Members
of the group Casting Crowns pose with the Grammy award they won for
best pop/contemporary gospel album for 'Lifesong' at the 48th annual
Grammy Awards in Los Angeles February 8, 2006.
Two years ago
the #PrayForSilas hashtag went viral on social media as the then
5-month-old son of Grammy Award-winning Casting Crowns member Chris
Huffman desperately needed a heart donor. This week the successful bass
player took to social media to share some holiday cheer with a praise
report of how his son has been since the surgery.
The Casting
Crowns Facebook page lit up with comments on Tuesday as Huffman posted a
picture of himself and little Silas. Silas is the son of Huffman and
his wife, Amanda. Born on April 29, 2013, he was diagnosed with Dilated
Cardiomyopathy. The doctors at Egleston Children's Hospital in Atlanta,
Georgia, performed a lifesaving heart transplant Dec. 8, 2013. Now two
years later and still in recovery, Huffman gave supporters a detailed
report.
Read Huffman's post below.:
"Hey
everyone! Today is December 8th, a very special day in the Huffman
family. It is now 2 years since Silas had his heart transplant.
Yesterday was his 2 year post-op heart cath. He did great for his heart
cath and the doctor that did the exam on him said his heart looks
awesome and his numbers were perfect. Silas has been eating all of his
daily calories by mouth, and it has been such a blessing to not have to
use the feeding tube for more than giving him his meds and fluids. In
the last few months since he has started eating by mouth, he has also
started talking a lot!! He still has therapy visits to help him work on
rehabbing his left arm from the stroke he had right after his
transplant, and also working towards getting him to where he can walk.
He is so close to walking! My wife and I have been blessed to connect
with other transplant families and pray for them just as they have for
us. God reminds us and me personally that we don't walk alone in our
struggles. We've had many struggles and difficult days, but we know God
is good through all of it! Thank you for continuing to pray for our family and for the boy wonder, Silas Man! ~ Chris"
According to a Casting Crown blog,
an estimated $50,000 was needed for the surgery and after receiving
donations and a matching donor baby's heart, Silas made it through.
After the surgery, Huffman reported on social media that his heart was
half the size it was when it was dilated.
When they needed support
the most the Huffmans were stunned by the response they received from
folks on social media. "It's unexplainable. They don't even know our
boy, but they've just fallen in love with him," Huffman posted after the
surgery.
Given the recent praise report, fans once again showered
them with love, many sharing their own experience with transplant
surgery. Prayers and support are still needed for little Silas as he
continues to fully recover. Huffman ended his message
with Psalm 73:26 which reads, "My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."