Mia Robertson, the youngest daughter of Duck Dynasty’s Jase & Missy Robertson, has been born with a condition known as cleft lip and palate, a gap in the upper lip that can involve the gum as well.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shares that about one in every 1,600 babies is born with a cleft lip with a cleft palate in the U.S.
Because of her condition, sweet Mia, who is now 18 years old, has been forced to undergo 13 surgeries, with the 14th taking place just recently. The family truly hopes this would be Mia’s last procedure before her problem is finally solved.
Throughout every surgery, the young girl remains positive. What’s most, she hopes she serves as inspiration for other young children who are born with the same condition. On her own initiative and with the help of her family, Mia established the Mia Moo Fund in order to assist in making certain that each and every child wears a smile on their face.
“One of the functions of the Mia Moo Fund is to spread awareness of the cleft lip and palate journey,” Missy Robertson told Christian Post. “The other one is to help with medical funds for the parents and the families living right here in America.”
On his podcast Unashamed, Jase Robertson shared an update on Mia’s condition and said that his daughter is recovering well.
“She’s doing great. She’s turned a corner,” he said, and then added, “Everything seems great, seems to be fine.”
“Surgery went a little longer than expected, but she is home and recovering,” the loving father told his podcast listeners. “Thank you for praying for her and for our family. She is a champion!”
Before the surgery took place, Missy spoke of her daughter’s condition and explained that she had been constantly asked about the number of procedures Mia would need to undergo in the future. “There is never any other response than ‘We just don’t know,’” Missy said. She then added that they rely on God for assistance. “Since she is 18 now, she is taking the lead in all the discussions and medical forms. It’s been a little strange,” Missy wrote. “But it’s just another reminder to lean on the Lord and that I’m not in control.”
Mia also hopes that she’s at “the finish line.”
“Hopefully the last time I’ll see my doctors in this setting! It’s been a long road but we are at the finish line,” brave Mia said.
The Robertson’s have also been preparing for a new addition to the family as they open the doors to their hearts and home for a child whose mother was unfit to take care of.
We wish Mia speedy recovery.
Animal rescued from the cold looks like a hairless cat — you’ll never guess what it really is
For many animals, fur is essential because it offers much-needed insulation from the cold. Additionally, it gives them their unique appearances; there are some creatures that you might not even identify when they are fully bald.
A more rarer critter that resembles a hairless cat was just taken up by rescuers. Continue reading to find out more about this unusual species and her improbable survival.
The strangest animal was adopted by Hope for Wildlife, a charitable conservation organization in Nova Scotia, last month. A couple in West Arichat found the animal, suffering in the cold, in their backyard, according to the Canadian Press.
The creature appears to be a Sphynx cat at first glance, but it’s actually a fully hairless raccoon!
Without their distinctive fur pattern that resembles a mask, raccoons are definitely difficult to identify. This small animal, a northern raccoon, suffers from severe alopecia, which has left it entirely bald.
There have been examples of balding raccoons in the past, but nothing like this, according to the rescue: “It’s just tufts of fur around the snout, ankles and feet.” The Canadian Press was informed by Hope Swinimer, director of Hope for Wildlife, that the situation was serious.
Despite being female, the raccoon has been named Rufus in honor of the character from the Kim Possible cartoon who is a naked mole rat.
The rescue said on Facebook that they are still in the process of diagnosing the reason for her hair loss and that it might be an autoimmune condition causing harm to her hair follicles. Not only did they rule out fungal infections, mange, and parasites, but they also noted that her skin looked healthy.
Since raccoons rely on their fur to remain warm and shield their skin from the weather, Rufus’s survival for this extended period of time astounded the rescuers.
“We are astonished that this small lady survived the winter without fur and without getting frostbite or worse!” the Facebook post stated.
They went on to say that she was “her own doing” and that she had a “feisty” personality. Nevertheless, given that she was apparently “down and out upon arrival,” it appears that she was saved just in time.
For a few brief hours, we were in a panic, but then she became hungry and came out. We’ve noticed a significant change since she first came, and she’s becoming really feisty now, Swinimer told The Canadian Press.
Given the situation, Rufus may end up staying at the shelter permanently. In addition to having a dedicated habitat, an outside area with a place to crawl into for warmth, and other facilities like hammocks and nesting boxes, Rufus will have all of these.
We’ve never before seen a raccoon without hair! Rufus’s prolonged survival in the wild is amazing, and we’re happy that she was discovered and is receiving quality care.
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