Their son was born without eyes, but the Christian parents believe this was God's way of opening their eyes to His glory and the value of life.
In her book "Through the Eyes of Hope" (from Charisma House Publishers), which is set for a Jan. 10, 2017 release, Lacey Buchanan recounts the story of her baby boy Christian whom she gave birth to without eyes and with a severe cleft palate—a rare condition suffered by only 50 people in the world, according to the Christian Examiner.
Two years after she married her high school sweetheart Chris at the age of 21, Lacey found out she was pregnant, just about the time she was beginning her first year in law school in Nashville, Tennessee.
The couple received bad news after Lacey had her ultrasound check-up. Her doctor said she was carrying a boy but that he would be born with severe facial deformities.
Despite this dire finding, the couple decided to let the child live, naming the child Christian after he was born. As was seen in the ultrasound, he was missing his eyes and also had cleft lip and palate.
Christian's birth tested the couple's faith to the hilt. Some of their friends even questioned their decision to let the boy live.
One woman told the couple on social media: "You are selfish for letting him live just so you could have a baby. You are a pathetic excuse for a mother. He will have a miserable life."
Lacey simply shrugged off the hurtful comments, seeing them as the world's way of viewing things, not God's way, which is the one they're following.
"When we choose to love others despite their differences, we glorify God in His creation," Lacey said. "Instead of hearing people say, 'I'm sorry,' as if Christian had died, I want to hear, 'Congratulations! Christian is learning to survive and thrive in this world.'"
She said when Christian is old enough to understand, she will tell him, "I loved you too much to give up on you. I love you too much now to give up on you. You are an amazing person who God chose to be my son, and I am thankful."
Lacey said people should understand that "God doesn't guarantee a trouble-free life or a stress-free marriage."
"But our experience has taught us that when life takes a dramatic turn, He is unchanging, even in the worst of circumstances," she said.
