After receiving overwhelming support from fans nationwide when Mia Robertson underwent her recent facial cleft surgery, the Robertson family has started a non-profit organization to help raise awareness and to help fund research for children with cleft lips and palates. The eleven-year-old daughter of Missy and Jase had surgery in January, and is recovering speedily.
Mia Robertson was born with a facial cleft, and had her first surgery when she was just three months old. Cleft lips and palates form in the womb, resulting in a gap in the upper lip or the roof of the mouth because the tissue did not fully form during early pregnancy. Mia had her fifth surgery on January 3, and has taken everything in stride with a cheerful disposition.
Many in the Robertson family were at Mia's hospital bedside to support her as she prepared for surgery, and she felt confident that she was not alone. "I had my Mom and Dad with me, and I knew God would be with me the whole time," Mia told Closer Weekly. The scariest part of the bone-graft surgery, she says, was "knowing that I couldn't eat chicken strips for 3 months!" Thankfully, Mia is recovering very well, and was determined to eat Chick-Fil-A chicken nuggets after the doctor cleared her from an extended liquids-only diet in mid-March.
Related: Duck Dynasty's Missy Robertson on Faith, Family, and Fame
Mia's father Jase says that the hardest part about the surgery was knowing that his daughter would have a long road ahead of pain and suffering before she could be completely healed. He is thankful that his young daughter has a great attitude about it all - "She realizes that her condition is a marathon, not a quick fix," says Jase. He and Missy Robertson started the Mia Moo Fund, a non-profit organization to help raise awareness and fund research for causes and treatments of cleft lips and palates.
Tomorrow's "Duck Dynasty" season finale will center on Mia's journey with a facial cleft and highlight how her family has rallied around her in loving support and prayer.
