Hi to all of you wonderful friends and relatives. I am sitting here next to Jim sleeping and reading all the touching comments that you all have written to us. It makes us feel so close to all of you. I read them and cry at the love that comes through your comments. He IS a great guy...AND it is just not fair for this to be happening. But we know as someone sent to us...he will find out when he gets to ask GOD himself what his plan was.(I made him promise to get back to me on that) We are home with hospice nurses checking in on us. He is kept as confortable and pain free as possible. He understands most things that are going on-most of the time. Jim is so tired. The disease has progressed very rapidly and his strenth is declining at the same speed. We still keep him "look'n good" all the time-as Jim continues to want to tease the nurses. We had a wonderful weekend with Don, Jim's brother who made the 20 hour trip down here to be with his bro. It was sad when he left. Unbearable to watch them say goodbye. Uncle Ray...what can I say. It was wonderful to hear from you. ps. you should be a writer..oh that's right we come from a family of writers, right? Cannot wait to get a big SHEPHERD hug from you. Dan K.-we have gotten all your messages. We always have Jim listen to them. And to all our friends from Stow, the fire dept., the police dept..thanks to Mike Murphy for orchestrating the most wonderful radio hello from the guys and gals of Stow's finest. It put a giant smile on his face. What can I say...I love you all and still need your strength and prayer. You know we always think their might be one more miracle out there...we had one with Jim being at Matt and Niesha's wedding. I feel Jim Ruttenberg deserves another one. Don't you? Well lets all ask and maybe HE will listen. My boys. I love my boys. I am so glad to be here where they can be around Jim all the time. They are so strong-just as Jim raised them to be. You would all be so proud of them. Bonnie, John and Susan...I love you all. I know this is driving you crazy not being here...you will all be my rocks later. We are all as a family doing ok. We are strong and we help each other on days that we have no strength. There are days when your voices even on voice messages get me through to the next day. Keep them coming. Again. I love all of you. Debbie

Friday, April 30th

Hey everyone, this is Brad. It's been a very shocking couple weeks. Dad is at home now, with Hope Hospice care. It seems that it is now the "11th hour". Our goal is to keep him comfortable. He has quite a bit of pain, but they've made sure that he gets enough medication to keep him as pain free as possible. He hasn't been eating much, but he is still nibbling. The financial planner in him just keeps ticking though so that takes up most of our conversations. He says hi everyone. He is very much at peace with everything and is "just tired". Please keep up the prayers and good thoughts. You can never get enough of either.

Hi y'all. Been along time since I updated my blog. My last adventure was last week when we had to go up to Tampa General again. Apparently my stints had a mechanical malfunction and I became "backed up" again..very jaundice but not really due to the cancer growing. My scans came back pretty good. Doctor said the treatment at least kept it at bay. Small successes in that it may have shrunk a little and the fact that I did gain 6 pounds. The procedure they did to unplug me really has set me back. I now have an external tube and bag for another week but they will be able to internalize them in a couple of weeks hopefully when I get less jaundiced. I am very tired and in some pain. The pain meds are helping me but I am sleeping alot. When all is said and done, they are thinking of starting me on chemo through IV this time..one day a week, 2 weeks on and one week off. Don't know for how long. But he feels that this is the "work horse" that may help. That is it for now. Thanks for the support and prayers. Until next time...Jim

Hi all, Just a quick update again. The last 2 days have not been good. Right after the cat scan, I went down hill like a rock. Allot of pain, jaundice symptoms again-just like when this all started in Dec. I was concerned so Deb and I drove to Tampa right after Easter dinner and spent the night in a hotel so we could go see the Doc asap.They feel I may be starting to block up again in my ducts so if I get numerous fevers (infections) then I need to go back and probably do the tubes again. I'm having a pet scan Wed and then meet with the oncologist the 13th. I'll let you know after that. Hi to all, congrats on your nice weather. Thanks for the support. Rutts

Hi all, Just a quick note. I had the first scan yesterday and the next on April 7th. I won't have any results till 4/13. Will keep you advised. Thanks for the prayers and support. Jim

Hello everyone. Sorry for the delay for new news but there has been none. BUT, I need your help-I am having 2 scans this week to see if the radiation and chemo has helped. I need your prayers that the treatments have worked. I feel good so that is a good sign. I have gained 4 pounds and never thought that was a good thing but when you have lost 20 pounds, a gain of 4 is good. I'll post the results as soon as I get them. Thanks again for your support and pray, pray, pray. Rutt

Hi all, sorry for the delay in the updates. Things are back to normal today-the last of the company have left and were starting to get back to normal after the wedding. The wedding was great. Weather cleared out nicely, no rain, a little cool after sunset but ok. Matt and Neisha Ruttenberg (sounds wierd) are in Antigua on their honeymoon and will be back Monday.
I'm still feeling fine and just waiting to do the 2 scans on 3/31 and 4/7 then the doctors will tell me the good, bad or ugly. Last chemo and radiation was last Wed before the wedding so we are in what they call the "cool down period" then the scans.
We finally sold the house on Bradley woods in Stow and they are closing today so that will be one less worry. Thanks to ALL who helped with the moving and storage-we couldn't have done it with out you.
Thanks again for all the support with cards, e-mails, and prayers. It seems to be working. Back at ya soon, Rutts