Prayer Needed For Silas

Silas Blackburn is the 8th child born to Nick and Karen Blackburn, missionaries on deputation to the Congo. He is their youngest child and recently just turned 2 years old.

Silas has just been diagnosed with a Stage 4 form of cancer called Neuroblastoma. It is a form of cancer that attacks the nervous system in children. At this time they have recommended aggressive chemotherapy and only give him a 20-30% survival rate.

In recent weeks his parents had noticed that his lymph node under his arm was swollen. It began to grow so they took him to the doctor. The doctors first reaction was to give him an antibiotic, stating that is was probably an infection of the gland. They returned to the doctor days later with Silas because a bump had began to form on his head while sleeping. The doctor ran some tests last Thursday and Friday with another bump occurring over the weekend. By Monday Silas could not keep down any food, the tests showed abnormal blood work and he was given a CAT scan. They then found tumors on his head and he was immediately released from Panama City to be taken to Shands Children's Hospital in Gainesville, FL.

Since his arrival there, he has undergone much testing. They have found tumors all throughout his body. He has some on his head with one growing into his skull. The cancer is in his adrenal gland. He has a major tumor spanning across his stomach that originated from his adrenal gland. This afternoon he underwent surgery to check his bone marrow, do some biopsies in various areas and put in a port for easier access to his veins. He came through all of that well.

Currently they have him on a morphine drip to control his pain. Within the next day or so they are looking to have a plan of action on how to attack the cancer. They have had a hard time because it is a very aggressive cancer and he is very small.

We ask for your earnest prayers for Silas and the whole Blackburn family. They have been fervently on the road since January seeking support to make it to the Congo. Bro. Nick will need much prayer as he tries to continue deputation and minister to his family. Mrs. Chris Maynard, our pastor's wife is with them and plans to stay for as long as she needs to help. She also has health problems and could use much prayer. It is very tiring and taxing on their bodies. Bro. Buddy, our pastor, plans to make trips back and forth to be supportive also.

For those who would like to contact the Blackburn family or send a message of support you can contact them by going to http://www.shands.org/. You then click on "For Patients and Public", next you click on "Send a Patient a Message". Once there you put in Silas' name and room number, which is 4528. They are very tired and have received a volume of phone calls, this will help them rest a bit more and still receive messages from everyone.

I will post updates on my blog as I receive them. We thank you all for your prayers and support during this time.