Rachelle Chapman, 28, is known around the world as the "paralyzed bride" after an accident during her bachelorette party that left her quadriplegic or paralyzed from her collar bone down to her toes. She is happily married for three years now and expects her first child.
In August 2014, she heard the heartbeat of her first baby from the surrogate mother who volunteered to bear the child of the couple. In an interview by TODAY.com last August, the excited soon-to-be-mother happily said, "That was so cool. It was so fast and so strong. I didn't know it would be that intense."
After the ultrasound session together with the surrogate mother carrying their child, "I was trying not to let myself get excited up until this point because I didn't want to be let down if there wasn't a heartbeat, but now that there is, I'm crazy excited. It's so real now."
Four years since the accident, she was paralyzed because of the accident wherein she was pushed into the swimming pool. The very first thing she thought about if she would still be able to get pregnant and have babies. Many paralyzed mothers were able to give birth to their own children, but in the case of Chapman, the medicine that she needs to survive hinders the possibility of pregnancy.
Chriss Chapman, 32, married Rachelle a year after the accident. It took them four years to finally expect their own child. However, because of the situation her wife is going through, it was their decision to opt for surrogacy. Meanwhile, Laurel Humes, a college friend, helped them as she was following the story of the couple through Facebook.
"When I heard Rachelle was looking for a surrogate, I told him, 'You helped a couple. I'd like to really make this offer and see if she'd be interested in me doing this for her," Humes told TODAY.com in an interview.
Though paralyzed, she did not mind all the criticisms she received. Many questioned her ability to nurse and take care of a child since she was paralyzed. She said that even though she broke her neck, it's not a straight line across the body. She said that she has strong biceps, wrists and shoulders and can push her own wheel chair. She still can move parts of her hands except her fingers. Hence, she can do tasks usual mothers do like change diapers and hold her baby.
Being a parent isn't a one way street. She still has Chris, her husband, to guide her and help her in taking care of their baby. Rachelle, before her accident, has planned to have two children. However, surrogacy isn't a cheap resort. They have spent more than $15,000 so far excluding the delivery fees once the baby is about to be delivered.
They are expecting their baby by mid-April 2015.
