About the Author

Rachelle Friedman, once a program assistant at a seniors activity center who taught aerobics and line dancing in North Carolina, is still recovering from an accident on the night of her bachelorette party that left her paralyzed from the chest down. She spends her time as an advocate for others with spinal cord injuries and is hoping to pursue a new career one day soon. She makes daily efforts through speaking engagements and social media to inspire people with her optimism and her bright and vibrant spirit. Rachelle grew up loving the ocean, cheerleading in high school, and playing sports. Although she tackles physical activities a little differently now, Rachelle still surfs, plays rugby on an otherwise all-male team, and loves the outdoors. She recently learned to drive on her own and is working at perfecting her skills on the road. Rachelle has appeared on most major news outlets in the United States and has been and is still being written about in thousands of publications worldwide. Rachelle graduated from East Carolina University, majoring in sports recreation. She and her husband, Chris Chapman, live in Knightdale, North Carolina, with their two dogs. Visit her at rachellefriedman.com.