The November, 2005 - UPDATES - Page
November 7, 2005 UPDATE – THE BLESSING OF THE BRICK
When I realized there had not been an update for a while, I was trying to think of some outstanding moments over the past few weeks so you can rejoice and give thanks to God with me. There’s been a steady improvement in the healing process and God is continuing to bless me in recovery and healing.
Jan pointed out that yesterday was my seven month anniversary from my "one breath from death" experience. In the past seven months God has really blessed me to come along way. Last Thursday I completed my first BRICK (Bike to Run) workout since a year ago when I was training for Ironman Florida. Last Thursday’s brick consisted of 25 miles on the bike followed by a 3 mile run. I am still doing the run portion until I run out of oxygen then I walk to recover. It really felt good to complete the brick and most of all enjoy God’s presence and help along the way.
Psalm 18:1-6 (NLT) I love you, Lord; you are my strength. [2] The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the strength of my salvation, and my stronghold. [3] I will call on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, for he saves me from my enemies. [4] The ropes of death surrounded me; the floods of destruction swept over me. [5] The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death itself stared me in the face. [6] But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry reached his ears.
Our "One Breath From Death –Look What God Can Do" training group continues to grow each Wednesday morning at 6:00 at Winter Park Church. For more information check out the PowerBreak website: www.powerbreak.org.
Bob and his cousin, David Russell
This past Sunday, my cousin, David Russell visited us from Indiana. David is a satellite communication engineer with HCJB radio, a worldwide ministry. He was in town for a conference and it was especially good to spend some time with him since his wife, Giselle, is having some respiratory problems and will soon be heading to Denver to National Jewish Medical Center. We are thankful for the way God worked through the doctors and people of NJMC so we were so pleased to hear she was going there for help. Please pray for Giselle and David. As we learned from our experience: "I was one breath from death but look what God can do and if He can do this for me, think of what He can do for you."
2 Corinthians 9:8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.
Jan and I are continuing to train for the Disney Marathon, thankful for time together on our long runs and looking forward to joining others who will be wearing the "ONE BREATH FROM DEATH – LOOK WHAT GOD CAN DO" shirts at the Disney half and full marathons. Meanwhile, we are doing our best to get the story out every where we go to encourage anyone who will listen with a message of hope, "If God can do this for me, think of what He can do for you."
It’s been quite a journey over the past seven months and we know that many have prayed and are praying for us for which we are grateful. God has blessed me to make great strides in the comeback and hopefully in the coming year as I return to the running and triathlon scenes, I’ll have many opportunities to tell my story. Last month I had the privilege to lead the Iron Prayer service at the Great Floridian in Clermont, FL. We had a good group of athletes who were participating in either the half or the full Iron distance races, including Max Lucado, a noted Christian author and pastor from Texas.
Iron prayer service attendees at the Great Floridian in Clermont, FL
Thank you for your interest, encouragement, and prayers.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker
November 22, 2005 UPDATE – God did it again!
We completed the Paul deBruyn 30 Kilometer race last Saturday. Jan and I along with our friend, Bruce Penn completed the 18.6 miles in a time that would not be a reason to be thankful, except for the fact Jan and Bruce were running with a man who was one breath from death just a little over seven months ago. As we were running, actually running and walking since I run until my oxygen level drops to an unsafe level then I walk until I recover and run again, Jan and I recalled our time in Denver seven months earlier when it was a big deal to walk around the ICU area and now we were in the midst of an 18.6 mile race. This even was part of our training for the upcoming Disney Marathon on January 8, when upon completion a number of us will meet to thank God for the fact that I was one breath from death but now look what God can do
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"One Breath From Death - Look What God Can Do" Team representation - "So fast the picture blurred!"
Bruce Penn, Bob Butterfield, and Bob & Jan Brubaker at the Paul deBruyn 30K race.
It was gratifying to get very good comments, questions, and interest in our "One Breath From Death – Look What God Can Do" team. In addition to Jan, Bruce, and me, Bob Butterfield, who ran quite well, also sported the team singlet. If you are interested in being part of the team by wearing the singlet in a running event or if you would like a Team T-shirt or sweatshirt to help us spread the word about the story of hope and encouragement see the website: www.powerbreak.org for details. We hope to have a great number of runners in the Disney full and half marathons as well as other races around the country.
God is continuing to bless me in my recovery and healing. I’m feeling better about my triathlon training as I look forward to returning to racing next year. In fact, I have entered the Ironman World Championship Lottery, hoping to have the opportunity to spread my story there as I cross the finish line in Kona, HI.
I saw my doctor, Richard Feibelman yesterday. First, I had a pulmonary function test which showed I was continuing to improve. So Dr. Feibelman cut my medication back some more as my body continues to respond in taking up where the medications were working. I am so thankful to be cutting back again, especially considering where I was seven months earlier. The outstanding concern was the separation in my abdomen muscles that looks like the beginning of a hernia. We are hoping the cutting back in the medications that cause a loss of muscle strength will help my body to heal, if not I’ll be looking at surgery some time next year to repair my abdomen.
As we approach a time of thanksgiving, we have much for which we are thankful. Jan and I have noticed we talk about 2005 as "before Denver" and "after Denver." Thankfully, we have an "after Denver" because I was just one breath from death on April 6, 2005 but now "look what God can do!"
Thank you for continuing to pray for us and for our effort to spread the word of hope and encouragement of what God can do through our story.
Godspeed,
Bob and Jan Brubaker