JASE, MISSY, AND MIA ROBERTSON | SUPPORTING THOSE WITH CLEFT LIP AND PALATE
By Elaine Tomski
God created Mia Robertson with the spirit to overcome. Like most parents, hers embraced a list of hopes as they waited for their baby to arrive. That list did not include a birth defect. Yet, seven weeks before her birth, Jase and Missy Robertson learned that little Mia would be born with a cleft lip and possible cleft palate. An ultrasound revealed her smile was incomplete. One dashed hope became the opportunity for Mia and her family to share God’s love through beautiful smiles.
Mia Elaine Robertson was born on September 12, 2003, with a bilateral cleft lip and palate. Her lip was split under both nostrils, and the roof of her mouth (palate) was also open. When Mia was a mere seventeen days old, her parents traveled to the International Craniofacial Institute in Dallas, Texas. “They checked her from head to toe,” said Missy, “and fitted her with a palatal appliance in order to give her a fake roof to her mouth. This helped tremendously in the feeding process as it allowed her milk to travel down her throat, instead of out her nose.”
Jase and Missy did their best to give little Mia plenty of nourishment so she’d be ready for her first corrective lip surgery at three months old. The Robertsons prepared themselves to supply medical care to Mia following surgery. However, they were not ready to look at her stitched and terribly swollen little face. They wondered if surgery had been the right choice. Missy said, “In just a couple of days, the swelling diminished entirely, and we soon realized that this indeed was the best thing to do for our child.” At seven months, Mia received palate correction surgery and a natural roof to her mouth. Little Mia had endured two surgeries in less time than she’d spent in her mama’s womb.
Mia’s lip had grown by age five, but the scar tissue had not. So, Mia endured a second lip corrective surgery and reconstruction in her nasal passages. By the time Mia turned eleven, she had suffered through a lengthy process of stretching her upper jaw. Once the upper matched the lower jaw, Mia endured major bone-graft surgery. Her surgeon, Dr. David Genecov, removed bone from Mia’s left hip and placed it in the cleft of her upper jaw. Her recovery required a mouth splint and twelve weeks of no chewing. One might imagine Mia has a reason to frown from all her surgeries and suffering. In reality, she has grown to smile all the brighter.
To understand the struggle associated with cleft lip and palate, let’s examine some facts. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Cleft lip and palate are openings or splits in the upper lip, the roof of the mouth (palate), or both. Cleft lip and cleft palate result when facial structures that are developing in an unborn baby don’t close completely.” The lip and palate form in the second and third months of pregnancy. In the United States alone, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 2,518 babies are born each year with a cleft lip and palate. About 1,402 babies are born with only a cleft lip and 2,333 with only a cleft palate. Cleft lip and palate are among the most common birth defects.
Researchers believe most cases of cleft lip and cleft palate stem from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Several risk factors may increase the likelihood of a baby developing cleft lip/palate.
• Parents with a family history of cleft lip/palate carry a higher risk of a cleft for their babies.
• Research shows women who smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, or take certain medications may increase the likelihood of a cleft lip/palate in their children.
• Some evidence indicates a higher risk for children of women diagnosed with diabetes before pregnancy.
• Being obese during pregnancy may also increase the risk of cleft lip/palate.
Infants born with a cleft lip/palate face challenges in proportion to the severity of the opening. The most urgent concern following birth is the ability to feed. While most babies with a cleft lip can breastfeed, a cleft palate can make sucking difficult. Children with clefts are at a greater risk for ear infections and hearing loss. Tooth development may also be affected if the upper gum is open. Because the roof of the mouth helps us form sound, a cleft palate can delay normal speech development, and words may sound nasal. Finally, differences in appearance and the need for extensive medical care may create social, emotional, and behavioral problems in children with clefts.
