December Newsletter



WHAT'S NEW WITH MIA? 

From a sharing a meal to making a craft and cookies to a gift exchange, friendship is what it is all about. Mia's Christmas party with her friends was a night of fun and laughter as she ended the first semester in her new school. Change is always scary, leaping in faith has its rewards. 
"He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.” Job 8:21

Have you met Mia’s sister Karina?

Karina came to be a part of our family in July of 2018. She was born and raised in Nicaragua by her grandmother after the loss of her parents. When she was 16, while she was in high school in Germany, her grandmother passed away, leaving her orphaned. After receiving a full scholarship to a college in Minnesota, her path brought her to our home. Jase and I thought our guest room would just be a quick stop for Karina in the summer between high school and college, but we fell in love with this sweet girl. We got to know her, learned her history and decided to become her family. She is now a junior, double-majoring in math and economics! She brings more joy to our home and even laughs at Jase’s jokes when no one else does! She and Mia have become true sisters, playing, disagreeing, giggling and even annoying each other.  We are all blessed by her and are thrilled to have her in our family - Missy

 
2020! What a year! 
by Missy Robertson

It’s definitely been a year like no other. While there have been many challenges and disappointments this year, there have also been victories. Families with cleft children are no strangers to difficulties and new seasons of challenge. As a mom of a cleft child, I learned first hand how to change my expectations when it comes to predicting what the surgical team has planned for the next step in Mia’s cleft journey. Each time, I would quickly be reminded that the plans I thought I had weren’t actually going to fit into the plans the surgeon had. Each time, a new season of treatment would begin. Each time, I had to decide to rise to the challenge of this new season. Each time, I had to lead my child and the rest of my family through this next phase of “new normal”.

Cleft families have been doing this before 2020, during 2020 and will continue to prevail no matter what next year brings. Families with special needs children don’t know a life without medical setbacks, disappointing diagnoses, recovery challenges and financial stress. They also know how to celebrate the victories, large and small, with their families close beside them. Wow, that sounds a bit like 2020 for all of us.

No matter what the future brings, the Mia Moo Fund will strive to continue to be available to help our cleft family, both financially and emotionally. Please consider choosing us for your end-of-year donation. Your gift enables these families to make the best choices possible for their child.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you will have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

Happy New Year! And may God bless you all!

 
 
SHOP AND HELP MIA MOO FUND 
A small way that everyone can help is to add Mia Moo Fund as your charity to your Amazon Smile account. You just need to add Worldwide Foundation in West Monroe, LA , Mia Moo Fund is a 501 (c) (3) under Worldwide. You need to shop on Smile Amazon and a donation will be made of .5% for each eligible purchase. You only have to add your charity once and it will be saved. 

DECEMBER RECIPIENT

 
Rylee is from Montana and she is doing wonderful after her surgery for her cleft palate. She started walking two months ago. She is starting to make all kinds of new sounds and learned to drink from a straw.        Thank you Mia Moo Fund!

DECEMBER RECIPIENT


Mili is a very sweet, active and fun kid that loves school, dancing and singing! She loves playing volleyball. Mili's teachers have said how sweet she is and how she helps them in class/school. She loves making sure things get done as a team with her classmates. When she is not in school, she loves horse-back riding. She recently danced on Dec 12th for "El dia del la Virgen De Guadalupe".
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Noah is 12 years old.  He was born with a right-sided complete unilateral cleft lip and palate.  His first surgery to repair his lip and nose was competed when he was just 10 weeks old.  Since then he has received 5 more surgeries including his bone graft in 2018.  He has several more surgeries coming over the next few years, but he always rises to any challenge.  We know he will endure the upcoming surgeries with just as much grit and strength as he has the others.  Noah also recently graduated from speech therapy after 10 1/2 years of speech services!  Noah loves to play football, ride his bike, play video games, and hang out with friends.  He is now in 6th grade and is looking forward to new people, places and things as he and his family move from Missouri to Indiana in the spring.
"We are so thankful to the Mia Moo Fund for not only providing our family with the means to get Noah the special care that he needs, but for connecting us to other families who have become a special part of our lives as we walk this cleft journey together.  We know that we are not alone." Leah (Noah's mom)
 
PRODUCT SPOLTLIGHT

BE BRAVE AND KEEP GOING Necklace SILVER or GOLD. 16" around chain. Printed on back is miamoo.org. Zinc alloy with silver or gold plating + special brush line. Protective coating on both sides. 100% proceeds go to the Mia Moo Fund to help children in the USA with cleft lip/palate treatments and surgeries who would otherwise not be able to afford them......because every kid deserves a smile
miamoo.org

December Monthly Reflection

2 families helped with financial assistance in December
109 families helped with financial assistance to date.
14 applications in various stages of process.
$470,000.00 in financial assistance awarded to date.

WOW!! $28,250 donated in December!! THANK YOU!
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Our mailing address is:
117 Kings Lane
West Monroe, LA 71292

Thank you for your continued support