I grew up in Florida, and was fortunate enough to meet a young man by the name of Archie. We found each other in the school choir.
The step son of a Southern Baptist Preacher, he helped guide and shape me. We were complete opposites, and as such, we joked that we cancelled each other out.
He moved a few years later, and as things happen, we grew apart. But during the time we lived near each other, he was my best friend. I considered him a brother, and his mom was lovingly called 'Nother Mother.
Archie went on to join the Mercy Ships missionary organization, and served several tours in South America. He bumped into his future wife on one of these missions, and the rest as they say is history.
Fast forward a few years. Archie and his wife Jessica live in Georgia with their four sons, the youngest of which is Silas.
Silas was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 Liver Cancer. Recently meaning a couple of days ago. Chemo has already begun, and the hope is that the cancer will respond to treatment, and allow surgical removal once the growth has shrunk.
It is always difficult to open these threads. Especially when children are involved. My most sincere apologies to that little boy. We wish the very best for that child, and may he make full recovery from this horrible disease.
Tony
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03:23 PM
fierowitch Member
Posts: 716 From: 84fiero123's Caretaker Registered: Oct 2010
Like I said/believe, ... I think God has this under control. I just wanted to say that I think it would mean a lot, and help the parents a lot, if we posted on Synthesis' above link in Silas' guestbook.
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04:17 PM
82-T/A [At Work] Member
Posts: 24350 From: Florida USA Registered: Aug 2002
God will do wonders . You asked for Prayers and look how many answers you have all ready with one more now being added to the list. Like the Bible say believe and all things are possible. God Bless Silas and family!!!!!!!!!
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11:37 PM
Feb 12th, 2012
joshh44 Member
Posts: 2166 From: Nanaimo, B.C, Canada Registered: Aug 2007
I pray that Archie and Jessica have the strength to support Silas, each other, & the other children as they face this horrible disease together.
Cancer sucks in so many ways. So much strength to make it the good fight comes from family and friends. By choosing to live with cancer vice letting it just take over many families discover it can become an "oddly wrapped gift".
Again prayers sent: Philippians 4:13 LIVESTRONG
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10:56 AM
avengador1 Member
Posts: 35468 From: Orlando, Florida Registered: Oct 2001
Silas was in surgery yesterday after numerous rounds of Chemo He turned 4 on June 4th.
The operation was several hours long. He flat-lined on the table once, and they gave him emergency blood and performed chest compressions to bring him back.
Doctors removed approximately half of his liver in the operation, and removed a tumor the size of a cantaloupe. This is 1/3rd the size it was when treatment began less than six months ago.
They detected swelling in his lymph nodes, but do not believe that the cancer moved...
He'll be in ICU for nearly a week recovering, and the doctors are keeping him sedated for 72 hours to give his body a chance to recover.
He opened his eyes a couple of times, and squeezed his mother's hand. She told him to go back to sleep, he nodded and dropped off.
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01:10 PM
TheDigitalAlchemist Member
Posts: 12654 From: Long Island, NY Registered: Jan 2012
Blessed be the name of the Lord! No matter what we will praise Him!
...its only been 6 short weeks since Silas completed treatment. I have heard many cancer parents say that relapse is harder to take than the initial diagnosis. Its true.
We had a great weekend at Wild Adventures with the boys. We had so much fun and it was so good to be a family, all together. We went on a ton of rides, many of them over and over again. Everyone was smiling. I will post some pictures soon.
...then today. I only got about 5 hours of sleep last night. Silas and I headed to the hospital about 6:45 this morning for his scans. It went smoothly but Silas wasn't very happy about it. He calmed down pretty quickly once we left.
We went back to the hotel (La Quinta, it was fantastic, they were so nice and gave us a discount because Silas was being treated at the hospital nearby) and I took a nap. We got checked out and went out for lunch and then headed back to the Oncology clinic beside the hospital.
