Fifteen years ago, Rachelle Chapman faced a life-altering incident at her bachelorette party when a friend playfully pushed her into a pool, resulting in a broken neck and paralysis from the chest down. Despite this, Chapman has built a fulfilling life, marrying her fiancé a year later, becoming a mother through surrogacy, and establishing herself as a social media influencer and disability rights advocate.
Chapman’s journey has not been without challenges. After the accident, she and her husband, Chris, faced significant medical bills and postponed their wedding. Once married, they navigated the ups and downs of adjusting to her new condition, including a period of depression post-wedding. However, their strong relationship has endured, with the couple exploring adaptive sports together, such as wheelchair rugby and skydiving.
The birth of their daughter, Kaylee, via surrogate in 2015, brought both joy and misconceptions about Chapman’s ability to parent while paralyzed. Despite facing ignorant comments online, Chapman has remained resilient, emphasizing the capabilities of parents with disabilities.
Unfortunately, Chapman’s friendships from before the accident deteriorated, particularly with the friend who pushed her into the pool. After the birth of her daughter, Chapman felt increasingly isolated and betrayed by this friend and another close companion, leading to the end of those relationships. She has since found a supportive community among her wheelchair rugby teammates and other advocates.
Recently, Chapman has encountered mysterious health issues while attempting to have another child. After stopping birth control and starting estrogen to use her frozen embryos, she experienced severe complications, including sudden body tightness, soaring blood pressure, and unexpected pain. These issues remain undiagnosed, forcing her to halt her efforts to conceive naturally. Chapman is now focused on finding a surrogate as her last hope for expanding her family.
Throughout these trials, Chapman’s marriage to Chris remains strong. They renewed their vows on their 10-year anniversary, defying societal expectations and proving that a happy, fulfilling family life is possible despite significant challenges.