A few months ago, 20-year-old Brooklyn Aleksic was preparing for a summer job, curling matches, and time with her family. A promising athlete and education student from British Columbia, she had her future mapped out—until one June morning changed everything. She woke up in Saskatchewan, where she was staying for the summer, and couldn’t move. Within hours, she was completely paralyzed from the neck down.

Doctors worked quickly to diagnose her, and the answer was something few had ever encountered firsthand: transverse myelitis, a rare neurological condition caused by inflammation of the spinal cord. It damages the nerves’ protective covering and disrupts the brain’s communication with the body. The result can be sudden, severe symptoms—like muscle weakness, numbness, loss of bladder control, and, in Brooklyn’s case, full-body paralysis.

Stuck in a hospital far from home, Brooklyn began the fight of her life. Her family rushed to support her, and a GoFundMe campaign launched by her former curling coach quickly gained traction, raising over CA$100,000 to help cover emergency care, rehabilitation, equipment, and her eventual medical transport back to B.C. Despite everything, Brooklyn stayed positive—cracking jokes, thanking her nurses, and inspiring everyone around her.

She’s now in Vancouver, receiving specialized care and rebuilding her life day by day. Though the future remains uncertain, her strength and resilience are undeniable. Brooklyn’s story is no longer just about curling, university, or summer plans—it’s about courage, community, and the will to keep going when life takes an unimaginable turn.