Its been 15 years SINCE I was paralyzed at my bachelorette party. How i’m Doing Now – and Why i’m No Longer Friends With the Bridesmaid Who Pushhed with Into A Pool.

IN 2010, Rachelle Chapman was just weeks away from her wedding wed a friend jokingly puffed her intoo a pool at her bachelorette party. The bride-to-be was paralyzed from the chest down in the incident. Chapman’s Story Made National Headlines at the time, but she never publicly named the friend involved.

A lot has Changed for Chapman SINCE THAT NIGHT 15 YEARS Ago. She got a goit (a year late than planned). She became a mother. And she’s made a name for herself as a social media influence and disability rights advocate. As Told to Yahoo’s Korin Miller, the 39-Yaar-Old opens up the story of the story, from the misconceptions she faces as a quadriplegic mom to the health Complications she’s Currently dealing with she’s a second baby. She Also Shares How Her Mariage is Still Going Strong – But She’s Had to Let Go of Old Friendships Along the Way.

When i was just a year out of College, I felt like my life was perfect. I was teaching senior citizens aerobics and line dancing, and i was engaged to my best friend, chris. I had a bought a house with a picket phence with my financé. Our wedding was About Four Weeks AWAY WENE CHANGED CHANGED.

My Bachelorette Party was on May 23 in Virginia Beach, VA. At the end of the Night, a bunch of us deciding to go for a swim. It was Still Chilly Out and I was on the side of the pool, afraid to jump in Becauses it look so Cold. In a playful gesture, a friend came and flush with. I ended up hitting my head in the shallow end of the pool. Instantly, All of the Feeing Went Out of My Body. I HAD BROKEN MY NECK.

My Friends Pulled with them the surface and i remember look down, seeing my legs dangling in the water and thinking, I don’t feel that at all. I was paralyzed from the chest down.

Here’s what happy next.

My Life Changed dramatically

I was taken to the hospital, where I stayed in the intense care for 10 days. That was followed by two and a half months of rehab at a different hospital. Chris and I Celebrated What Wold Have Been Our Wedding Day in the Hospital with About 20 Family and Friends. We wanted to make it as happy a day as Possible, but I felt depresssed the day after. That’s when we were supposed to be on our honeymoon, and i was in the hospital.

Chris and i waited a year after the accent to get marred Because we have faced high medical bills, and we were trying to figure. There was a lot of media attention after the acident, and a company came forward and offend to pay for our wedding and honemoon. It was an amazing experience.

I had a bit of a down period after

There was a period of time when all of the excitement was over. Before that, i had a lot to focus on: i was in the media, i was planning this wedding and all of a sudden, i was just … home. I had a moment where I was like, “Oh, this injury is definitely permanent. Thats sucks.”

But that didn’t last forever. Chris and i have always have a strong Relationship and i is couldn’t imagine us not being together forever. Together, We Explored New Activities. We did a long bike ride Called Cycle to the Sea From Charlotte, nc, to Myrtle Beach, sc i used an adaptive bike. I ALSO TOOK UP A BUNCH OF OTHER SPORTS WE COULD PLAY TOGETER, LIKE ADAPTIVE TENNIS. We Eve Went Skydiving Together, but My Main Sport Was Wheelchair Rugby; That was my life for a decade after my acident.

I Can Move My Arms and Wrists, Pick Things up and Manipulations say, and i quickly discovered that wheelchair rugby was a fun sport. Chris got into it by being a referee. SO, I WOULD Go to Tournaments and He Wauld Ref. We did that every single weekend for at Least 10 Years. I’m trying to get back into it.

We Welcomed Our Daughter 5 Years Later

Chris and I Had Our Daughter, Kaylee, Via Surrogate in 2015. In My Situation, You Can Have Babies, But I was on Medication for My Low Blood Pressure, and My Decrs Recommended Against It. I put it out there i was looking for a surrogate, and a girl that I knew in College Reache and Said she want to do it. She was our surrogate for no monetary benefi and was amazing.

