Rachelle Friedman
| Rachelle Friedman Chapman | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Rachelle Friedman October 2, 1985 Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.[1] |
| Occupation | Public speaker, author |
Rachelle Friedman Chapman is an American public speaker, author and model, best known for becoming paralyzed after a 2010 accident where her best friend playfully pushed her into a pool during her bachelorette party.
Accident
In May 2010, Friedman and her best friends returned home from her bachelorette party and decided to go swimming. One of her friends playfully pushed her into the pool, ultimately causing Friedman to shatter her vertabrae and become quadreplegic. Friedman has done many interviews, on shows including Katie and The Today Show since her accident, and wrote a book, The Promise, so called for the promise she and her friends made amongst each other to never name the friend who pushed her, chronicling her life leading up to the accident as well as the aftermath.
Personal life
Friedman met her husband, Chris Chapman, while attending East Carolina University. Their wedding was postponed after her accident, but the two were married in 2011. Their daughter, Kaylee Rae Chapman, was born on April 26, 2015 with the help of a surrogate. They live in Knightdale, North Carolina.