Baby born with extreme, incurable brain condition lives to meet Santa Claus

A one-year-old baby born with a large part of his skull and brain missing has lived to meet Santa Claus for the first time.

Photographs shared on Facebook last week by Jaxon’s mother documented his first meeting with Santa Claus, as he approached his second Christmas. The festive encounter was deemed a “miraculous milestone” by Jaxon’s parents, Brittany and Brandon Buell, as they were initially told that Jaxon was unlikely to survive just one week.

Jaxon’s parents granted their 15-month-year-old boy his Christmas wish, by taking him to visit Santa at the Millenia Mall in Orlando, Florida. In a series of photographs posted on mum Brittany’s Facebook page, Jaxon is pictured alongside his mother perched on Santa’s lap, wearing a t-shirt reading “Kiss Me”.

The photographs have received 49,249 Facebook likes and Twitter conversation is rife, with many Tweeters celebrating Jaxon’s strength with the hashtag, #JaxonStrong.

Brandon Buell shared the day’s festivities on his personal Facebook page where he wrote of his son’s reaction to his first encounter with Father Christmas:

“Lots of snuggling, lots of talking, and he's getting better each day with interacting and communicating with us, and now even playing with us. More big milestones for our little guy! ‪#‎JaxonStrong”

Jaxon Buell, from Mount Dora, Florida, was born in August 2014 with a severe and rare brain disorder - eventually identified as microhydranencephaly. Facets of the condition include incomplete brain formation, intellectual disability and a build-up of fluid in the brain.

In a Facebook post, Jaxon’s father Brandon Buell explained the trauma of the revelation that their unborn baby may be at risk of serious health problems.

He said: “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. Since the answer to both questions was "no," we never came close to considering abortion”.

Jaxon’s parents continue to use Facebook as a means of sharing their baby boy’s extraordinary journey by posting regularly to their community page, Jaxon Strong.

The Florida-based parents have started an online GoFundMe page to raise funds and awareness, with the hope of enabling Brittany to her to continue caring for Jaxon full-time. The fundraiser has raised almost 160 dollars in just over 15 months.

In a recent update, Brandon Buell expressed his gratitude to his son’s supporters and thanked them for, “being a part of their story”.

“Jaxon's story is one to be shared and celebrated, along with so many others that we do our best to pass along and we want to thank each and every person around the world that has embraced Jax's story and journey along with us. No matter what may come in the future, he will leave this world a better place, he will benefit the medical community and other families that will face a similar situation one day, and his strength will continue to inspire others.”