On June 4, 2011, while rock climbing near Gunnison, Colorado, Danielle had a tragic accident, falling over 250 feet, breaking her ankles, femur, pelvis, and back in 2 places. Paralyzed at T6 and a wheelchair user, she had 6 surgeries and was hospitalized for 3 and a half months. Her surgeon believes Danielle survived the longest fall on record onto a hard surface, and wrote an article about it.