Mia's cleft lip and how her parents coped. As noted earlier this week, I'm passing on some details now about Small Mia, as opposed to Tiny Mia and Big Mia. Since it's instructive to those new to cleft lips and palates---especially parents of cleft-afflicted babies--I'll highlight how Mia and her parents handled the initial news about her clefts and reacted to her early surgeries. Mia's parents, Jase and Missy Robertson of the hit show Duck Dynasty’s, had to oversee the closure of … [Read more...]
Three Other Joaquin Phoenix Secrets Besides His Cleft Lip
What's This About a Cleft Lip? My prior blog explained that Phoenix's upper lip "scar is from what's called a microform cleft. Whether or not he's had surgery is a mystery he's perpetuated. * While a microform cleft may not be as obvious as a complete cleft lip , there may still be problems with functionality 'cuz of a disruption of the continuity of the orbicularis oris muscle that encircles the mouth. The disruption may cause eating, drinking, and speech issues. BASIC FACTS ABOUT JOAQUIN … [Read more...]
What’s different about Joaquin Phoenix besides his cleft lip?
It's not just his 'facial difference! Denies his Cleft Lip Actually, Phoenix has created controversy about his lip. He says something--but not a "cleft"--just happened when his mother felt pain at one point during her pregnancy. (Fellow actor Stacey Keach "owns" his cleft.) If "something happened to Phoenix' mom, this had to have been around the 6th week when most cleft lips and palates form. Many doctors feel that his famous scar is from a microform cleft lip, also known as a "forme … [Read more...]
Which Hero, Villain or Fool would you rather play golf with? Peyton Manning?
Admittedly, my golf game's rusty. Can't remember when I last played. Maybe ten years ago with a neighbor. But here's the point, what hero, villain or fool in your world would you like to have a beer with, spend some time with? Peyton Manning's my choice. Not only could we talk about cleft palate surgeries we'd endured, we could probably talk about resilience. He could've stayed out of the public eye after Sunday's Super Bowl debacle where the Seattle Seahawks dominated his Denver Broncos. … [Read more...]
Peyton Manning’s Cleft Palate — Super Bowl QB faced Challenges
Peyton Manning's experience with a Cleft Palate. Peyton Manning was born with a cleft palate on March 24, 1976 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Today, he's an outstanding NFL (National Football League) quarterback for the Denver, Broncos. He is a son of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning and an elder brother of New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning. Peyton faced many obstacles with his disabilty: a cleft palate is a condition in which the two plates of the skull that form the … [Read more...]
The Complicated Causation of Cleft Lips and Palates — Genetics is only part of the still-unknown equation.
Here I am back in November with Noah, my superhero friend with a cleft lip and palate. Recently, I came across another great picture of him , as a shy ladies man. Well, really Noah is with his twin sister, and she has no clefts. This suggests the genetic complexity of clefts. . . and genetics is only one causal … [Read more...]
Politicians and Columnists concerned that Abortions of Fetuses with Clefts Constitute “Eugenics.”
Late-term abortions of fetuses with clefts Some Members of Parliament in the UK have called for a review of abortion laws since recent data show many more mothers than realized ask that their cleft fetuses be aborted. According to a committee of MPs and peers, evidence suggests "many pregnancies are being terminated up until full term simply because of cosmetic flaws." Mothers and doctors are engaging in "discrimination" according to some. I'd second this: sounds like "facial … [Read more...]