Structured Settlements 4Real® Blog: Structured Settlements | Settlement Planning News and John Darer Reviews

Quadriplegic Sailor Solos Atlantic Ocean in "Impossible Dream"

Quadriplegic sailor refused to see his disability as limiting

by John Darer CLU ChFC MSSC CeFT RSP CLTC

Next time you think something is impossible consider the case of 42 year old Geoff Holt. The English sailor was left paralyzed by a diving accident in the VIrgin Islands in 1984 and has been wheel chair bound ever since. Holt has limited use of his arms and hands and operated his catamaran "Impossible Dream" throughout the 28 day  2,700 mile journey  from Southampton to Tortola by hydraulic push button technology.

In 2007 , Mr. Holt was the first quadriplegic sailor to complete a solo journey around Britain

For the complete coverage from the BBC please click here and here

Over the course of my career working with tort victims I've encountered or read impressive stories about many brave souls who refuse to see their disabilities as limiting

The late Randy Snow was a great example. Megan O'Neil gave an incredibly uplifting presentation at the 2007 NSSTA Annual in Toronto. There is a successful quadriplegic attorney up in Buffalo, New York that comes to mind.

As a boater and diver however, I am especially impressed with and proud of Mr. Holt's accomplishment.  I encourage my readers to clip this story as a reminder of what is possible in life.

Paralympian Randy Snow Dies...Patrick Hindert Silent

By John Darer CLU ChFC CSSC RSP

After devoting 3 blog posts in August 2008 to an interview with recently deceased paralympian Randy Snow, Patrick Hindert has been predictably silent about his death last week in El Salvador at age 50.

Randy Snow was known as the only athlete in history to compete in three different paralympic sports and win medals in each. He won medals in basketball, track and tennis and competed in four Paralympics. After racking up several years worth of awards, Snow was the first Paralympian inducted into the Olympic Hall of Fame (2004).

In his interview with Hindert, Snow said " If offered the option to walk again, of course, I would accept that gift. The lessons I have learned, however, from working through a terrible loss and then discovering new ways to achieve goals, I wouldn't want to lose. I used to think that being able to walk was living and dying. But a priority shift occurred that gave me a transparent perspective toward all of my challenges. Once we overcome something difficult, we discover resilience. We learn how to achieve much more than we previously thought possible. We must embrace whatever has been placed in front of us. The "best thing" wasn't the accident. The "best thing" was what I learned about myself working through the setback". Great stuff.

Hindert exploited the fine man that was Randy Snow in an attempt to foster his own agenda. Then, when the guy dies Hindert doesn't even publish a single word honoring the man.  

Randy Snow RIP

What Happens After We Do What We Do?

The structured settlement and settlement planning industry contains some of the most compassionate people around.  There's not a day that goes by that I don't gain a greater appreciation for what I and others do and, more importantly, how we can help make a difference in the lives of individuals or families for years after a serious injury or tragic accident. 

Abigail Thomas, author of " A Three Dog LIfe", touched a chord in yesterday's Sunday New York Times  called "My Husband Survived; The Man I Married Didn't". Her book chronicles her rebuilding a life after her husband's traumatic brain injury from an accident. " A Three Dog Life",  which is being published in September 2006 seems like it will be well worth a read. As Ms. Thomas' web site states "you might not find meaning in disaster, but you might, with effort, make something useful of it."

You're Getting a Personal Injury or Wrongful Death Settlement. Now What?

by John Darer® CLU ChFC MSSC  RSP CLTC

Litigation is a draining process and plaintiffs may experience signs of post traumatic stress. Others may feel relief. Still others may feel a void in their lives because of the time and space that the litigation has taken in their minds

You've just reached a settlement of your legal case. Now what do you do with the money? Is it enough? What do you do with the rest of your life?

I read an interesting story in Motley Fool about a couple that retired in 1991 at age 38 and have proved that a fulfilling and productive life is possible without a career. In fact in the past year they have lived on $24,000 and traveled to 3 countries without giving up luxury. The Adventurers Guide to Early Retirement: A Common Sense Approach is the web site of Billy and Akaisha Kaderli, the couple in the story. The site chronicles their fascinating story and provides information and resources to those who might want to pursue a similar lifestyle.

By "uncomplicating" the infrastructure of their lives some plaintiffs may find meaning in their lives in a way that the Kaderlis have. Such rewards cannot be measured monetarily.