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Wednesday, July 8, 2009

A Quick Update

This is my favorite picture of my little Silas Boaz so far!
This is just a quick update, to let everyone know how things have been progressing. Silas has finished his third cycle of chemo. We did it at Sacred Heart in Pensacola to be closer to home. We were only there for five days, then we were able to come home. Silas had a reaction to one of the chemo medicines, but since there were no big hives, breathing problems, or such, they would not discontinue the chemo. I was very upset, and although they knew it, it doesn't seem to affect them at all.
They did redo the scans again after the chemo was complete, and found that the tumors are much the same, with increased activity (growth) on the skull. The survival rate for this cancer, with their protocol chemo is only 15%. Half of those (7.5%) get leukemia later in life, the other 7.5% have major side effects. There's not a lot of hope from the medical standpoint.
But, we happen to know things they don't. Most of all I know God, and he can do anything he wants. Silas hasn't had a fever at all this time. That isn't normal. He has had other expected effects, but not as bad as most people do.
Silas is having a good time, as usual, at home with his family We took him to the fireworks, and he really watched them. We met the Ungers there at the fire works, and Silas was happy to see his friend, Gracie. They did the typical 2-3 year old boy-girl thing I remember Josiah and Kelsey (Unger) doing, they are the same age also. Gracie bossed, Silas ignored her bossing and did his own thing, and they played anyway. It's quite funny to watch. The girl wants to boss, but the boy knows somehow, inborn I guess, that it isn't supposed to be that way then sometime around 3 or 4 the girl realizes what the boy knew all along. That the men are the bosses. After that there's not usually a struggle, and they are friends. That doesn't mean the boy always rules the friendship, that's not really a friend. Its just that the struggle for power is pretty much over.
Just on a side note, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola they have NEVER done a scan on a child without sedation. Until now! I didn't realize it was such a big deal to them, but I insisted he didn't need it He did all of his scans at Shands without it. The head doctor of radiology was very upset and almost refused to do the scans. They ended up having to make a note on his paper work that he did not move during the exam, despite the lack of sedation. Silas' doctor thought it was quite funny, because the other radiology doctor had given us such a problem about it. The tech said she'd never done a scan on a child without sedation, but that Silas was much better than most adults.
There is one pretty major thing we are praying about right now. If you could just pray that it would be taken care of, it would help Silas a great deal. When it happens, I can post what we're praying for!

3 comments:

  1. Hello, Mrs. Karen!

    Thanks for the update. We are praying for Silas, but it’s always good to have another post as a reminder to keep praying. What a sweet, obedient, brave little boy to have endured so much so patiently. I enjoyed your commentary on girls bossing boys and all that. You had me laughing there. It sounds too familiar! (chuckle) I made this picture of Silas into a college which is now my desktop background. Every time I turn on my laptop to do some work I’ll be reminded to pray for your precious little boy. He holds a special place in all our hearts. We love you all. Be strong in the Lord! “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” Jeremiah 33:3

    Love in Christ,
    Hannah

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  2. We're still praying for your dear little boy, Mrs. Karen!

    Take care...

    In His love,
    Lydia

    "And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible." Mark 10:27

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  3. Mrs. Blackburn,

    My family and I continue to lift your family up in prayer. Thank you so much for the update on Silas. He is such a precious little boy! Our hearts go out to him and to you.

    May His keeping grace give you assurance and peace through each day!

    In Christ the LORD,

    Naomi Ungry

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