THE STORY AS THE JOURNEY BEGINS

January 24, 2005

Dear Friends & Family,

Since many of you have heard of the huge challenge we are facing and have asked about how to pray and/or help, we have 
decided to put the details in a prayer letter because we need your prayers and a number of miracles from God.

Jan and I have come to a new challenge in life that is far more difficult than any of the Ironman races in which I have competed. 
I have been diagnosed with Allergic Brochopulmonary Aspergillosis and Bronchiectasis. Thankfully, this was discovered last 
summer after visits to doctors regarding severe asthma-like symptoms that proved to only get worse even after the strongest 
medications were prescribed. We are so thankful that I was able to see Dr. Richard Feibelman, known as "the best pulmonologist" 
in the area. After his first examination he said that I had an ear infection, a severe sinus infection, pneumonia, and he was pretty 
sure I had something more than asthma, namely the ABA and Bronchiectasis. After a number of tests, his deductions proved to 
be correct and he has been working at treating the diseases with some success, but I have experienced a number of setbacks. 
I continue to get bacterial pneumonia type infections which means I have been on and off some very strong antibiotics along 
with some other very strong medications.

The challenge for 2005 began with a real setback in my breathing – so much so that Dr. Feibelman had to do a bronchoscopy to 
clear out my bronchial system, along with recommending I have the same done for my sinuses to clear out the infections there, 
and the need to make a trip to National Jewish Medical Center in Denver to hopefully find some help for my problems. (National 
Jewish is the nation’s #1 respiratory disease facility.) Again, we are thankful for a very good ENT doctor who is doing the sinus 
surgery, Dr. Dale Salatich and a world renowned doctor that I’ll be seeing at National Jewish Medical Center, Dr. Gwen Huitt.

My upcoming schedule is as follows:

Of course, in between the surgery and the trip to Denver will be the potential IV antibiotic treatment because other antibiotics 
just aren’t doing the job.

I am thankful that Dr. Feibelman told me he both believes in and is seeking God for a miracle in my case, for which we are asking 
God as well. In addition to the physical needs is the financial burden all this has become and has the potential for being. We are 
thankful that our insurance is covering a multitude of expenses for tests, treatments, and medications. However, there are 
deductibles, out of pocket percentages, and of course the non-hospital expenses for the Denver trip that include flight, hotel, 
rental car, food, etc. please join us in asking God to provide the $3500 in expenses and the $750 deductible along with the 
20 percent out of pocket percentage in the treatments and other hospital / doctor expenses. We know that nothing is impossible 
with God and He has a purpose in all of this. Please pray that God will give us the grace we need to honor him through this 
challenge.

As mentioned, we are thankful for Dr. Feibelman who is a godly man and a caring doctor. We began running together recently 
(although my running these days is in a very weakened condition due to my lack of breathing) and it’s been great to get to know 
him as the person who counts on God as his strength and wisdom. It’s really nice to be able to run with someone who is both 
sympathetic and knows how to help if there is a real problem with my breathing along the way.

We are also thankful for Winter Park Church. Our church family is doing everything possible to support Jan and me through 
prayer and fund raising. The church is hosting a fish fry and chocolate bake-off auction on Saturday, February 19^th @ 6 p.m.
as a fund raising event for our Denver expenses.  
(See the Fish Fry Fund Raiser page on the church website:   www.winterparkchurch.com for details.) 
They will need an RSVP by Thursday, February 17th   if you plan to attend so they will know how many fish to fry. 
(Call the church office @ 407-644-3981)

The church is also accepting donations on our behalf because they believe there are many who would like to support but may 
not be able to attend the fish fry. You may send donations to the Pastor’s Denver Fund c/o Winter Park Church, 
1721 Harmon Ave. Winter Park, FL 32789. Please make your check payable to Winter Park Church and note "Pastor’s 
Denver Fund" on the check.

This is not a letter to pressure, only to inform you about what lies ahead for us and about what God is doing as He works in 
our lives, supplying people and resources to help us through this challenge.

It was tough to drop out of the Ironman Arizona race that I had scheduled for April 9, but we realize this is an altogether 
different Ironman race which has really been going on for over three years. I’ve just been in the most difficult moments over 
the past year and could be heading into even harder times before I see the finish line.

Please pray for us and let us know via email bob@bobbrubaker.com whether you would like regular updates which we hope 
to provide via email.

May God bless you for your kindness as we thank you in advance for your prayers on our behalf.

Love,

Bob and Jan Brubaker

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