Welcome!! Glad you found TE. There are several members on this forum from Florida and yes, many that started out on Wally World bikes.. Most important part is your having fun and enjoying your bike.

You may find it helpful to visit your local bike shop as they may be able to offer some very specific advise about your injury and any concerns about being forward on the bike. I too had an injury, to my lower back, so I thought I'd never ride a road bike due to the extreme position, but with some professional fitting, I'm riding happily these days and enjoying my time on the bike

Good luck!!

Shannon