AAAHH — I DID IT — AN EPIC VICTORY 🎉 NEW WHEELCHAIR BATTLE WON –> THE APPEAL THEY SAID I COULDN’T WIN — I DID. 💥
📬 The most nerve-racking piece of mail I’ve opened in years: a denial letter from my health insurance provider.
Not just a denial for a new wheelchair — a denial of continuity of care. A denial of common sense.
WHAT I ASKED FOR
That my long-time wheelchair provider — Stalls Medical — historically in-network for years, be put back in-network to supply my new wheelchair (a Permobil F3).
Why? Because a wheelchair isn’t a “buy it anywhere” item. It’s a complex, custom medical device that determines my health, independence, and survival.
WHY IT MATTERS
This isn’t about a chair. This is about the ATP (Assistive Technology Professional) I’ve worked with for nearly a decade.
ATP’s aren’t salespeople. They are highly trained experts in seating systems, pressure relief, biomechanics, and mobility. My ATP knows my body inside and out — how the smallest adjustment can keep me healthy.
Since working with this ATP, I haven’t had a single serious pressure sore. That’s not luck. That’s skilled care. Without that? I’d be back in a hospital bed, costing the system hundreds of thousands more than a properly fitted chair.
HOW I BACKED IT UP
I didn’t just beg. I built a case:
📚 Peer-reviewed journal articles
📁 Past medical records
💸 Billing data showing the costs of pressure sores vs. the cost of a chair
🩺 Letters from my medical team
THE RESPONSE I GOT
Still denied. Their reasoning? “Members can go to any in-network provider.”
read more…THE MOST SUCCESSFUL NIGHT OF MY LIFE: UNBREAKABLE(ISH) BOOK LAUNCH 🚀💙
(200 PEOPLE. 1 BOOK. 1 WILDLY UNFORGETTABLE NIGHT.)
I’m rarely speechless (and let’s be honest, that never happens) — but my book launch for Unbreakable(ish): I Wasn’t Built for Boring hosted & donated by the North Carolina Museum of Art left me totally blown away.
(Audio version coming out mid October. 25 hours in the recording studio next week)
WHAT WENT DOWN:
⭐ 200 incredible humans from all across the country
🎨 A breathtaking venue at NC Museum of Art
🎤 An improv interview that was… let’s just say a 21+ conversation
😂 Nonstop laughter, jaw-dropping stories, and community magic in every corner
WHAT MADE IT EPIC:
💙 Friends I’ve known for 20 years sitting next to people I met last week
💼 My legal world, advocacy world, speaker world, corporate clients — all mixing with bikers I randomly met at bars (true story)
👨👩👧 My whole family actually flew up — which is saying something, because they didn’t even all show up at the same time when I broke my neck 🤣 Apparently I need to write more books
🌍 People who couldn’t make it in person still cheering from all over the globe
🤝 Strangers walking in… and leaving as friends
📰 And oh yeah… we made the news too (link coming soon 👀)
15 YEARS PARALYZED TODAY AND HERE’S WHAT I KNOW
I don’t believe my accident happened for a reason. I believe bad things happen to great people every second of every day.
What I do believe is this: the way you move forward when life feels impossible is what defines you.
Today I’m sitting quietly, reflecting on August 27, 2010. Fifteen years ago I broke my neck in shallow water. I thought my life was over.
And yet—here I am.
HOW I MEASURE MY LIFE
I don’t measure my life by what I lost. I measure it by what I’ve built:
✅ Surviving 7 years in a hospital → building an advocacy career in health equity
✅ Guiding corporations on access, inclusion, and disability research
✅ Creating a keynote speaking business that takes me around the world
✅ Delivering a TEDx with over 500,000 views
✅ Becoming a published author
✅ Donating 20% of my time to nonprofit boards advancing equity
✅ Always engaging in the most crazy adventures
HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT: 📚 BOOK LAUNCH EVENT FOR MY MEMOIR à UNBREAKABLE(ISH): I WASN’T BUILT FOR BORING
I never imagined my story would become a book— Not after the injury. Not after the detours. And definitely not after the monkeys at the Playboy Mansion. But here we are.
My memoir is a collection of the wild, raw, hilarious, and brutally honest moments that shaped me—and now, I finally get to share it with all of you.
Join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating the launch of Unbreakable(ish) sponsored by the North Carolina Museum of Art and Lenovo.
