Little "Jaxon Strong" and his family set quite the example of resilience and selfless love.
Having celebrated his first birthday in August, Jaxon continues to defy doctors' predictions and inspire millions around the world.
Born with part of his skull and brain missing due to a rare condition called microhydranencephaly, Jaxon was initially given only days to live after birth. Doctors even suggested to the parents, Brandon and Brittany Buell, that they have an abortion. However, both Brandon and Brittany decided to carry the pregnancy to term, and they couldn't be happier about their decision.
"[The doctors] truly did not expect him to make it very long," Buell told the Huffington Post. "Yet, every day that we were with Jaxon, even from the beginning, we were seeing a small glimmer of hope, which has grown more and more each day, and it was that hope in him and the fight he always had that very naturally gave him the nickname of 'Jaxon Strong.'"
The father shared their story with the Today Show, saying, "We want people to know: Jaxon is not on life support, he's not struggling and he's not uncomfortable. He's actually learning, thriving and getting a little better each and every day. It's absolutely remarkable."
Source: Facebook
In a Facebook post, the couple shared a powerful reminder of what is truly important.
"There is real purpose here. There is a simple ordinary family with an extraordinary son who are simply doing their best with what they've been given, but realizing the true importance and the miracle behind it. We have never expected everyone to understand our family, our fight, our choices, our son, and his journey, and we can't care about that. Jaxon's life is too precious, but his impact is endless. Everyone deserves a chance, and we are not on this earth to judge others or to go through life aimlessly and without purpose."
"We should all be so fortunate to make a difference," they continued, "to make this world a better place than how we found it, and to seize the day. No matter who you are or what you believe in, it's clear that Jaxon's tiny footprints will have a lasting impression on this world, and that he has already touched and inspired more lives in one year than most of us ever will in our lifetime. For his life, I am better, I am blessed, I am grateful, and I am quite simply, one proud 'Addy'. I love you, son. Well done, big guy."
God has given us all a role to play in the world and little Jaxon has only just begun to change the world.
Let this remind us of the precious gift that life is.
You can donate to Jaxon's GoFundMe page here.