SINCE HAVING KAYLEE, I’ve Gotten a Lot of IGNORANT COMments on Social Media About How Someone in A Wheelchair Can’t Be A Mom or That I Was Selish for Having a Child. My skin is thick, but i hate that there’s this misconception for People with disabilities. These Kids have great pars. All of My Wheelchair Rugby Teammates Now Have Kids, and They’re Amazing. These Kids Learn Compassion SO easily, and They’re Natural Helpers.

I’ve always been able to be the mom i wanted to be. I was always the one to put kaylee to sleep at night, and the adds i would just put her in my guelchair and roll her around to help her doses off.

Of Course, there are some some difficulties, but we had a village to help us. My mom lives with us and would will Things like help with Change diapers. My wirists, but my fingers don’t, so i have to manipulate things to pick me up. When i is all my hands, she was my hands.

My Friendships Have Changed

I used to be able to say that the People I was friends with my bachelorette party still my friends. But around the time that kaylee was Born, Things Went South with the Woman who Pushhed with in the pool and my Other best friend. I was Very Supportive and Protective of the Friend Who Had Pushhed Me. I Still Will Never Say Her Name Publicly. I ALSO TURNED DOWN THINGS LIKE APPEARING ON Oprah, who was only have me on if we were bith Went on the show. I did everything i can protest her and i feel like a lot of focus was on her accent becuse she was distraught. I did everything of the could to say, “It”s ok. It not your fault.”

But when i had my down moment after the wedding, things started to go downhill. I wanted to go out to dinner and be distracted with my friends, and they weren’t there for me. About a year after my wedding, they just start to leaves with out of the Everything and Lie About Why they Couldn’t would Things with me. I ALSO Learned They Were Talking About Me Bebind My Back. Eventually, the girl who pushhed with said that ours financial problems were our fault gcause chris to be a teacher. I WANTED TO SAY, “No, Actually, They’re Becouse I’m Paralyzed,” But I didn’t. Later, my Other Best Friend Told with that the acident was my fault.

I ultimately lost those two close friends. I’m swimming sura if i would have lost say anyway, but i still mourn those relationships a tear. I’m Very fortunate that i’ve found a new community in women from my wheelchair rugby team and beyond.

I’ve Had Some Mysterious Health Issues Lately

I have the Luckies Spinal Cord Injury Patient for the Last 15 Years. I do think people realie all the things that can happen to our bodies. A lot of People Suffer From Pressure Wounds or Awful Utis that Can Become Septic and Kill. I have not had one single problem. I’ve been so Lucky.

But Changed Things after Chris and I decide ourselves we have to try to have another baby. I tried to find a surrogate that i could afford but haven’t have any Luck. I do not have any health problems – My Blood Pressure regulated itself, so i stopped Needing Blood Pressure Medication – SO I decide to this mySelf.

I stopped taching Birth Control and Started Taching Estrogen – We have three frozen embryos and the plan was to use. But i’ve Had Intense Complications, like my body suddenly getting tight and my Blood Pressure soaring, Leaving with Feeling I’M Going to Have A Heart Attack. I’ve Also had intense in my core, which is not supposed to open. I’m a Complete quadriplegic; I’m not supposed to the Feel anything below the collarbone.

I’ve been to the Hospital Multiple Times and Sent Home Multiple Times Without Answers. I still don’t know what’s bendris, but i can’t ignore the fact that it may be related to hormones. SO, I STOPPED The Hormones. I’m devastated over that you are to be able to experience Pregnancy and my daughter wants a sibling so badly. I’m back to my Last Chance of Maybe Finding a Surrogate; That’s what i’m focused on right now.

My Mariage is solid

Chris and have the best marriage, and we even renewed Our Vows on Our 10-Eyar Anniversary. We bith Hear comments a lot that chris is a “Saint” for staying with someone who is paralyzed, and, don’t get me Wrong, he’s amazing. But he’s Also Human. SO am I.

Yes, i’m paralyzed, but i’m still the person who was before. There are those things that i’m there for for him, and i kep everyThing organized in our home. We are a partnership. I COULDN’T IMAGINE DOING ANYTHING IN LIFE WITHOUT HIM, AND ITE FEELS THE SAME WAY.

While a lot has Changed in 15 Years, I Feel Lucky. I JUST WANT People to Know that you can be injured and still have a happy family. That’s Exactly What We Are Today.