Meet Christian Buchanan, a remarkable six-year-old diagnosed with Tessier cleft lip and palate, an extremely rare condition resulting from facial tissues not properly joining during development. Christian was born blind with substantial facial gaps, rendering him unable to eat or speak.
Christian’s mother, Lacey, shares their journey to raise awareness about facial disabilities. His condition, documented only 60 times in medical history, hasn’t deterred him from leading a full life, engaging in activities like wrestling, playing with Lego, and learning karate.
Christian’s unique condition, caused by amniotic banding syndrome, involves fibrous bands forming in the womb and attaching to the baby, cutting off blood flow. Despite his challenges, Christian, classified with microphthalmia, has embraced life.
Christian has undergone seven surgeries to reconstruct his face and close cleft-induced gaps, allowing him to speak and eat properly. While more surgeries are expected, Christian remains independent, gaining confidence and embracing his uniqueness. Lacey and Christian aim to challenge societal stigmas surrounding differences, fostering understanding and acceptance.
