Acknowledgments

Putting it all out there in this book has been both cathartic and challenging. I thank you all for reading my story, here and throughout the years in the news following my accident. So many of you reached out with kindness, without which I would never have gotten through this, so thank you for all of the letters, e-mails, encouragement, and generous donations. 

I’d like to thank my agent, Maura Teitelbaum, for believing in my story; my editor, Lara Asher at GPP, for the care she put into weaving it together; and my project editor, Lauren Brancato, for her final manuscript fixes.

Thank you to Stephanie Krikorian for helping me get the words out of my head and onto the page. I appreciate greatly the time and effort you spent on my life story. 

From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank my mom, Carol Friedman. Without hesitation, you left your life to help me live mine in the most normal way possible. Thank you for being my best friend. A huge thank you to my dad, Larry Friedman. You’ve always worked your butt off for this family. Thanks for teaching me to be a fighter. 

And to Chris’s parents, Susan and Bob Chapman, who have helped us stay afloat in hard times on more than one occasion: You have been a second set of parents to me, and I’m so grateful to have you both as my in-laws.

To my brother, Aaron Friedman: You have been such a big help, and I love you very much. 

To Tom Vrnak: You’ve been such a good friend to me and Chris. Thank you for staying with me in the ICU so my mom and Chris could sleep that one night, for being our best man, and for being a night owl like me, so I have someone to talk to when I can’t sleep.

If I haven’t said it enough, to you four girls who shared that night by the pool with me, I love you and will always. You all stuck with me through hard times when many people walked away. The love, support, and loyalty that was always a part of our friendships was solidified on that spring night.

I’d like to thank all of my sponsors and supporters and those organizations that have donated their services, products, and time so that I can live a happier, more independent life. They include BraunAbility, 1-800-Registry, Colours Wheelchair, Van Products, Toyota, George to the Rescue, Lulus.com, Home Builders Association of Raleigh-Wake County, Today, Martha Manning Photography, Erin McLean Events, Morse Entertainment, Made-Up Special Events, New Mobility Resource, PhotoAbility, Crossfit APx, Drive Medical, Ocean Cure, and Walking with Anthony.

Of course, the love of my life, Chris Chapman, we have something so special that no one can ever break. I can’t wait to celebrate My Bucket Got a Hole in It Day year in and year out for the rest of our lives. I’ll continue to rub your back every night before bed as long as you keep calling me your sweetheart.

To my alma mater, East Carolina University, and to the Pirate nation for all of your support, and of course, for being the place at which I met my man. Once a Pirate, always a Pirate.