Whitney Hope- Spotlight Story

My family was always very active. We would always take vacations together. Many of our family trips would be to new resorts for snow skiing. My first time skiing was when I was about 6 years old. Over a period of time I became a pretty good skier. When I was in the 8th grade my brother had already been snowboarding for a couple of years. I wanted to go on the runs with him, so I quickly learned how to snowboard. I ended up becoming fairly decent at it. I had to do it well in order to keep up with him and his friends.

On February 19, 1999, as a Sophomore in high school, I went with two of my great friends to Sierra Summit ski resort. I headed off to the snowboard park where I was attempting to do a 360 jump and I fell, landing on my neck with my legs flipping over my head, snapping my back in half. My friend's father is a doctor, so he knew just what to do. He kept me conscious and told me not to move. If it wasn't for him being with me that day, life could have had a different ending for me. While I laid in the snow with my friend at my side, my other friend went to get help. There were clouds over the Fresno area, and the life flight helicopter didn't have the instrumentation to fly through the bad weather, so they air lifted me to Modesto Memorial Hospital. I was in ICU for a couple of weeks and was then transported to Valley Children's Hospital in Fresno. I spent the next five weeks working through therapy and dealing with my new life with certain physical disabilities. After returning home and daily doing therapy for about a year, I decided to take my life back . . . doing the normal things that high school students do. I returned that fall to my Junior year of high school, going to class daily, the school dances, and hanging out with friends. I did graduate with my class on time. If it weren't for God, my incredible group of friends and my wonderful family I wouldn't be here today.

I am still a paraplegic, but I know that I find God's strength to be very special in my life. A verse to live by is the only thing that will get me through every challenge that I must face in life. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13.

Rachelle is currently a San Diego State University student. She will be one of our featured Whitney Hope Foundation speakers, sharing her story of overcoming the many circumstances life has for a young person who is in a wheelchair. She will also be actively involved in planning and leading the program for Camp Attitude-So Cal, and assisting with administrative needs.

For information on booking Rachelle for a speaking event, please contact the Whitney Hope office at 805.658.1189.