The Child Life Specialist entertained the three older boys so graciously while Archie and I went back with Silas for blood work and to talk to the Doctor. Michael and Gideon gave her a detailed history of Lego from 1947 to the present She gave them some Legos in return
The Doctor came in to talk to us and informed us that the 3 small spots they saw on the scan last time were now fused together into one larger spot and it had grown. Just 2.5 weeks since the last scan and it is bigger. The new tumor is right on the vena cava and the Surgeon does not believe it can be removed and recommended putting Silas on the transplant list for a new liver. It breaks my heart that one child should have to die for another one to live *crying* Our Doctor said he really doesn't know a lot about transplant and is going to have to refer us to someone else to learn more about that.
Our Oncologist also wants to start Silas on more chemo soon. A new one that he hasn't had before. He wants to consult with other Oncologists who have dealt with this before before we proceed with any treatment. I have been talking to other Hepatoblastoma parents and gathering as much information as I can on other Doctors that may be able to provide helpful information.
Besides the scan, his AFP went from 29 to 195, pointing to tumor growth. That number is supposed to be less than 10.
There is a possibility that we may have to go somewhere else for Silas to be treated at this point. We just don't know yet.
We have not told the boys yet. I am not sure what we are going to even say. We did decide to wait until tomorrow though. It is going to be so hard. How do you tell your 4 year old that after major surgery and 10 rounds of chemo his cancer is back and he has to start treatment all over again? How do you tell your older children that even though it seemed like things were starting to settle down, they are about to get crazy again? Please please pray for us and for our boys.
There are many unknowns right now. We really don't know what is going to happen next. We are going to try and make every day count. We are going to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, we are going to love our children, and we are going to fight for Silas' life.
Pray pray pray. Pass along this prayer request. Pray for Silas to be healed, pray for peace for our family, and for strength.
[This message has been edited by Synthesis (edited 09-18-2012).]
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11:24 AM
Raydar Member
Posts: 40962 From: Carrollton GA. Out in the... country. Registered: Oct 1999
Update.... The tumors have been growing again. Silas has had 60% of his liver removed already, and the doctors say that a liver transplant isn't a good choice at this point.
They are going to move the Vena Cava using a synthetic piece, remove the liver entirely and resection it to remove the remaining tumors. They will then reimplant it into Silas....
Dear Mark: Silas is 4 years old and was diagnosed a type of liver cancer in February. He has had many rounds of chemotherapy and 60 percent of his liver removed. He was finished with chemo in August only to find out in September that new tumors had started to grow on his remaining liver. He is currently receiving chemotherapy to shrink them but will have to have a liver transplant to ensure the cancer is gone. To be 4 years old and to have gone through so much, Silas has not let cancer slow him down or change his fun-loving spirit. He has quite the imagination and is usually in character as a cowboy or pirate and can be seen flying up and down the hallways on a tricycle with his mother right behind him pushing his IV pole. He also collects bottle caps for the Ronald McDonald house and even gave his money from his piggy bank to the Children’s Hospital to help other kids fighting cancer. Silas’s parents are humble Christians who look for ways to help others and never put themselves first. They take care of Silas and his 3 brothers and also care for Silas’ grandmother who had a stroke and can no longer live by herself. Their cozy house is filled with so much love and laughter even though the youngest member has had to face this giant battle. When asked what they would like for Christmas, they said for Silas to be cured and for no child to ever have to suffer from this disease, but I know they could sure use some financial support as medical bills have been piling up and trips to and from the hospital can get very expensive as they live 90 minutes away. I know they would love some gift cards for gas and groceries and to help buy things for their family. All of the boys like to play together so board games, Legos, outdoor sports equipment and video games would be nice for them to share. Silas’ parents could use a few nice things for themselves as well, maybe a gift card to a restaurant so they could have a dinner out by themselves. When someone asked Silas’s mother what they could do to help their family, her response was “I can only tell you to do what the Lord leads you to do.” I pray that you will help be His hands and feet and provide for this wonderful family who would never ask for anything, but could use so much. Silas’ mother says, if nothing else, please pray for Silas. He can use all the prayer warriors he can get.” Thank You, Melissa Connor, RN The Children’s Hospital at Memorial University Medical Center
"...When asked what they would like for Christmas, they said for Silas to be cured and for no child to ever have to suffer from this disease, but I know they could sure use some financial support as medical bills have been piling up and trips to and from the hospital can get very expensive as they live 90 minutes away. I know they would love some gift cards for gas and groceries and to help buy things for their family...."
