Jesus Saved Her Life—Now She’s Sharing Her Inspiring Story with the World

Long ago the Lord said to Israel: “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.” Jeremiah 31:3

Vanessa Joy Lancellotti was just 23 when her life was dramatically changed by a life-threatening brain bleed caused by a ruptured arteriovenous malformation (AVM). The rare tangle of blood vessels was present before birth in development but had gone undetected and unnoticed until the first weekend of February 2016. 

Despite the unimaginable disruption that had suddenly catapulted itself into her life, changing everything she had ever known, Vanessa, guided by her love of Jesus, overcame the odds. Today, she is a true inspiration and a joyful presence in the lives of so many. She is an author, speaker, Regent University graduate, marketing professional, and the founder of Abundant Living, LLC in Virginia Beach, VA.

A Supernatural Touch from Jesus

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. —Isaiah 41:10

Vanessa was enjoying tea with her sisters when she felt a sudden sharp pain in the back of her head unlike anything she had ever experienced. Once it was confirmed she was in fact having a serious hemorrhagic brain aneurism, medical professionals rushed her to the nearest neurotrauma center via ambulance. During the transport, she remembers vividly the moment she was in the worst pain of her life to instantly having no pain of any kind as she was surrounded with the glorious presence of Jesus.

Jesus hugged her tenderly and spoke to her powerfully, saying, “It is not yet your time.”

The next thing she knew, she was back in the ambulance and had arrived at their destination. Despite not recognizing some of her family’s faces upon awaking in the hospital, Vanessa knew something profound had happened to her, and she was ready to share it with whoever she could. She kept saying the best way she could, that, “I saw Jesus, I saw Jesus! He hugged me, He saved me, He loves me, and He’s coming back again!”

“It was the most incredible, life-changing experience I ever had,” she recalled. “And also devastating at the same time.”

After enduring nine hours of complicated neurosurgery, Vanessa made it out successfully, much to the relief of her loved ones. Although the surgery went well, her future was still uncertain.

Faith Strengthened Through Recovery

The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor; He has sent me to Heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed. To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. —Luke 4:18-19

Amazingly, less than a week later, Vanessa was able to walk out of the hospital on her own. The ensuing months and yearslong recovery period were far from easy, but through it all, Vanessa continued to rely on her friends and family for strength and trust in God to heal her and make her whole again. 

“The Lord continually pursued me. In those months and even years following the traumatic brain injury, I knew that He was with me so powerfully. It reminded me of how in scripture, God leaves the 99 sheep to find the one. I was very much the one sheep who was injured that Jesus held and carried on His shoulders like a Good Shepherd. I was hurting and very broken at the time, but I could hear His voice so clearly,” she recalled.

Vanessa went through extensive therapies just to learn how to speak, read, and write again. Previously a gifted athlete in several sports, Vanessa had to relearn rudimentary skills, like the names of colors and shapes.

During that time, she was surrounded by the love of God, her supportive family, and husband, James. Those who worked with her were astonished at just how speedy her recovery was, but it wasn’t without its bumps.

More Than an Overcomer

In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. —Romans 8:37

When she was told by a doctor that it was unlikely her peripheral vision would come back after the trauma of surgery, Vanessa refused to become disheartened, continuing to look for remedies and work with specialists to heal more quickly. She continued praying and trusting in the Lord while sharing the wonder of her testimony with as many people as possible.

During her recovery, Vanessa learned much about her faith through listening to the audio Bible day and night, praying with family, and seeking out healing events and services.

“It was powerful learning about the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and I wanted everyone to know about Jesus. I had to trust the Holy Spirit completely as I recovered. He would give me so much faith and peace. I had to believe that God had greater plans. I continually reframed my thinking and relied on Jesus… I was so hungry and desperate for God,” she said.

Seven months after the surgery, Vanessa was cleared to drive again, thankful and elated by just how much healing the Lord had provided. As she continued to work hard to restore her abilities, she grew in her faith like never before. She was also prophesied over and informed of her teaching gift, which she would soon put to good use at Regent University.

