Rick Umble's story wasn't much different from many of ours. Rick lives with his wife, guidance counselor Lyn Koster Umble, and his two children; Brad (18) and Dana (14). He works for Ulster County as a Geographic Information Systems Analyst. The family belongs to St. Colmans Roman Catholic Church. Rick shared his leisure time between two passionate endeavors; cycling and lacrosse.

In May of 2008, Rick was playing in the annual alumni vs. varsity lacrosse game at the Kimberton Waldorf School outside Philadelphia. While pursuing a ground ball, Rick broke his neck. He was airlifted to Jefferson Hospital for emergency surgery,  and later transferred to Helen Hayes Hospital in West Haverstraw, NY (near his Kingston home) for in-patient rehabilitation. Rick currently has limited use of his arms and hands and has no feeling below the chest. The road to recovery will be long, no doubt. Each of us is confident, however, that Rick will return to an active and productive life, none more resolute than Rick.

So begins a new chapter in the Rick Umble Story. It's just the first of many new chapters that most of us will never truly comprehend. These chapters will include triumphs and tribulations, milestones and setbacks, frustration and jubilence. The Umble family invites you to use this website to share these times with them. Friends, family, neighbors, acquaintances from long ago, complete strangers, or anyone who cares can look in on Rick and his family to see how they are doing. You can follow Rick's progress with us and even lend a hand.