OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE: CHAPTER ONE

Words; Randy Faul

I felt that with the outpouring I received in the last few months I would post the latest. As many of you know, I have been absent from a few of the races and kind of been under the radar sort of speak. If anybody has ever had any sciatica nerve issues, you can relate to my story. As I’ve always had some lower back pain from time to time, you just get used to it and move one. I figured all my youth days of lifting wrong by myself and just doing stupid stuff along with some major get offs, I was bound to have some aches and pains as I reach my 70’s.

After Ian came through at the end of September and moved some stuff around, we were finally getting things to where we could recognize the property. Fast forward to the day we received power and the generator was no longer needed, I rolled it back to the shop and thought about the next day’s chores. Little did I know waking up with severe leg pain was the start of a six month test of patience, strength and the ability to maintain some sort of sanity. T he pain numbers ran in the 10’s and sometimes the 11’s on a scale of 1 to 10. After many, many visits to the medical industry per my insurance re- quirements with my personal physician, PT, x rays, MRI, pain specialist, I finally started getting some relief. I finally ended up at a sports medicine/orthopedic surgeon and that changed everything as he informed me that the reason I was having so much pain was because I had disc problems and bone fragments were pinching the sciatic nerve. I haven’t been through anything like this since my knee operation back 12 years ago, but as soon as I walked into the facility, I knew I was in the right place.

After consultation, another MRI was ordered which I was told that previous MRI didn’t fit his level of expertise and that he wanted his own staff to perform all tests and scans. I saw the surgeon on Friday, he ordered the MRI for Monday, had me come back to see him on Tuesday and give me the news. After giving me two choices, it was a no brainer and I was scheduled for surgery that Thursday the same week! I didn’t have much time to gather myself up and all the old sayings about “don’t let them cut on your back” went out the window and next thing I knew I was being prepped. As the procedure went amazingly well, one overnight stay and I was back home that Friday afternoon.

Well, I will say that’s when the fun started and the recovery was another book with plenty of chapters to read. No bending, No twisting and No lifting, how hard could that be? Well let me tell you, until you try to take a shower, get in bed, bathroom duties, walking and getting dressed, it becomes a huge undertaking. I’m looking around and thinking, what the heck just happened here? The thought of being under these restrictions for at least six weeks and then starting PT was something that I haven’t experienced since my knee operation. Fast forward to week six and as I write this, I see the doctor this coming Wednesday, April 19th. I’m positive I will be able to come back with Chapter Two with good news and the pain of going through P.T. Stay tuned!

P.S. Along with the major question of; “Would I do it again”.

Randy Faul

RIDER: DIMITRI EPTING

813-502-1228

What a season of FTR racing it has been. As I am writing this, I am just finishing up the last race at Punta Gorda and reflecting back on my season. I raced almost every race this season and competed in a different class at many of the races. This season alone I have raced against some of the fastest racers in the country in AA, raced an E-bike, and raced a twenty year old two stroke. It was really fun racing a fresh group of guys each weekend and just having fun racing my dirt bike without chasing a championship like I have in years past.

When it comes to finances, a fresh perspective can be really helpful. However, in my business as a financial advisor, what I see is that many people often do what they have always done. If you do what you have always done, you will get what you always got.

Maybe you are on that roller coaster in the stock market and you wish you could find something with less ups and downs. Maybe your portfolio is not getting the returns you think it should. Maybe you are worried about taxes in the future or how to get the most out of your social security. Whatever it is, a second opinion could help. Give me the opportunity to give you a second opinion on what you’re doing to hit your retirement goals.

Shawn Clark

Investment Advisory Services offered through Continuum Advisory, LLC, a Registered Investment Adviser. Mosaic Financial Group and Continuum Advisory, LLC are not affiliated.