Dancing with the Stars?
Did you always-- did you see this show and think I'll
be on there one day?
When I was 10, I actually told my mom
that I was going to be on the show.
But I was five when I told her I was going to win a gold medal,
so she just kind of put it on my bucket
list of things I wanted to do.
And then we never imagined what would happen, obviously,
a year later.
Especially after that.
Yeah, and-- so it was always just this fun goal.
But she also put The Ellen Show on when I was really sick.
So she put Dancing with the Stars and The Ellen Show
on to keep it light, keep it full of love.
And so I just kind of kept my eye on the prize
and just kept reminding myself OK,
Victoria, if you get through one more day,
you're one step closer to achieving all of that.
Unbelievable.
It's-- I mean, this story is unbelievable.
[APPLAUSE]
Thank you.
[LAUGHS]
Now, this is your 13th season.
And I mean, this has to be--
you know, you can't really diminish
other partners you've had.
But it's like, this has to be really special.
It is incredibly special, and I'm
incredibly grateful that Dancing with the Stars
trusted me with this incredible miracle.
And I'm treating it as my own miracle, as well.
You know, I'm doing my very best to give her
the time of her life, And she's been through so much,
so I just hope I can deliver on that.
I think you are.
Yeah, he has.
And wait, can I ask you a question?
Because I heard this, and I don't know if this is true
or what this even means, that you can't feel your--
you've only been walking for about a year, right?
Mm-hm.
OK, um,
[LAUGHING]
She can't feel that.
Could you feel that?
No.
You can't feel your legs?
Not at all.
How can you dance if you can't feel your legs?
You can--
[LAUGHS]
How do you know where you are with moving your legs?
Well, I think that was the most challenging part.
Even just with walking, it was right, left, right, left.
And I had to keep telling myself that.
And so when I signed on to do the show,
there was kind of like, oh, I have to not only go right,
left, but I have to turn and look up and stay graceful.
But I think the coolest thing about Val
is he believes in me way more than I believed in myself when
it came to this.
That's amazing.
All right--
[CLAPPING]
--head on over.
I can't wait to see this.
Thank you.
[CHEERING]
Right, left, right.
[LAUGHS]
[MUSIC - TAYLOR SWIFT, "LOOK WHAT YOU MADE ME DO"]
(SINGING) I don't like your little games.
Don't like your tilted stage.
The role you made me play.
The fool.
No, I don't like you.
But I got smarter.
I got harder in the nick of time.
Honey, I rose up from the dead.
I do it all the time.
I've got a list of names and yours is in red, underlined.
I check it once, then I check it twice, oh!
Look what you made me do.
Look what you just made me do.
Look what you just made me , oh!
Look what you made me do.
Look what you just made me do.
[APPLAUSE]
Aye, wow, good job.
I saw your underwear.
[LAUGHS]
I like it.
All right--
She's a huge fan if you can't tell.
We've both got our underwear on.
I know.
Shes' got my underwear on.
I like it.
[OOHING FROM CROWD]
All right, so I gave you some more underwear, right?
Yes, please.
And I know that you like Chucks, right?
Yes.
So I got you some high tops, and I got you
some Chucks with my face on it.
Yes!
And I got you underwear.
Wow.
And--
Thank you.
--this pink is your favorite color, right?
Yes.
All right, but I wanted to put mine.
All right, and also, I don't know.
You might like my high tops, too,
so I got you some ED by Ellen high tops.
So you can try those--
How cute.
--as well.
Thank you so much.
Dancing with the Stars airs on Monday nights at 8:00 on ABC.