A mother whose son was born without eyes due to an extreme form of cleft palate has made an emotional video tribute to the baby, saying he is the love of her life.
Lacey Buchanan’s one-year-old son Christian was born with Tessier cleft, a rare condition that saw him born without a palate or eyes.
Christian had his first surgery at four days old, and has had several procedures since, but still attracts cruel comments from strangers.
Related: Cassi van den Dungen – I love my son’s cleft palate
In the seven-minute clip posted on YouTube, Lacey — who lives in Woodbury, Tennessee — reveals the extent of the bullying she and Christian endure every day on a series of handwritten cards.
“Some people ask me ‘What is wrong with your kid?’ One girl even told me I was a horrible person for not aborting Christian in utero,” Lacey writes.
Lacey also reveals Christian’s unique way of dealing with his bullies — laughter.
At the end of the video, Lacey proudly reveals Christian’s face, declaring him to be the love of her life.
Lacey met her husband Chris when they were 15 years old and they married six years later when they were 21. Lacey fell pregnant when she was 23, but doctor’s soon discovered her unborn baby had developmental problems.
Lacey was told she had an 85 percent chance of having a miscarriage and advised to have an abortion, but as a strict Christian she refused.
When Christian was born in February 2011, the full extent of his abnormalities was revealed.
Related: A parent’s guide to bullying
Lacey made the clip in March and uploaded to Christian YouTube channel GodTube. It received 20,000 views in the first day and continues to be seen by thousands of people two months later.
“I am absolutely blown away by the response that the video has had,” Lacey said. “I never imagined it would be this big. Thank you so much to everyone who is supporting us in our journey!”
Your say: Do you know any brave children who are dealing with medical conditions? Share their story below.
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