Jan  

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February 12, 2005 UPDATE

AN OVERWHELMING SUPPORT OF FRIENDS

Today, my friends from the Track Shack Foundation Five and Dime program that I coach on Tuesday evenings put together a 
fund raising event to support our trip to Denver in March. They called it the ZIM-BOB-WAY RELAYS, so called because on 
a regular basis we "bump" up the efforts with relay races in our workouts and I try to make them into a little more by calling 
them the Zimbabwe relay world championships. (I guess you’d have to be there to experience it.)

Nevertheless it was quite overwhelming to see so many friends show up for the event and participate – even though the 
"feel like" temperature in Orlando was 39 degrees. Jonny Simpkins shot a host of pictures and has them posted on his 
website: www.jonnyjpeg.com – You have to check these out – GREAT PHOTOS. Follow the link to the pictures from 
today’s event.

My post operation examination from Doctor Salatich went well this past Wednesday. He said the cultures have shown the 
same bacteria which had been growing in my bronchial tubes was also growing in my sinus, explaining why I had constant chest 
infections. He feels progress has been made on this aspect of my problems and I should see big difference.

Meanwhile, plans are continuing for our Denver trip and we continue to be surprised by love – with letters, emails, cards, gifts, 
and words of encouragement. We have heard from many people who say they are praying as are we – looking for God to do 
a miracle and allow me to breath freely.

Thanks to all who came out to the track today. A big thank you to all who were involved in organizing and helping. Also a big 
thank you to all who donated – even though they couldn’t be there.

The next event will be the Fish Fry – Chocolate Auction at Winter Park Church – See the church’s website for details: www.winterparkchurch.com

Until next time,

Bob

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"A Little Scare"

February 16, 2005

This morning my peek flow, the test where you blow into a device and it measures the volume of air in your lungs, was down to 
an abnormally low level. This factor, along with a shortness of breathe has been a flag that things are not good in my bronchial 
system. My morning blood oxygen level had also dropped to an abnormally low level of 88 percent which told me that I needed 
to see my doctor as soon as possible.

Thankfully, I was able to see Dr. Richard Feibelman, my pulmonary specialist who upon examination, decided it was time to be 
very aggressive with the bacterial infection that has had a hold on me and admit me into the hospital as soon as possible for a 
round of antibiotics via IV, and perform another bronchoscopy to clear out my airways. It’s such a blessing to have a doctor 
who really cares about my condition and wants to do whatever is necessary to make sure I am clear of infection for our trip to 
Denver to National Jewish Medical Center where I’ll be tested and treated for the two lung diseases - bronchiectasis and 
broncho pulmomary aspergerlosis. So I was admitted to Florida Hospital North in Altamonte Springs in the early evening to 
begin treatments of the high powered antibiotics and the bronchoscopy in the morning.

Although the check in procedure was involved with additional testing and a port insertion for the IV, it was good to have a some 
friends check in and/or drop by. Dr. Jim Coffield, a professor at RTS and his son Skylar along with Jan’s parents, Keith and 
Marrion Dilley. We appreciated their thoughtfulness. It was also wonderful to have Dr. Feibelman visit to chat and bring by a 
CD of a sermon about courage he thought would be especially encouraging to me. (How many doctors do that for their patients?) 
God has blessed us by surrounding us with people who care for which we are overjoyed and filled with gratitude.

As I have said at other times in these reports that this is new territory for us to travel, being on the "cared for" side of things, 
feeling a bit helpless and very dependent upon God and the comfort He brings through people. Jan and I have been quite 
overwhelmed by this entire journey and caught off guard by the care of so many. God is good to provide in so many ways.

February 17, 2005

After a night of treatment, including several wake-ups for a change in antibiotic IV’s and breathing therapy every four hours, 
Dr. Feibelman conducted the third bronchoscopy on me since October, 2004. This time we are hoping to clear things out 
completely, since the sinus surgery cleared out infections in the upper respiratory area, Dr. Feibelman is hoping to clear the 
remaining infection and clear my airways, then praying the high powerful antibiotics will keep further infections away long 
enough for my body to take over. Prior to the procedure, we talked about the aggressive nature of the treatments and the fact 
that for the next 10 to 14 days I’ll be living with a port in my arm to take the IV antibiotics twice a day and I’ll be using various 
combinations in my nebulizer to get my airways free and clear. Dr. Feibelman explained his desire to do whatever it takes to 
get me clear for the Denver trip to National Jewish Medical Center.

