Who Is Carl Riccio?
My name is Carl Riccio and I am from Warren, New Jersey. I recently graduated from Villanova University and am looking forward to attending law school in the fall. I grew up in a
large, sports oriented family. For the first 17 years of my life, my goals and aspirations mostly
revolved around athletics. I became a state champion in wrestling, and in my favorite sport of
baseball I was awarded a position on the Junior Preseason All-American Baseball Team. It was
very gratifying to feel I was on track to reach my life long goal of playing professional baseball.
On February 22, 2003, something happened in a split second that forever changed the course of
my life. I suffered a severe spinal cord injury (SCI) while competing in a high school wrestling
match. The injury rendered me a quadriplegic. After my injury, I realized that I had to redirect
my life, rethink my goals, and take a different path toward success. I met many people with
similar injuries to mine. Some were beaten, and felt that their lives were over. To watch this
happen to another human being is a life changing experience. I don’t know why I have been
given the ability to go on striving for success despite my physical challenges, but I do know that
in itself makes me a lucky man...
Read all of Carl's letter including details on the documentary and how you can help.
