Meet Jaxon, a Boy Who Wasn’t Supposed to Live

A television show that never ceases to fascinate me when I’m able to catch an episode is “Antiques Roadshow.” If you’ve never seen it, antique experts travel with the show from city to city and offer appraisals for the collectibles people always seem to have tucked away in their attics.

Here’s the part that gets me: Someone inevitably brings in a painting splashed with bizarre colors or an odd-shaped figurine that makes me wonder, “Why would anyone want something like that in their home?”

Then the appraisal comes, and I discover the item is worth a small fortune.

It’s in those moments I’m reminded that an object’s value is often deeper than what we can see at first glance. That’s true of material objects and, according to Scripture, that’s especially true of human beings.

People don’t deserve dignity because they’re the right height, shape, color, or even because they’re able to contribute to society. It doesn’t matter whether someone is young, old, yet to be born, or severely disabled and in need of constant care. Human beings have immeasurable worth simply because it’s endowed to us by our Creator who created us in His image (Genesis 1:27).

A living, breathing, thriving example of the inherent worth of the preborn is Jaxon Buell, affectionately nicknamed by family friends as Jaxon Strong.

When Jaxon’s parents, Brittany and Brandon, first became pregnant with him, initial tests were discouraging. What followed were a series of misdiagnoses, visits to a specialty doctor twice a week, meetings with a neonatologist, two ultrasounds a week, genetic counseling, genetic testing, amniocentesis, and myriad other tests.

Through it all, doctors suggested that Brittany and Brandon opt for “termination” – medical lingo for “abortion.” But Brittany and Brandon were convinced that God had another plan.

Their story will inspire you. They showed tremendous courage and trust in the Lord in the face of immense pressure. They were with us in our studios yesterday to share their story and the deep conviction that led to their decision.

Jaxon is now a healthy two-year-old whose brain is about a fifth the size it should be. It’s a severe neurological condition to be sure, but he has a strong heart, strong lungs, and is full of laughter and life.

If you missed “Trusting God Through an Adverse Diagnosis in Pregnancy” on your local radio station, check it out online or download our free phone app.