📅 WHEN: Wednesday, August 27th at 6:00 PM
📍 WHERE: North Carolina Museum of Art — 2110 Blue Ridge Rd, Raleigh, NC 27607
👉 CLICK HERE TO REGISTER –> https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1419971546119?aff=oddtdtcreator
WHAT TO EXPECT
🍷 Meet Ali Ingersoll and hear the stories behind her powerful memoir
📖 Books available for purchase at the event
🥂 Lite bites and refreshments sponsored by Lenovo
😂 An evening of inspiration, laughter, and authentic storytelling
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
A portion of book sale proceeds will be donated to the North Carolina Spinal Cord Injury Association, supporting vital programs and services for individuals and families affected by spinal cord injuries.
🎟️ FREE ADMISSION — LIMITED SPACE
Because unforgettable nights like this one don’t come with a price tag, admission is completely free. However, space is limited and we expect a large turnout, so reserve your tickets today to guarantee your spot.
⚠️ Friendly reminder: This book is spicier than late-night premium cable, so arrange for childcare first and then settle in for some seriously adult storytelling!
DON’T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY
Celebrate a remarkable story of resilience, humor, and the extraordinary power of the human spirit.
🍸 Cash bar available (because free drinks only exist in fairy tales and corporate events).
📘 ABOUT THE BOOK
From caviar on deserted islands and monkeys at the Playboy Mansion to surprise jail time overseas and directing her own rescue after a dive that left her paralyzed from the chest down—Ali Ingersoll’s life has been wild.
Unbreakable(ish) is a no-filter, laugh-out-loud memoir that turns pain into persistence and paralysis into power. With a splash of neuroscience, a pour of rebellion, a twist of dark humor, and a raw bold voice, Ali proves that when life goes sideways, you don’t have to.
✨ If you’ve ever had to start over more times than you can count, this story is fuel for rewriting yours—your way.
🛠️ Because often reinvention comes with detours, duct tape, and delightfully twisted stories.
👉 CLICK HERE TO REGISTER –> https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1419971546119?aff=oddtdtcreator
I JUMPED OUT OF A PLANE 🚀🪂 QUADRIPLEGIC SKYDIVING AT 14,000 FEET
Because if you’re going to live life on the edge, make sure it’s properly harnessed. Skydiving has been on my bucket list since forever—but I didn’t get the chance before I broke my neck in a shallow water dive and became a C6 quad, paralyzed from the chest down with limited arm and hand movement.
And yet… I still jumped.
With my legs hanging out the door of that plane, 14,000 feet in the air, I had one thought:
👉 “I’ve arrived.”
MEET THE DREAM TEAM
I met the All Veterans Group last year when we went racecar driving together (because… obviously). Their motto? “We want to make the world a better place.” And they mean it. This nonprofit is made up of active duty service members, veterans, patriotic civilians, and their families. They:
🪂 Jump into stadiums at events around the country
🪂 Create unforgettable experiences
🪂 Help people with disabilities live their wildest dreams
With the help of the Golden Knights and a top-notch engineering crew, they designed a custom harness just for me:
✅ Protected pressure-sensitive areas (huge when you’re paralyzed)
✅ Locked in my arms so they didn’t go flying
✅ Allowed my legs to be lifted safely during landing
It was so effective, they’re now working on a patent.
WHAT SKYDIVING FELT LIKE AS A QUADRIPLEGIC
Honestly, it’s hard to put into words—but I’ll try:
🌀 Like falling into freedom
💨 Like fear turning into laughter mid-air
🌤️ Like weightlessness… in every way
🧠 Like shutting off the noise and turning on wonder
We freefell for 90 seconds at 120 mph before the chute opened. And then? Quiet. Peace. Absolute joy. I couldn’t stop smiling. I even convinced my boyfriend to jump with me (He’s a keeper!)
I’M AN ADRENALINE JUNKIE… WITH A SPREADSHEET
Yes, I chase wild experiences—but always with precision. I research, plan, and partner with people who prioritize safety and accessibility. Before the jump, someone told me:
💬 “You’ll always have one more landing in life than you do takeoffs.” It made me laugh… but it also stuck with me. There are moments in life when the only thing between you and joy is a leap—one made with courage, trust, and a really good team.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Who knows. But here’s what I do know:
💡 I live with intention
💡 I appreciate every moment I can do something extraordinary
💡 I say yes to things I once thought were impossible
If sharing this helps even one person take their own next bold step—whatever that looks like—then every second of that freefall was worth it.
(Behind the Scenes Video coming soon)
THE 10-10-10 RULE: THE BRAIN HACK THAT SAVED MY BUTT (LITERALLY)
Let’s face it: your brain is dramatic.
Not theater-kid-in-high-school dramatic. More like toddler-who-dropped-their-Fruit-Roll-Up-in-a-sandbox dramatic.
