LACEY BUCHANAN: One, two, four, five and it’s letter… letter G.
LACEY BUCHANAN: People say things like you
know, ‘Why does he look like that? Why does he have red eyes?’ and I’ll say things
like, ‘Oh, that’s just how Christian was born.’
BILL TAYLOR: Now give me a high five. Good job man.
LACEY BUCHANAN: My name is Lacey Buchanan. My family consists of me and my husband Chris
and we have two boys; Christian who is six and Chandler who is four.
LACEY BUCHANAN: Christian is a very typical 6-year-old little boy. He is learning to read,
he likes to wrestle with his little brother and you know, just all the things that any
6-year-old would enjoy you know, but he does have some special things about him.
LACEY BUCHANAN: Christian’s condition is called Tessier cleft lip and palate. He has
classifications three, four and five, which includes microphthalmia. So his condition
was caused by amniotic banding syndrome. So fibrous bands can form in the womb and if
they attach to the baby, they cut off blood flow. So Christian’s banding happened to
attach to his face. So it cut off blood flow and so as his, you know face was knitting
together literally in the womb, blood flow stops. So the knitting together just stopped.
Christian could not eat when he was born because he had large, just gaps in his face where
the cleft was. His mouth just wouldn't close and so he got the feeding tube when he was
four days old. Christian’s condition is about 1 in 50 or 60 documented cases in medical history.
WAYNE TAYLOR: When I first saw Christian, I was kind of shocked at how he looked.
But it didn’t stop us from loving him.
WAYNE TAYLOR: He is just a healthy, happy, little boy.
LACEY BUCHANAN: What is it? Can you tell us?
CHRISTIAN: N.
LACEY BUCHANAN: Very good.
LACEY BUCHANAN: The biggest way that Christian’s condition affects his daily life is his vision
impairment. So because he is completely blind, he you know, he just has to learn to navigate
the world you know, in the dark. So, it takes some finangling and we have to do things a
little differently sometimes but you know, it’s totally do-able and possible and he
is doing it really well.
LACEY BUCHANAN: What is it?’
CHRISTIAN: One, two…
LACEY BUCHANAN: One, two, four, five and it’s letter…?
CHRISTIAN: G
LACEY BUCHANAN: Letter G. Give me a high five. Give me a high five.
LACEY BUCHANAN: Christian has had seven surgeries, so far. He has had three reconstructive surgeries
on his face to help close the gaps that the cleft left so that he is able to speak and eat properly.
LACEY BUCHANAN: Then he will look for, ‘What do you find on the beach?’
CHRISTIAN: Seashells.
LACEY BUCHANAN: Seashells.
LACEY BUCHANAN: He has had several procedures to put ear tubes in. Christian is going to
have a lot more surgeries in the future. That’s just the nature of this beast.
LACEY BUCHANAN: Now press down on the first string and let’s see what it does. Ready?
There you go.
CHRISTIAN: I think we need some rousing.
LACEY BUCHANAN: Yeah, I think we need some rousing too. Very good. He has already improved
just in his holding. We just got it Saturday.
LACEY BUCHANAN: I was unaware of before Christian was born that there is this huge social stigma
about being different, looking different and most people didn’t know how to handle somebody
with that type of difference or how to be around them. Like, the lady just a few weeks
ago who blurted out, ‘Eww.’ He had no idea that it was directed at him.
LACEY BUCHANAN: People coming up to us and going, ‘Oh, what’s wrong with him?’ You know,
and I just want to say, ‘Well, there is nothing wrong with him. ‘
INTERVIEWER: Christian do you, do you like it when your mom helps you do things or do
you like to do things by yourself on your own?
CHRISTIAN: I like to do things on my own; all by myself. Like playing with friends.
LACEY BUCHANAN: I would definitely describe Christian as independent. I remember a few
years ago when he started saying, ‘I want to do it all by myself Mommy.’ He is curious
and he wants to explore the world and he’s not afraid to do it and I think that’s a great thing.
BILL TAYLOR: Are you ready to get started Christian?
CHRISTIAN: Yes.
BILL TAYLOR: Yes what?
CHRISTIAN: Yes sir.
BILL TAYLOR: Okay, good. Go!
LACEY BUCHANAN: Christian’s first karate lesson, he sat in the middle of the gym floor
in my lap crying. He was terrified and he didn’t really understand exactly what it
was anyway because I couldn’t just show him videos of karate.
BILL TAYLOR: Go!
BILL TAYLOR: Good job Christian. Alright now, don’t sit down there. What are you doing?
We are not taking a break yet.
LACEY BUCHANAN: I was really proud of him for getting outside of his comfort zone.
BILL TAYLOR: Christian and I have been working together for almost two years. He’s earned
his gold striped belt and now we are currently working on his orange striped belt. I will
correct him on it just like I would any child. But I have seen a lot of changes in Christian
over the past, almost two years. His confidence is increasing. His abilities are increasing.
BILL TAYLOR: How many tips do you have on your belt?
CHRISTIAN: Two.
BILL TAYLOR: Now, how many do you have on them?
CHRISTIAN: Three.
BILL TAYLOR: Three tips. Give me a hug. Good job, proud of you.
LACEY BUCHANAN: I think sharing our story positively inspires others. I want to share
my family’s story to raise awareness for disabilities in general and specifically facial
differences. I want to raise awareness of the value of people who have differences.
I want to do away with that stigma that is attached, that is so negative. I feel like,
allowing him to, sort of be you know, out there, you know, I am kind of saying to the
world, ‘I will not hide this child.’ He deserves to be out in the world like anybody
else. He deserves for me to share his photos like a proud mom would. He is so independent
now and so fearless and you know, he is just, he is not afraid of anything. I feel like
that has given him such a boost of confidence to know that, I mean, ‘If I can do this,
I can you know, I can do anything. And I am like, ‘Yeah, you go baby. You can do anything.’