3-year-old with rare chromosome condition dies


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SALT LAKE CITY — A boy who defied the odds every day of his life and inspired people across the world died Thursday.

For three years, Paxton Norton defied the odds, living a life he was never supposed to have. Paxton's birth and life were a miracle: He was born with a deletion of the seventh chromosome, a condition that affected every cell in his body, causing serious problems with many of his organs. The condition was so rare, there are only 15 documented cases, and none are quite like his.

When he was born, Paxton had two holes in his heart, glaucoma in his eyes, a cleft palette, pulmonary hypertension, enlarged kidneys and ventricles, and a narrow airway. In his short life, he endured almost 40 surgeries to keep his body functioning.

Paxton had a special love for baseball. Nothing made him smile more than his toy baseball. His father, Dave Norton, was a University of Utah baseball player during college, and the family had a chance to visit the Spring Mobile Ballpark in June to see the field on which Dave played.

Paxton and his brothers met the Salt Lake Bees players, hung out in the dugout and watched batting practice before the game. He had an almost instant impact on those with whom he came in contact.

His father Dave, his mother Shannon, his two brothers Camden and McKay, as well as his grandparents and many other family members survive him.

In lieu of flowers, the Nortons are asking donations be made to Primary Children's Medical Center in Paxton's memory.

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UtahFamily
Jeremiah Jensen

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