My heart goes out to you, Dr. Williams, and all the other parents that have lost their precious babies. Wow, 8 1/2 years. I only pray that Merritt will make it that long. A couple weeks ago on Saturday I noticed he had what looked like a big blood blister on his lower stomach, and it appeared to have fresh blood seeping out all around the base onto his skin. I freaked! After several panic calls to my vet and an animal hospital, I finally got my vet to squeeze us in. She had no idea what it was, took a sample (with a syringe which Merritt hated!) and looked at the cells, but didn't recognize what they were. She ended up keeping him and taking it off, along with tissue from an inch around it. I got a call last week, she had the report back from the pathologist -- it was a mastcell tumor, but it looks as if they got it all. So we are both okay again for a while. Anyway, I just wanted to thank everyone, including Dr. Williams, for all you valuable advise and input. Hope all the kids have a fun weekend terrorizing their parents! Mary Allen Omaha, NE (in the 60s this weekend --YEA!) [Posted in FML issue 1109]