Because problems come naturally with a cleft lip/palate, the Robertson family appreciates the support they receive from medical professionals, family, long-time friends, and the new friends they discover on the journey. Missy stated, “Those with a cleft often have to work harder to live their lives the way they want to, but this does not need to be a bad thing. Overcoming trials is what shapes our identities and makes us stronger.” After Mia joined the family, Missy said, “We had to figure out how to pay the bills.” Although they were a middle-class family with health insurance, Jase and Missy still carried debt for years because of Mia’s extensive medical needs and surgeries. “We had a huge support system with our family,” said Missy. “But a lot of people don’t have that.”
Maybe you’ve heard of Jase and Missy’s family through the television show Duck Dynasty. A look into the real lives of the Robertson family received ten million views per episode. Duck Dynasty chronicles the Robertson family and their duck call business. A fun-loving crew includes Mom and Dad, Phil and Miss Kay, and their sons, Alan, Jase, Willie, and Jep. Viewers also get to know the boys’ wives and children. Uncle Si, Phil’s brother, is the show’s unforgettable storyteller. Robertson men are known for their beards and Christian views. The filming of Duck Dynasty ended in 2017, but a new show, Duck Family Treasure, began streaming this year in June on Fox Nation Online. Duck Family Treasure features Jase and Jep Robertson seeking treasure with the help of metal detectors, Uncle Si, and expert treasure hunter, Murray Crowe. Better than gold, the precious gems they find along the way include laughter, faith, and family.
As God gives the Robertson family opportunity and wealth, they respond by stewarding their resources to be generous in return. Jase and Missy founded the Mia Moo Fund, an arm of the Worldwide Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization, in 2014. Their website explains, “The Mia Moo Fund is dedicated to raising awareness and funds towards the treatment of cleft lip and palate. We invite everyone countrywide to participate with us as we strive to support one another, lend a helping hand, and bring a smile to each and every child.” Jase and Missy’s goal is to provide a support system for other families on the cleft journey. They want families with cleft palate or lip to know they are not alone.
After a few years of financially assisting affected children and their families, Jase suggested they should also support these families spiritually and emotionally. Missy wondered how they could do that. She was focused on paying the bills for several children and reminded Jase, "We don't know these families. We haven't even met these families." Jase replied, "Well, we need to get to know them, and we need to meet them." It was Jase's idea to bring the families Mia Moo supports into their town. They intended to walk alongside these families, help them through the whole cleft journey, and listen until they were understood. They wanted each family to know they were not alone. And so, in 2018, the MIA MOO FUNDay was born.
In the beginning, Missy and director Bonny, who is Mia's great-aunt, organized a fun day near their home in West Monroe, Louisiana. They invited all the children Mia Moo had helped financially and their families. Because the Mia Moo Fund sponsors every part of the event, the only cost families need to cover is the travel expense to Louisiana. By 2021, Jase challenged Mia, the now eighteen-year-old, to take on event planning. Missy said, "Mia took it over, and it exploded! She did way better than Bonny and I could ever do it because she's lived it. She knows what all the kids want to do, see, and hear." It is a joy for Mia's parents to see her inspire the kids the way they cannot because she has experienced the same doubts, fears, and insecurities.
MIA MOO FUNDay is held annually at Camp CH- YO-CA, just up the road from West Monroe. After initial hellos, hugs, and smiles, the children never stop moving from one fun activity to the next. Imagine squeals on the inflatable slide, darts popping balloons, and song melodies wafting through the air. Watch bowling pins crash, balls soar through hoops, and air guns knock down a tower of plastic cups. Feel water rush past boats on the lake and the excitement of a child with a fishing rod exclaiming, "I caught one!" Smell the dust kicked up by ball games, campfire smoke, and the mouth-watering aroma of southern cooking. Once all the dancing, hopping, and skipping create a need to sit a spell, participants can take up card games, painting, or crafts. FUNDay means there is no opportunity for boredom. Only smiles.
Missy said, "It's a day where they can come to have fun, and everybody there is just like them." There are no awkward stares, just fun. "There's a time where kids and families can ask questions. We also have a share time, Jase and I, down by the campfire with the parents while the kids do crafts, and it's just therapy!" Parents have the opportunity to share their difficulties and support one another. Some may share medical procedures and trauma they've already been through to help other parents prepare for what they must face. Questions take voice, answers abound, and people feel heard. "It's just a wonderful sharing experience," said Missy. "It has become the most favorite time for the adults."