“My relationship with God the Father was strengthened so much during that season, and through Jesus, He revealed Himself to me at a whole new level than what I had ever experienced. Healing is a journey, and it looks different for everyone. I learned so much about the mighty power of the Holy Spirit and about God’s love and nature. He responds quickly to our faith and prayers. I learned to hear the shepherd’s voice very clearly,” she said.

Charting a New Path at Regent

For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” – Esther 4:14

In 2017, just a little under a year after surgery, Vanessa and James relocated from rural Pennsylvania to Virginia Beach, Virginia after an opportunity became available. It was finally the achievement of a longtime goal and dream to live in the area.

Vanessa enrolled in graduate-level classes and started working as a student life coach and then as a career coach, using her passion for helping people succeed and her teaching gifts to help guide others in their calling and see all that they could become.

“Starting a master’s program was intimidating at first but was also very exciting; it was like God opening the door for us. It was a dream come true to go to Regent. I absolutely felt called there by God. The Holy Spirit was so present in all my classes. I received even greater and fuller healing through my classwork, as well as a deep sense of renewal. I received an ‘A’ in my first class, and that was truly a miracle and a testament of God’s goodness,” she shared.

During her time as a student, she even had the honor of speaking about her story at Dr. Pat Robertson’s house, where she testified to God’s love and shared her amazing renewal. 

“I thought the invite was a mistake at first,” she admitted. “Then knew it was really for me! It was exciting and humbling. I felt so honored to be there and tell the audience that if it wasn’t for God’s power and grace, I wouldn’t be alive to share my story. It was an impactful moment. Going from not knowing my ABCs to finishing a graduate-level course with an ‘A’ was truly a miracle.”

Vanessa proudly graduated with distinction in December 2020, earning a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership. One would never guess the powerful young woman she had become was once fighting for her life after a ruptured brain aneurism just a few years prior.

Venturing Into Business and Writing

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9

After graduating from Regent with her master’s degree, Vanessa launched a faith-based business called Abundant Living, LLC that offers a variety of Christian life, leadership, and career coaching services, an online gift shop, communications resources and materials, and more. She plans to offer group sessions in the future, along with speaking engagements, conferences, and events.

“One of my callings is to help train, equip, and prepare the next generation of Christian leaders by helping them identify their calling, discover their God-given dreams, and come up with a strategic plan in how to accomplish that and move forward with their future,” she said.

For Vanessa, Abundant Living, LLC was the culmination of what she had learned from both her own miracle and healing journey as well as her coaching and communications experience at Regent University.

“It was always a dream to be an entrepreneur and serve God’s people. God was putting all the pieces together for me, and it was a prophecy we had been given fulfilled. We now help transform other people to hear and obey the voice of God and feel hopeful about what God’s calling is for their life… I want to raise up young people who feel inspired to change the world for Christ.”

Since moving to Virginia Beach, Vanessa has also been active in pro-life advocacy and activism in the surrounding area.

Miracles Really Do Happen! Jesus Makes All Things New

Then the One sitting on the throne said, “See! I am making all things new. Write, for these words are faithful and true.” —Revelation 21:5

In December 2024, Vanessa authored and published a book called, Miracles Really Do Happen! Jesus Makes All Things New as a testament to the miraculous power of God. She considers herself living proof of God’s love for His children and is thrilled to further share the Good News of the Gospel through her story and book.  

Vanessa first had the idea to put her story in writing in Spring 2017 after attending a Night of Prophecy in the Regent Shaw Chapel that was hosted by Gordon Robertson. There, she was prophesied to by a now good friend of hers who gave her a word that she was going to write a very important book for the Kingdom of God.

“I knew God was calling me to write my book. I knew the Lord wanted me to focus on sharing my testimony so it could serve as an open door for people to get healed by God, come to know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior, or even come back to the Lord. He placed it on my heart to help save a million souls. He really wants to work miracles in and through our lives,” she exclaimed.

Her hope is that her book will inspire others, help them hear the voice of the Holy Spirit, understand the love of the Father through Jesus, and invest their time in becoming more intimate with Him.

You can reach out to Vanessa, stay updated on her current projects, and find out how you can read and share her new book at www.abundantliving.life.

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the people, but the Lord rises upon you and His glory appears over you. —Isaiah 60:1-2