Harelip, cleft lip? What's in a word? Using the word harelip in these times is a bit like using the N-word or other slang words for minorities. It's offensive to cleft-affected people and an indication of ignorance about the birth defect commonly known as a "cleft lip." Actually, doctors and scientists often use the medical term, cheiloschisis. See other technical terms for clefts and their repair. I'll continue now with more responses to an Asker's question on Ask Yahoo, "Would you … [Read more...]
Date a person with a Harelip?
Before dealing with a topic I encountered throughout my adolescence and young adulthood, a few words about Jack Dupree and the lyrics to the song he sang in the You Tube video posted in my last blog. Singing the "Harelip Blues." So here's what I found out about the song, but not becasue of Snopes (see prior blog). I dug a bit and found--according to a Wiki article--that Jack Dupree sometimes used the equivalent of poetic license for singers—an artistic conceit—by singing as if he had a cleft … [Read more...]
A song called “Harelip Blues?”
The harelip (sometimes hare lip) label. When an internet site said it featured lyrics for a song by jazz great Jack Dupree called, "Harelip Blues," I had my doubts. Doubts about whether he, or anyone else as the site claimed, ever sang such a song. The reason is that many teens, and certainly most adults, know that "harelip" is perceived as a derogatory term for a cleft lip. It's not that cleft-affected kids and grownups don't like being associated with cute bunnies and rabbits or don't know … [Read more...]
Duck Dynasty’s Mia—born with bilateral cleft lip & palate.
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...]