You may wonder how many families find support through the Mia Moo Fund. One hundred thirty-four families, and counting, have received assistance and support. That's an average of twenty-six per year! Since 2014, financial donors have provided more than half a million dollars. "This is really huge!" said Missy. She also wants donors to understand that every dollar given pays for medical and support services to the families. Jase and Missy cover all overhead costs of the foundation. "The families must go through a major vetting process to eliminate any fraud, and we never pay the patients or their families. We pay the doctors, hospitals, and medical caregivers. Our board meets and approves all applications." No donation becomes wasted.
What are the recipients saying about the Mia Moo Fund and FUNDay?
"We are so grateful for the support we have received from the Mia Moo fund. What a blessing it has been. When we filled out our application, we knew we may receive financial assistance, but we didn't realize we would be part of a larger family that supports and encourages each child's journey. We are forever grateful for all the support and relationships we have gained from this wonderful Mia Moo organization." — Pricilla, Wyatt's mom
"Mia Moo is special to my family. MIA MOO FUNDays are the best! I like playing with kids just like me. Mia Moo changes lives!" — Little Lulu and her family.
"When we found out about Ellie's cleft lip and palate at her twenty-week anatomy scan, we were terrified at the challenges we had ahead. Ellie is now ten-months-old and has conquered nasoalveolar molding treatment as well as her first surgery (lip and nose repair). All of the anxieties and uncertainty that we had have all melted away now that we see the amazing little girl she is becoming. She has the biggest, brightest smile that will make everyone in the room melt. We are so blessed to
have found the Mia Moo Fund, as we can now worry less about the medical costs and focus more on enjoying Ellie through every stage of her cleft treatment. We truly feel that the cleft world is one big family, and we are so excited to tell Ellie about all the wonderful people who have been praying for her along the way. Thank you, Mia Moo!" — Ellie's parents
Everyone involved with Mia Moo understands how important it is to support those who travel the same journey. Perhaps Mia understands best. She desires to help children who go through the same procedures and trauma she has experienced because of a cleft lip and palate. Still, it isn't easy. As she listens to patients' stories, Mia relives some of her trauma.
Pain, insecurity, and heartache she's kept buried come to the surface. And yet Mia continues to offer her friendship. She says, "You can give a lot of advice from the things you learn." She can share how you "grow through what you go through." Although it seems to oppose the attitude we hear from voices in the world, a favorite scripture reference speaks of the Robertson family experience.
"Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." Romans 5:3-5 NIV
"We've seen that in our Mia," said Missy. Because Jase and Missy have watched Mia move from suffering to hope, they like to encourage families going through the same difficulties. "Just keep going. It will pay off." From financial support to lending hope—this is why Mia Moo exists.
Mia recently graduated high school. She now attends Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee. Mia loves to play the piano and sing. She enjoys hanging out with friends and playing tennis with them. Occasionally, Mia and her friends will travel to the center of West Monroe, where a piano resides in the middle of a shopping center. Calling themselves "The Neighbors," they gather around the piano to play and sing to shoppers and passers-by. Giving, courageous,
and secure. God's smile must be as broad as Jase and Missy's for their growing girl.
This past summer, at 19, Mia endured what she and her family hope will be her last cleft-related surgery. After returning home to recover, Jase sent out this message, "She is a champion!" The baby God created with a spirit to overcome is now a young lady continuing to walk the path, trusting in her faithful guide. Mia reflects the light of Jesus Christ, her Champion. An overcomer, a beacon of hope, she shares her beautiful smile wherever she goes. //
Find resources and more information on cleft lip and palate at:
World Craniofacial Foundation
Details on the team who helped Mia undergo surgery in early 2014 can be found on this website.
117 Kings Lane, West Monroe, LA 71292 www.miamoo.org
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Elaine Tomski is the author of Pregnant and Praying, a gift book for expectant mothers. She and her husband call Ohio's Amish Country home.