Happy New Year everyone !!! Thanks again to all of my friends and family-your kind comments are so appreciated. Yesterday 12/31, we went back to Tampa for another biopsy and then back to Cape Coral the same day. We should hear the results next week then back to Tampa for the consult and discuss options. We still have a moving target here. No cancer is showing up on the tests but the docs say this "Klatskins Tumor" in my liver ducts "usually" is so that's why they keep biopsying. After this last test, we will see what option I have here in Tampa or Jax,Fl or maybe even Houston. The docs say that since this effects ALL of my liver ducts, surgery is not an option- transplant? Maybe. We'll check with Jax, Fl to discuss. So, that's it for now. Thanks again for all of your prayers, thoughts and cards. I come to tears every time I open a card or re-read the earlier ones. We love and miss all our friends up North and hope to see and visit this summer. God has been gracious and we keep praying for his healing hand. Thanks again, and have a Happy New Year. The Rutts

Jim Ruttenberg 12/28/2009

Hi all, I first want to thank everyone for their prayers and thoughts and cards. I am amazed by your concerns and support. Thank God for you my friends and family. We drove to Tampa again today for a consult on the PET SCAN we did last week. The results showed NO cancer anywhere else in my body. This is great news and put our minds at ease for now. After talking to the Docs in Tampa, they still show a blockage in my liver from a "Klatskin Tumor" which effects the drainage of my liver through the ducts. Now, we are going back to Tampa this Thursday for another biopsy to see if we can treat and shrink the blockage.This should be an outpatient procedure starting at 8am so we hope to be on our way back to Cape Coral by noon. We have a journey ahead of us but Deb and I are strong and we are just taking it day by day...We love your posts and read them every day. They mean so much to us. Today, in the next room there was another Klatskin tumor diagonosis...maybe we will have a clinical trial right here in Florida. Please keep praying, it appears God is good and answers our prayers. Please take the time to read Psalm 91, it has been our strength and support. We hope you all had a wondeful Christmas and wish you a Happy New Year. Sincerely, Jim, Deb, Matt, and Brad

10:24pm, Tuesday, Dec. 22nd

Tonight Mom and Dad got home around 7:30....finally. Tears of joy and relief filled the house as we all welcomed them home for the first time in 2 1/2 weeks! It makes us all so happy that we can spend Christmas together at home. As you can imagine Mom wasn't in the cooking mood so we dined over the best Chinese Food dinner we've had in a long time. Tomorrow Dad has a Pet Scan, by orders of the doctors in Tampa. As this case continues to become more and more rare, they insist on continuing to search a few other angles as it would be irresponsible to do anything but. Monday, they will drive back up to Tampa to meet with Dr. Rosemurgy to discuss the results. There is still a "mass" blocking the bile ducts so we need to consider everything. Now that he is discharged we can send his file to Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, MD Anderson, etc. Thank you all for your kind comments and keep up the prayers as there is still a long road ahead.

Sunday update

Praise God! The doctors were in this morning and the results of the second biopsy came in showing NO EVIDENCE OF CANCER!!! This is now the second biopsy that shows that the blockage is NOT cancerous. Obviously this is a shock to us and nothing short of a miracle from all your prayers! From the moment we met with the oncologist 3 days ago... a shred of hope returned.

Tomorrow, the doctors are removing the external drains, so that the bile will drain naturally. Obviously, since there is still some "blockage", the stents will remain, and we will be keeping a close watch on the situation. We want to thank everyone for all the prayers and comments. It warms our hearts to know that there are so many of you that care so much. For anyone that has any doubt of the power of prayer, this should put that to rest. This is God's Hands at work! Everyone of you has helped to contribute to God's miracle. Jim asks you take the time to read Psalm 91-this has been our strength. Still keep him in your prayers for the procedure tommorrow and know that Christmas 2009 will be wonderful. We love you all and Merry Christmas to you..the Ruttenbergs

Thursday, 9:22pm

The second biopsy went great. Dad is in a little bit of pain, but not enough to set him back. Not entirely sure, but should be home by Saturday! Thanks again everyone!

Wednesday, 10:33 pm

Hi everyone. Thanks for your continued prayers and comments. You have no idea how much it helps. There hasn't been much in terms of updates, just waiting on dad to be discharged. Hopefully by the weekend. It's great that he'll be home for Christmas. He continues to get better. It looks like they need another biopsy, but that's a quick procedure. We can't get any details on the chemo or radiation until then. We continue to gather info for other locations. Dad's head surgeon, Dr. Rosemurgy, highly recommends Houston.

Tuesday, 11:04 am

Last night the doctors reported to us that they CANNOT operate/remove the tumor. It is too high up in the biliary ducts to safely remove. We just spoke to Dr. Martine Estermann, our Oncologist in the Moffitt Cancer Center. Still waiting for the biopsy results from Friday, should be in the next few days. We are currently getting our hands on quite a few copies of his records, so that we can contact other locations (Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, etc) for second opinions. "FULL COURT PRESS". We asked Dr. Estermann alot of questions for other types of therapies and options. Once they have the full biopsy report, they can be answered. Silver lining: his bile levels are dropping steadily, infection is clearing up, and he's finally back in his private room with a window. Most likely, he'll be discharged by the end of the week.