Hilbert was actually just now able to fully empty his bladder at the hospital on a trial of that. This is really excellent news. They will keep emptying it for him with repeated cystos for a while, maybe days depending on how he does while they keep running numbers on him. So, if you ever have one who blocks there are times when repeated cystos may be an option to help reduce urethral inflammation. Yesterday his creatine was still climbing, BUN 136, phos 10.6, white cell count 12.2 thousand, and mildly anemic, BUT his potassium was fine and he was concentrating urine (good specific gravity). What a congenital bladder malformation can lead to... It will be so great if his kidneys can be saved! Hopefully the bladder repair he has already had will be all the surgery he'll need to for this. It will depend on if there is further blocking and if both kidneys and their ureters come back. We adore him and it would be terrible to lose him, so know that what can be done is being done... We've been asked about Sherman who has been on 24 meds some days, and 25 others. Before I take a break to medicate him (now down to about 18 meds a day) I just wanted to let you know that he is bouncing back wonderfully! He just happily struts around now, does his tricks, is regaining weight, etc. He still has runs but it may take weeks of chemo to reduce those. He has also begun eating crunchies again. When his GI tract was ready (which took weeks) he just plain began doing that on his own. He's still thin but really improving. Thank goodness we didn't have both him and Hilbert having their worst at-home treatment times at the same time. (Hilly was home for a matter of days between things because he was crashing so he needed home encouragement of us sleeping in shifts and feeding and watering every few hours.) Got to go medicate Shermie now. [Posted in FML issue 4546]