I have to keep reminding myself that this is my Ironman race of the season because the inability to train and race is quite 
depressing. Dr. Feibelman takes every opportunity to remind me he believes I’ll be back with his prompting me about our 
deal of his getting me back to training in return for my training him then running with him in the Disney Marathon next January. 
I am praying that such a miracle will allow me to run the marathon with my doctor.

Post Bronchoscopy Surgery

With the bronchoscopy behind me today, I am awaiting another treatment before I go home and prepare for home healthcare 
to set up my IV antibiotic treatments at home.

We are thankful to all who have been praying for us, especially the past couple of days as the bacterial infection in my 
pulmonary system took such a great hold on my body, robbing me of my breath which is stifled to begin with. We are more 
than thankful of the way God opened this door of treatment which has my blood oxygen level and my peak flow on the rise.

Finally Home

It took some work on Dr. Feibelman’s office to clear the way for me to return home – aligning a home health care system to 
come to the house to set up IV treatment and to teach us how to administer the treatment but we finally received clearance, 
and headed home about 4:30 p.m. We made it home just in time for Jan to eat a quick bite, head to her Total Sculp classes 
which she teaches, and be home in time to meet the home health care nurse for my first at home treatment and lesson on how 
to administer the IV’s.

I thank the Lord daily for such a loyal wife, who stands by her man through thick and thin. This entire "scarey moment" put 
quite a bit of stress on her and me of course, but God has given both of us much needed grace and strength along with help 
and encouragement from many friends.

Thanks for your prayers and support.

Until the next update,

Godspeed,

Bob

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February 18 – "Bob, Admit you are sick!"

My friend, Jim Coffield helped me see today, the need to admit that I am sick, very sick. It’s hard for me, especially to admit – 
maybe because it’s like admitting defeat. Although when I think of what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12 about finding the strength 
of Christ in weakness, I should be willing to admit, "I am sick."

2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (New Living Translation) – After describing his illness as a "thorn in the flesh, he said…[8]Three 
different times I begged the Lord to take it away. [9] Each time he said, "My gracious favor is all you need. My power works 
best in your weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me. 
[10] Since I know it is all for Christ's good, I am quite content with my weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions, 
and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

OK, I’m no Paul, the apostle, but I believe that I am finding that my admitting my weakness in sickness is opening a door 
of strength from God and an new openness to the help from others that God is constantly sending our way through this 
experience.

February 19 – "FAR MORE THAN WE COULD EVER HAVE EXPECTED"

Winter Park Church and our preschool, the Child Development Center, hosted a "FISH FRY / CHOCOLATE SILENT AUCTION 
to raise funds for our medical trip to Denver on March 15^th and the response just blew us over. There were people from every
connection and the donations were beyond what we could have ever expected. Many people had sent donations – even from 
around the country and there were people connected with the pre-school / kindergarten as well as the church, friends from the 
running community, business community, and Reformed Theological Seminary, where Jan is the counseling coordinator. How 
touched we were to see how God provided – not just in the needed funds for the Denver trip but in the love and prayerful 
support. The room was filled with a Hawaii theme and Aloha bracelets and key chains were available to serve as reminders to 
pray for me. It was a room of full of love and although we had to leave earlier than we would have liked to leave because of the 
time constraint on the IV administration at home, we left having been very touched by the love from so many people. It was just 
more than we could have every expected.

February 20 – SUPPORT CONTINUES

I was thankful to have enough oxygen to teach and preach today at Winter Park Church. I warned both the Bible Study class 
and the Sunday morning worship crowd that I may have to pause in the action to get breath but when I explained why – 
according to the experience of the past week, people were very gracious and concerned for me.

After the service when I publicly thanked everyone for the previous night and admitted how sick I knew I really am – I 
received even greater support as many came to the front of the church, including my wife as Jason Vermeulen, our music guy 
and intern led in prayer on my behalf.

Thus concluded a tumultuous week that ended on a high note of sensing God’s love and support through people by which 
He has surrounded and embraced us.

More updates will be coming as we let you know what God is doing through on this race for breath that we are calling 
CHALLENGE 2005. 

Thank you for praying.

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February 21 – "The Tests Came Back"

Today I visited Dr. Feibelman as a follow-up to last week’s hospital journey, to make sure my body is responding to the IV 
antibiotic treatments along with the additional breathing treatments. Thankfully, my blood oxygen level has been holding between
90 and 92 percent which is not where it should be but much better than the 88% which triggered the trip to the hospital a week 
ago. While in the office, Dr. Feibelman was concerned about the culture reports from the bronchoscopy specimen taken from 
my airways. The report showed the presence of a bacterial infection that demonstrated a resistance to the antibiotics I have been 
taking. Dr. Feibelman immediately consulted with Dr. Ruiz, a well known infectious disease specialist and together they decided 
to change my IV medications.

