A LITTLE boy who inspired the world after being born with a part of his brain missing has tragically passed away in his dad’s arms.

Jaxon Buell, 5, died on April 1 “very peacefully and comfortably”, according to parents Brandon and Brittany.

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Little Jaxon, from Florida, was born in 2014 with microhydranencephaly – a severe developmental abnormality that means a portion of his brain and skull were missing.

The brave boy defied all the odds six years ago when he was born at 37 weeks with just 20 per cent of his brain, and was never expected to walk, talk or hear.

Jaxon’s parents told Today that his death was in no way related to coronavirus, and paid tribute to his “strength and his amazing sweet spirit”.

Heartbroken dad Brandon said: “He passed away in my arms and surrounded by his parents and family who were loving on him and providing comfort and endless hours of snuggles throughout his final days.

“Ultimately, Jaxon passed away from his body and organs shutting down, as is common with children like him.

“This had absolutely nothing to do with the COVID-19 virus, but was something we always knew from the beginning would likely happen. We just didn’t know when.”

After his birth, the boy soon became known as ‘Jaxon Strong’ on the internet, with his parents gaining over 200,000 followers on Facebook.

They used the page to share moving moments, such as Jaxon telling his mom “I love you” in 2015.

What is Microhydranencephaly?

• Anencephaly is a serious birth defect in which a baby is born without parts of the brain and skull.
• It is a type of neural tube defect.
• It is so rare it affects three in 10,000 pregnancies in the US.
• Brain malformations caused by anencephaly are rare but children can survive with the condition.
• People with Microcephaly can have poor motor function and speech.

Jaxon is not the first boy with the condition to captivate the world with his bravery in fighting the condition.

Two years ago, Ah Neath was born in February in a remote village in eastern Cambodia with a severe crater in the front of her head.

Her mum Srey and dad Heang were forced to sell their family home to pay for their little girls medical care.

Ah Neath was kept in hospital for two months, where she was given regular oxygen to regulate her breathing.

According to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention anencephaly is serious birth defect in which a baby is born without parts of the brain and skull. It is a type of neural tube defect.

It is so rare it affects three in every 10,000 pregnancies in the United States.

Brain malformations caused by anencephaly are rare but children can survive with the condition.