Jaxon Buell's parents were offered the chance to terminate their pregnancy, but they said no. Doctors didn't know how long the baby would survive. But one month turned into two, two turned into three. Against all odds, Jaxon celebrated his first birthday last month.
"Today is a miracle, in and of itself, that through everything Jaxon has already been through, through his diagnosis, by the doubts of several medical teams, and with his perceived prognosis, he is still here, strong as ever, only dependent on a feeding tube, and can hear, see, talk, smile, laugh, and is learning more every day, even how to say 'Mama' and 'Dadda' directly to us," Jaxon's father, Brandon Buell, wrote on Facebook on Aug. 27, Jaxon's birthday.
Sky News reports the Florida boy was born with microhydranencephaly, which means he's missing part of his brain and skull.
Jaxon has a bunch of fans, too. Facebook fans, to be exact. Brandon and his wife, Brittany, use the page to update people following Jaxon's story.
“It’s hard not to think about how this all started and where we are today,” Brandon wrote in a recent post. “Most importantly, Jaxon is still here with us, still learning, still developing, still thriving. He’s back to smiling at us, always so happy in the morning after he wakes up and takes turns looking at both Mommy’s and Daddy’s face, seemingly as if he is so excited to start another day.”
He said that there are people who judge Jaxon with their stares, who judge the family for not having aborted him.
“Yes, there will be difficulties and struggles and limitations, but they recognize their family, they learn to communicate, and Jaxon is certainly on his way in all of those aspects,” he wrote. “Truthfully, I will never understand how choosing to carry Jaxon and give him a chance to survive could ever be considered ‘selfish.'”
The family is raising money on GoFundMe to help support Jaxon's second year of care.
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