Silas

This is Silas back in 2008. I learned about his plight of suffering from drinking caustic soda which effected his throat. Silas cannot eat and was slowly starving to death.



(commentary from Karen) : About two years ago, Silas asked a neighbor for a drink of water and was told to go inside to get it. Upon entering the hut, he grabbed a glass of clear, odorless liquid – thinking it was water. After taking a sip, he realized it wasn’t water, but it was too late – the damage had been done. He had drunk caustic soda, a lye solution, which is often used for cleaning. It burned and scarred his esophagus so badly that he is unable to swallow even his own saliva. For the last year he has been dependent on a liquid diet through a gastric tube. This has come with many complications and if Silas is going to be given a chance to grow older . . . he needs a surgery to repair his esophagus.



Silas became the poster child of our caustic prevention and education campaign to help educate and prevent the poisoning of children from this mixture. Global has been working on obtaining medical help for him since. Unbeknownst to us a nurse named Karen who was working in Liberia was also doing so. And she was successful!!

She was able to obtain medical help for him in Kenya. Silas and his mother flew to Kijabe, Kenya last week.

This is Silas (7rs old) in early 2010. He has a gastric tube but is still unable to eat normally. Still a sad little boy.

This complex surgery cannot be done in Liberia, but we are grateful that it can be done in Kenya at Bethany Kids Hospital (www.bethanykids.org). And now this is Silas today after his recent surgery. He is going to have a chance at a normal life.



Although Karen has already raised funds and purchased return airline tickets for both Silas and his mother, they still need to raise another $4,000 to pay for his surgery, and to cover their room and board ($15/day) for the next 6 months. This surgery has huge risks even if performed in the US or Europe and we invite you to pray with us for the safety and healing of Silas. If you would like to assist Silas financially- you can send funds to Global Orphan Outreach with a note in the memo saying it is for the Liberian Medical Fund/Silas.



*We will send you a receipt and make sure funds are given to Karen for his care.