Rachelle Friedman facts for kids

Rachelle Friedman Chapman (born in 1985) is an American blogger and author. She became known after a swimming accident in 2010. This accident caused her to become paralyzed. Despite this, Rachelle has shared her story to inspire others.

Rachelle's Early Life and Education

Rachelle Friedman grew up in a Jewish family. Her parents are Carol and Larry Friedman. She went to Cape Henry Collegiate School, a private school in Virginia Beach, Virginia. In 2008, she graduated from East Carolina University (ECU). She earned a degree in recreation management.

The Accident and Her Journey

In May 2010, Rachelle had a serious accident. She was with her friends after a party. They decided to go swimming. One of her friends playfully pushed her into the pool. This caused Rachelle to seriously injure her spine. She became paralyzed from the neck down.

After her accident, Rachelle shared her story widely. She appeared on TV shows like Katie and The Today Show. She also wrote a book called The Promise. This book tells about her life before and after the accident. It is called The Promise because Rachelle and her friends promised not to name the friend who pushed her. The book was published in 2014.

Her Family Life

Rachelle met her husband, Chris Chapman, while they were both at East Carolina University. Their wedding was planned for soon after her accident. They decided to postpone it. Rachelle and Chris got married on July 22, 2011.

Their daughter, Kaylee Rae Chapman, was born on April 26, 2015. A surrogate mother carried their baby. As of 2014, Rachelle lives in Knightdale, North Carolina. Her husband, Chris, works as a teacher there.