I see we can donate thru the radio station via mail. If it is done thru the caring bridge site that is only for the caring bridge site and not money for gas cards for example correct? Wondering the best most direct way. Possibly online not mailing a check?
I received a PM or two asking how people could help...
With the Christmas Wish that 98.7 The River is working on, you can send a check/gift card and a greeting card (optional) to: Make the check payable to 98.7 The River.
98.7 The River 245 Alfred Street Savannah 31408 Write Christmas Wish on the envelope, and inside, if you'd like to send to a specific family, please write the name of the child/family in the card...
I spoke with Mark Robertson at the station. He stated that most of the families have received an outpouring of support, but two or three of them have received very little. So if you don't want to specify where your donation goes, the station will be sure it gets distributed evenly.
Thank you all for your support for Silas and his family.
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11:52 AM
Feb 6th, 2013
Synthesis Member
Posts: 12207 From: Jordan, MN Registered: Feb 2002
I have no words.... So I'll let Silas' mommy say this....
quote
Silas coughed all day on Saturday and Sunday. Monday morning we woke up and headed to the hospital for his CT scan. We were pretty sure sedation was out of the question but were not too worried since he'd had 3 prior CT scans without sedation.
Then we found out that he had to have an extra IV put in for this scan and I was a little worried, so were they. They were concerned that he wouldn't be able to stay still for the scan, especially once they injected the contrast. I was concerned that he would be so upset by the IV that he wouldn't cooperate after that.
We did a "practice" round on the CT scanner, he did NOT want to practice and that made them even more unsure of his ability to do it without sedation. Once I talked him to getting on the bed and they ran him through the scanner a couple of times, he proved how well he could do.
We decided to use "happy juice", a medicine put through his central line that makes him a little "out of it" and "silly". This made it much easier to get the IV in his arm. Once that was done we headed into the CT room. They let me stay with him the whole time. He did fantastic!!! He was perfectly still for the scans and they got good clear pictures. I was so proud of him
When we were done there we headed upstairs to see the Surgeon.
quote
Silas and I checked into the Liver clinic. Silas was very happy and running around. His cough had almost completely cleared up! His nose was still running a lot though. He was quite fascinated with a poster of the internal organs and was asking me what they were all called and what they did. I think he impressed one of the Doctors with his curiosity
Dr K and Dr R (the Surgeon and the Liver Doctor) came in. It was not good news. It is very hard for me to type this out. It still doesn't seem real.
The tiny tumor that was on Silas' portal vein has quadrupled in size since we last scanned him a month ago. In addition, there are a couple more tumors forming near it on the liver. In addition to that, the cancer has spread to his lungs and there are about 10 "nodules" on his lungs.
Cryosurgery is no longer an option. Liver transplant is not an option. "No curative treatment" were the words I heard.
I wished Archie was in there with me but he was outside with the boys.
When Silas and I left and met Archie downstairs I didn't have to tell him anything, he had met the Surgeon in the hall way and he had told Archie the news.
I don't think either of us really grasped right away what this meant. We were in shock.
Dr J from Savannah called us. I spoke to him on the phone for a few minutes and then we decided it would be better for us to go to Savannah so Archie and I both could talk with him in person. Plans were made to go on Tuesday. The Child life specialists would have an activity set up for the boys so that Archie and I can talk with the Doctor.
"No curative treatment". 3 words I was not expecting to hear.
We drove home in tears.
quote
When we got home from Atlanta we took a walk around the front yard carrying Silas. We told him that the CT scan showed lots more cancer in his body. He said "oooohhhh, again?". The Doctors don't know how to make it go away and we think that maybe God is getting ready to take you to Heaven. He said "And get my new body!!??! Yay! I can't wait to have a new body!" He was beaming ear to ear smiling.
Archie and I were fighting back tears.