Thankfully, Dr. Feibelman recommended I run as much as I can because it is so helpful to keeping my airways open even though 
it is a struggle due to my shortness of breath from the infection and low oxygen level.

I left Dr. Feibelman’s office very thankful to have connected with a doctor who cares and does not want to leave anything 
unturned that might bring a positive response to my condition.

February 22 – "We hit the wall!"

Dr. Feibelman thought it was very important for me to visit Dr. Ruiz and was somehow able to get me an appointment. Upon 
reviewing my records, examining me, and consulting with the lab over further studies of specimen cultures, he delivered the news 
that we didn’t want to hear, namely the bacterial infection I have growing in my airways is resistant to every known antibiotic. 
He recommended I give what I am taking a few more days to see if it might help some and have an effect on the bacteria in my 
airways, but offered no hope for my condition. I went home realizing the severity of my situation, knowing the best doctor on the 
subject said, "we have hit the wall."

Now what?

Jan and I decided that we are going to try to focus on living, even though it appears death may be in the near future. Of course, 
we don’t know how near. It’s just obvious that a bacterial infection in the airways cannot be good for long term breathing health. 
We know God can still bring us a miracle and provide a way to kill that bacterial infection, along with a way to deal with the
bronchiectasis and aspergerlosis problems that I have or He can see fit to take me home – it’s up to Him. Today’s events have 
caused Jan and me to do some talking about things like death and what we want to make sure we do as one if these could be 
our last days together. One thing for sure, we are thankful that God has blessed us with a good marriage of nearly 31 years and 
has given us some great experiences over those 31 years. He has been faithful.

We don’t know where this race will end or really where we are headed next. We know Dr. Feibelman is exploring all avenues 
to help my condition before we head to National Jewish Medical Center in Denver on March 15^th as we hope to find some 
innovative solutions to the problems I am facing. We are praying, as we know many of you are praying for us - for which we 
are so thankful, that God will perform a miracle of healing. Regardless, we know He is in control and if not healing He will 
provide the grace to see us through the remainder of this race.

God has blessed me to finish 14 Ironman triathlons and nearly 30 marathons so I know what "hitting the wall" is like. You are 
running along and boom – you get stopped in your tracks. But there’s something inside that says, "keep going," so you muster 
up all you have and take the next step, then another, and another. Maybe it’s a walk for while but as long as you keep moving 
the better you feel and soon you feel a second wind that gets you to the finish or at least to the next "WALL" experience.

So we hit the wall today. BOOM! – It hit hard. But we are still moving forward, counting our blessings, feeling the support 
from so many people near and far, looking to God for answers, while we try to make the most of each day we have left 
together.

Thanks for praying and for your encouragement.

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A DOOR OF HOPE

February 25 – In the midst of a real "valley experience" God has provided some hope. Dr. Feibelman recommended some further 
testing on my low blood oxygen levels so I went to his office today to be tested. Thankfully, my levels had shown improvement 
which meant I would not have to be spending time breathing oxygen to get my levels up. While I was at Dr. Feibelman’s office, 
he discussed my situation with me and offered much more hope than I had received on Wednesday. First, he reminded me that 
God is in control and he is going to do everything he can as God gives him wisdom to fight this infection. He believes the course 
we are on will have an effect and I should begin to see some improvement. Meanwhile, he stressed the need to exercise to induce 
the coughing to help eliminate what is causing the problem. He reminded me that he is not giving up so I shouldn’t either. Of 
course I hadn’t but it was reassuring to hear my doctor remind me.

February 26- Feeling better than I had all week, I actually ran three miles today. Well, I jogged and walked three miles but it 
was better than it had been. Of course, nothing like Ironman training, but significant first steps in what we are hoping is the 
road to recovery.

We are so thankful for the number of people who contact us to let us know they are praying and to encourage us. It’s been a 
tough couple of weeks but God has provided in many different ways for which we are grateful.

I called today’s UPDATE – "A Door Of Hope" because this past week’s experience has been like the Valley Of Achor in the 
book of Hosea where God tells His us He leads us through the Valley of Achor which is the Valley of Trouble or Affliction to 
show them a doorway of hope.

Hosea 2:15 (New International Version) There I will give her back her vineyards, and will make the Valley of Achor a door 
of hope. There she will sing as in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt.

(I know where you can get a booklet by that title written by some guy who has been told that he should read his 
own material once in a while – but if you would like a copy of THE VALLEY OF ACHOR – see www.powerbreak.org  
and click on the resource page.)

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