Every day, your decisions are being pulled in a three-way battle between:
🧠 The impulsive part that wants dopamine right now
🧠 The responsible part trying to avoid long-term chaos
🧠 And the existential part that wonders, “Will this matter when I’m 85 and crocheting revenge sweaters in a retirement home?”
That’s why you need the 10-10-10 Rule.
WHAT IS THE 10-10-10 RULE?
This isn’t just another productivity hack invented by a tech bro who drinks kale for breakfast and has never known the betrayal of a soggy burrito.
This is neuroscience—disguised as a life raft.
Whenever you’re about to make a decision that might involve drama, cake, or texting someone whose name you should’ve deleted long ago…
Ask yourself:
How will this choice affect me in…
- 🔟 10 minutes
- 🔟 10 months
- 🔟 10 years
It gives your brain a timeout. A little pause button. A moment to stop the emotional toddler from hijacking the steering wheel of your life.
YOUR BRAIN ON EACH TIMELINE
read more…HOW TO FLY WITHOUT BREAKING YOUR $40,000 WHEELCHAIR (OR YOUR SPIRIT)
There are a few things I wish someone had handed me early in life:
📝 A how-to guide on being paralyzed with style
📉 A manual on avoiding airport catastrophe
🎁 And maybe a coupon for lifetime bubble wrap
I didn’t know what I didn’t know—until I learned the hard way. And by hard, I mean metal-on-metal-cargo-hold hard.
As a full-time wheelchair user paralyzed from the chest down (with limited arm movement), I’ve been through the “congrats-your-chair-is-now-art-supplies” phase of air travel way too many times.
Over the years, I’ve worked with engineers, wheelchair techs, caregivers, and fellow flying wheelchair warriors to build what I call my Cirque du Soleil of chair loading. It’s a high-stakes dance starring my caregiver and some very expensive hardware.
🎥 The video below? It’s part choreography, part survival ritual.
THE ONE PROBLEM 😬
Even with all that prep? There’s still a 50/50 chance something breaks. Why?
COMPASSION CRISIS: PLEASE PAY ATTENTION
(Could this be you? Or someone you love?)
I wish I could say this is one of my usual dark humor posts. It’s not. It is, however, one of the most necessary things I’ve written in a while—for all of us, as human beings navigating a system that often forgets the human part.
72 HOURS AGO, EVERYTHING SHIFTED 🕰️
My wildly energetic, sharp-as-a-tack 79-year-old German mother hit a wall. She had chills, a high fever, violent shaking, and looked like a truck hit her. We thought it might be a UTI—easy mistake to make given the symptoms. We got her antibiotics. They didn’t help. We went to urgent care. More meds. No improvement. By the next morning, her fever spiked to 107°F. I rushed her to the emergency room.
We spent seven hours in the ER together. I didn’t leave her side. I was her advocate. Her voice. Her bodyguard in a wheelchair. The diagnosis? A severe strain of rhinovirus. A virus—no easy fix. No magic meds. We just have to monitor her breathing, hope it doesn’t progress, and let her rest. That’s the backstory.
But that’s not what this post is about.
WHAT I WITNESSED IN THE ER 💔
While we were waiting for blood test results, I watched something that made my stomach turn.
read more…THE TIME HAS COME… MEET MY “PERSON” 💕
A few weeks ago, I made a post about dating as a divorced, 40-year-old quadriplegic woman. Toward the end of it, I mentioned someone special—a human who’s been in my life for nearly a year and a half now.
We made the intentional decision to keep our relationship offline for a while. Just the two of us. Quietly getting to know each other without the noise of likes, comments, or unsolicited opinions.
But now? The cat is officially out of the (adorably judgmental) bag. 🐈
MEET DAN.
Dan Gizzi and I met on Match, both of us dipping our toes into the wild world of online dating. There were zero expectations.
Dan says he was just hoping for a few good meals. I was experimenting with what dating could even look like as a divorced woman with a disability, still learning where I stood with it all.
And then… something unexpected and beautiful happened.
WHAT STARTED AS DATING TURNED INTO FRIENDSHIP—AND THEN PARTNERSHIP.
Over time, we began building a real connection. Not just as romantic partners, but as friends who truly see one another.
We are very different—and weirdly perfect for each other. Dan is calm, thoughtful, intelligent, creative, and the best kind of cheerleader. I, on the other hand, am basically an Energizer Bunny with WiFi: always talking, always building, always moving, and notoriously difficult to slow down.
He does that. Gently.
WE BALANCE EACH OTHER.