April 11-17 UPDATES

April 11, 2005 – THINGS BEGINNING TO TAKE SHAPE

Even though things are not perfect yet, there have been signs that things are beginning to take shape and point 
us in the right direction. Dr. Mike Fessler who has overseen my care here along with being involved with my 
treatment and care at NJMC emphasized my need to exercise – even in a small way, which meant going for 
walks around the ICU area and beyond. Once he compared it to training and brought in some cycling 
magazines to get me motivated, he said he expected me to take advantage of the opportunity to walk.

Once a crew was recruited help me, we began with the little trips, then added a second, and finally a 
longer one – it did what Dr. Fesler said it would; It opened my lungs, it cleared my mind, and it gave 
me some incentive to continue.

Jan, Bob, & Dr. Airmean Kresco

Bob, Jan and the two walking helpers - nurses Lucy & Melissa

The nursing staff has been very patiennt with me in my desire to walk even though it takes longer to 
unhook all the wires and  tubes connected to me then hook them back together after we walk.

One local pastor who visited Bob met  Bob on his level when Bob was having some problems that forced 
him to wear the mask for the morning. 

Today has been Jan’s Birthday celebration and with a little help from Jan’s friend, Lisa K, along with help 
from the medical staff, Jan was surprised when my room soon became crowded with visitors, friends, and 
medical staff and sang, "happy birthday" to Jan.

You will notice how Bob is beginning to "come back to shape" with each passing day. There is still a far piece 
to go but God has been good to restore Bob to much of his health.

Jeremiah 30:17 (New Living Translation) I will give you back your health and heal your wounds, says the Lord.

Present were Mike & Mary Sares, founding pastor of the "Scum of The Earth" church in Denver 
(www.scumoftheearth.net , Jan’s dad, Keith Dilley, and medical staff: Lisa K., Kelly, Lucy, Michael, 
& Dr. Mike Fessler.

Please pray for Bob tomorrow - particularly for the Chest Tube removal which is scheduled for the morning 
after which the process will begin for Bob to return to National Jewish Medical Center. 

Thank you for praying.

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April 12, 2005 – MAKING SURE

Today has been a time of making sure before any move is made to take out my chest tube. Testing began at 
6:00 a.m. and continued most of the morning with the conclusion that there seems to be a small air leak in the 
lung that collapsed so the chest tube must remain for another day. So we’ll try tomorrow. Of course we had 
our plans already made of going back to NJMC today, then flying to Orlando on Saturday. Oh the thought 
of "going home!" Well, we got a little premature in our thinking and planning. Although it is never wrong to 
plan for those who fail to plan – plan to fail. The "wrong" is allowing our plan to run wild and control us in 
such a manner that we succumb to disappointment when plans are changed.

Bob and Jan change rolls - "Who is the patient?"

Proverbs 16:9 (NLT) We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.

James 4:13-16 (NLT) Look here, you people who say, "Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town 
and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit." [14] How do you know what will 
happen tomorrow? For your life is like the morning fog—it's here a little while, then it's gone. [15] What you 
ought to say is, "If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that." [16] Otherwise you will be boasting 
about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil.

Our plans have changed somewhat and as we look back over the past week, we welcome those changes 
on the side of precaution because we don’t want to go through what we went through this past week again.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch (ICU room number 410 @ University Hospital in Denver) we are living it up.

Lucy and the Michelin Man

Lucy, my daytime nurse is great. She continues to go beyond the call of duty to help and encourage her patients. 
Today, she presented me with the "Michelin Man" card in which she cut out pictures of the Michelin Man and 
compared that to my swelling of five times last Wednesday and how I resembled the Michelin Man. She then had 
the staff of docs and nurses in ICU sign the card. It was hoot to look back and be able to laugh at myself as 
the Michelin Man. Lucy has been great in the way she has "mothered" me through daily walks and routines 
to get Chest X-rays, etc. Today we even went for a short walk outside in the sun. That really felt great.

Our friend Lisa K. left for home today. Her stay, along with that of my father-in-law, Keith Dilley has been a 
God-send to us and to Jan, especially giving her a bit of a break in the tension of making sure someone was with 
me as well in the assistance of keeping her sanity through this. Jan’s dad leaves in the morning but as mentioned 
earlier, it looks like we’ll be trying again tomorrow to pull the chest tube and return to NJMC.

Jan's Dad, Keith Dilley, Jan, Bob, & Lisa K. celebrating life in the ICU

Today, Sadie and Phyllis from NJMC came over here on a field trip to check on us. It was great to see people 
from home – well almost home as the National Jewish Medical Center people have made us feel like family.

Phyllis and Sadie from NJMC came to visit Bob on their field trip.

We are quite impressed with Dr. Mike Fessler, who, though a young doctor seems to have a great deal of 
knowledge and really is encouraging to his patients.  He works at both University Hospital and NJMC and 
is a great pulmonologist, as well as a cyclist.  It’s been a great blessing to have him continually challenge me 
to a bike ride, which gives me hope of coming back.

Dr. Fessler and the man he has challenged to a bike ride, the "Michelin Man"

That’s the way things are today from University Hospital in Denver. Thanks for your prayers and 
encouragement. We say that everyday - and everyday we are made to realize how important prayer is and 
how precious each word of encouragement is.  Also, please pray for all of the people who have been 
featured in the photos.  Jan has given every one of them the April PowerBreak and several are wearing the 
ALOHA bracelet as they pray for Bob.  

Speaking of ALOHA, Jan was thrilled to receive a beautiful Hawaiian lei from our Winter Park Church 
family yesterday for her birthday.  It was wonderful to smell Hawaii!! - Even though it was "illegal" 
to have fresh flowers in an ICU room, we got special permission to take the photo!  What a great 
encouragement gesture!

Godspeed,

Bob and Jan

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April 13, 2005 – "JUST WAITING" & "New Challenges"

Today has been a challenge to pass the "leaky lung" test in order to get back to National Jewish Medical Center. 
Once again they clamped off the chest tube and gave me a couple of hours before a detailed X-Ray to see if there 
are any leaks of air. We are awaiting word and planning to be here in ICU another night.

Ephesians 3:20 (NLT) Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish 
infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.

Meanwhile we were presented with another challenge. Dr. Fessler and the other doctors are not thrilled with 
my flying back due to my collapsed lung problem a week ago and the fact that flying can have an ill effect on 
someone in my condition. Hence, they are not saying I can’t but asking that I not fly home. So now what do 
we do? We are both exhausted and want to be home yesterday and we have no transportation home – so we’ll 
have to rent a vehicle. Please pray for us in this aspect of the adventure.

James 1:5-8 (NLT) If you need wisdom—if you want to know what God wants you to do—ask him, and he will 
gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. [6] But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to 
answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. [7] People 
like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. [8] They can't make up their minds. They waver 
back and forth in everything they do.

So now what do we do? Of course nothing moves as rapidly as we would like it to. From all indications – we could 
pull the chest tube, according to several doctors but it seems everyone is reluctant to make a decision so we wait. 
Most of the doctors agree, however, that flying back to Orlando would put a strain on my lung that collapsed and 
possibly make for a worse condition. That’s easier said than done. It will mean renting a one way vehicle and two 
tired people, worn out from the trauma of the past four weeks in Denver finding strength to drive home. In addition, 
we are not sure when we will be released from NJMC – depending on when we might return.

So today has been challenging in waiting and asking God for wisdom in the waiting to make the most of the time 
and to find the answer regarding getting home. Thank you for praying.

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