Jaxon Strong, the baby who defied the doctors, turns 1

Jaxon Buell was born with microhydranencephaly, an abnormality in brain development that left him with a portion of his skull and brain missing. “No doctor could tell us exactly what was wrong or what to expect, but we did make sure to ask if Jaxon was in pain or was suffering, and we asked if there were any added risks for Brittany during the pregnancy or potentially at time of delivery”.

Jaxon even has an inspiring nickname – ‘Jaxon Strong.’ Some of his biggest supporters even wear his name on wristbands.

The cute baby has become an internet sensation, receiving more than 100,000 likes on his personal web page.

Jaxon was initially diagnosed as having Anencephaly, a neural tube birth defect in which a child is born without parts of the brain and skull, but doctors were still unsure of how severe his condition would be.

Ms. Buell, 27, said she was devastated at the thought her son wouldn’t survive. A year later, the Tavares toddler is teething and learning to say “mama” and “daddy” – and his parents, Brandon and Brittany Buell, relish every moment with their boy.

Doctors gave them the option to terminate the pregnancy at 23 weeks but they refused.

“Jaxon was our baby, and we only had one shot to do everything we could for him”.

However, despite the couple’s harddecision, some internet commenters have questioned why they would bring Jaxon into a world where he will likely never be able to walk, talk, hear, see or know that he is hungry. While the family has received hundreds of messages of support, Brandon Buell, Jaxon’s father, said the family has also been criticized for not choosing to have an abortion.

Saying that Jaxon and his condition have been “completely misunderstood” by a small section of those who have read about him, Brandon said “there are cases of Microhydranencephaly children who have lived into their 30’s, have lived relatively normal lives, can learn to swim, and have and can use their senses, as well”.

Brittany said: ‘It is always in the back of my mind.

Now Jaxon, who turned 1 last month, continues to amaze doctors and show improvements every day. I’m aware tomorrow he may not be here’.

“Our plan was to go to the emergency room because they can’t turn you away”, Brittany Buell told the Boston outlet.

Though the Buell family has had a rough year or so, Brandon has some AH-Mazing co-workers who set up a GoFundMe page when Jaxon was born in order to help the single income family out with their expensive medication and extra needs for their son!

The parents said they “never dreamed” of the support they’ve received – calling it “incredible”.