I told him in Heaven his new body will not have any cancer in it, it won't even be able to get sick! Not even a cough or cold! We asked him if he wanted to be the one to tell his brothers. He happily said yes.
We went inside and sat everyone down. Silas told them that there was too much cancer in his body and he was going to go to Heaven to get his new body.
Gideon started crying and said he was really going to miss Silas. Silas said "why?", then he said "I won't be alone in Heaven, God will be there with me!" We went on to talk about other people we knew who were already in Heaven that Silas would get to meet. I told him I was so excited for him to meet my Grandpa and Grandma, he never met them on earth. We talked a little about people in the Bible that he would meet in Heaven.
Michael is deeply sad but I think he understands. Jason said he'd rather get raptured. ME TOO!!! Come quickly Lord Jesus!!!
Please please be in prayer for us and for our boys. THIS IS HARD!
quote
So, moving forward. We had our meeting with Dr. J today. This is not where he saw this heading in the beginning. Not where any of us hoped it would end up for sure. But here we are.
We have two options. Choose to do no treatment at all, or try whatever treatments we can find to slow down the cancer.
If we choose to do nothing, Silas may have 2, 4, 6 months left. There is no way to know for sure, but from what we have seen so far, this cancer is aggressive.
If we choose to continue looking for other treatments we may find something that will slow this down and give Silas more time. 6 months, a year, more? Again, there is no way to tell.
We may stumble onto a cure at some point, but the chances are slim.
There is a Hepatoblastoma conference in Italy this week. Dr. G from Cincinnati is attending and he is planning to talk with some other Doctors there to see if he can find anything that may help Silas. Dr K is also attending via satellite and will weigh in if he finds anything helpful. Understand that Dr G and Dr K are both world class Doctors when it comes to this disease. We are hoping they will be able to find something that will at least slow down the tumor growth and give Silas more time.
There is a chemo drug that is infused via IV once every 3 weeks that may be able to slow things down but it does have the side effect of weakening his immune system. We are considering this but waiting until after the conference to make a decision. Dr J will call us later this week after the conference.
We would like to give Silas, or really, ourselves, as much time as we can, but we do not want to do anything that would hurt him or cause him pain. We are using and plan to use some alternative treatments as well.
We are hoping that Silas will continue to do well over the next few months. We hope to take him out to California to spend time with friends and family there. If possible we'd like to go late May/early June as we are expecting new cousins to be born then. Silas' birthday is June 4th. If we end up being in California at that time we will also plan to have a big party for him at home in Georgia as well.
Our focus is to help him not be afraid of what is happening, to spend as much meaningful time together as a family as we can, to help Silas enjoy his life here on earth, and to prepare to miss him for a little while.
It will only be a little while. This life will soon be over. I know where I am going. I know what I believe to be the truth. Do you know where you are going? Will you see Silas one day in Heaven? Will you be with Jesus forever??? You can know, and you can be sure. Please email me and let me know if you would like to know more about this.
Someone told Silas that she believed in him. He said "but you are supposed to believe in God!" He is absolutely right and I am so glad that he knows that.
Archie said recently "We need to stop considering Heaven the afterlife and consider our life on earth our prelife". Right on!
What can you do?
Pray for us. Pray for us. Pray for us. Pray for Silas, pray for his parents, pray for his brothers. Pray that those who know him will be blessed by his life.
We love y'all and pray for y'all as you read this. May God be glorified in your life as we believe He has been glorified in Silas life.
God bless you. Phil. 4:4
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09:56 PM
Mar 14th, 2013
2.5 Member
Posts: 43235 From: Southern MN Registered: May 2007
"Pray for us. Pray for us. Pray for us. Pray for Silas, pray for his parents, pray for his brothers. Pray that those who know him will be blessed by his life."
This makes me cry. The kid will do what most kids do and deal with it but, the parents must be in incredible emotional pain. My prayers to keep everyone strong threw this.
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08:09 PM
82-T/A [At Work] Member
Posts: 24350 From: Florida USA Registered: Aug 2002
She gave them some Legos in return 
*crying* Our Doctor said he really doesn't know a lot about transplant and is going to have to refer us to someone else to learn more about that. 
