Introduction

I GREW UP WANTING to make a difference for God. For as long as I can remember, something inside of me has longed for Him to use me in a significant way. For many years, it didn’t seem like it would happen. Then, in a completely unexpected turn of events, two situations began to weave themselves into everything else in my life. God orchestrated and combined those two things in a way that has given my husband, Jase, and me a platform and a level of visibility in the public eye we never, ever imagined we would have. Not in our wildest dreams.

The first event happened in the summer of 2003. I was pregnant and scheduled for an ultrasound at thirty-one weeks. It was truly a family affair, with our two young sons, Reed and Cole; my mother-in-law, best known as “Miss Kay” Robertson from the television show Duck Dynasty; and my sisters-in-law Lisa and Jessica with me. Jase wasn’t there in person, but I knew he was there in spirit and would share in the excitement later when he saw the video.

We were all eager to see the new baby in amazing detail on the monitor, but a few minutes into the procedure, the ultrasound technician’s expression signaled that there was a serious problem. She was a friend, and I knew her well enough to read the look of concern and sadness on her face. When she left to find the doctor, Miss Kay quickly whisked Reed and Cole out of the room.

Minutes later, when the doctor came in and checked the ultrasound, she broke the news that our unborn daughter had a cleft lip. I knew that was not good, but I did not realize how that one moment would put me and my family on a journey we had never imagined. A journey of faith, a journey of prayer, a journey that has sometimes been anxious, stressful, and painful, but one that has strengthened us and taught us lessons we never would have known without it.

Jase and I had already been blessed with two healthy boys without special needs, but there wasn’t any doubt that Mia was a blessing, too, even when we learned that her condition was more complex than what was originally seen in the ultrasound. Yes, we were truly blessed, blessed . . . blessed with three children, each of them a unique gift to us from God.

Mia’s condition has allowed us access to a community of people dealing with childhood medical challenges, a whole new world we never before knew existed, but one we are glad God allowed us to discover. We have met some of the most amazing people, especially patients and families also dealing with cleft. At times, those people have been lifelines and support systems for us, and at other times, we have been able to provide them with the resources and encouragement they need.

And personally, for Jase and me, we have learned to understand each other and work together as husband and wife in ways many couples never have to think about. That is a blessing all its own, adding to the deep level of power and strength shown to us by extended family and Christian friends.

If all we experienced were the many people we have met as a result of Mia’s journey and the relationships we have developed along the way, we certainly would have felt blessed. That would have been enough. But God had more than that in mind. Back in the day, we would have laughed our heads off over the idea that our family would ever be on television, but God knew He would shine a spotlight on us, and one way Jase and I would use that visibility would be to bring attention to what Mia was going through. This way we could help other families walking the same journey that is now so familiar to us.

The second development that put me in the unexpected position to be used by God in the way I had longed for since childhood was Duck Dynasty. Trust me, I don’t know if anyone in the Robertson family, except Jase’s brother Willie, would ever have come up with the idea of putting our family on television. In our minds, we have always been normal people doing our best to love God, love each other, and raise our children well. Those commitments have shaped Jase’s and my lives since we first met. Had we been able to do those three things in complete obscurity, we would have been perfectly happy.

When the idea of a television show surfaced, Jase and I viewed it as a chance to go public with our faith. We were not swept away by the ideas of fame and fortune. For us, fame never was important. And fortune? We were people who lived within our means already and practiced great discipline in our finances. By the time Duck Dynasty came along, we had lived frugally for years, and while the idea of having more money, and the freedom and opportunities that come with it, sounded nice, it was not something we got especially excited about. We were fine with or without a television show. We determined early on that we would not allow any of the trappings that come with being celebrities to change our values, shift our priorities, or cause us to try to become people we are not. We knew we would find certain things easier to do once our level of income increased, and that has been true. But overall, I think anyone who knew Jase and me fifteen years ago would quickly say that the essence of who we are and the fundamentals of what we believe have not changed.

Aside from being a lot of fun and providing amazing opportunities for our family, Duck Dynasty has given Jase and me public personas we would never have had without a television show, allowing us to raise awareness of Mia’s condition and how much it affects others. We can empathize with anyone who is struggling with a medical situation, or any kind of significant challenge, to help them put everything in perspective.

Many times, parents find a childhood medical condition completely overwhelming. Almost before they know it, that illness or injury can take over the parents’ marriage and the life of the entire family. When this happens, everyone suffers.

One reason I wanted to write this book is to help families navigate through their difficulties, rather than having the challenges take charge and rule the family. Another reason I wanted to share our story is to encourage people facing any type of trouble in life that there is always hope, that the burden you think you can’t bear is already in God’s hands.

As any reader will see in the following pages, Jase and I have endured more sadness and difficulty than many people realize. Through every circumstance, we have leaned on our faith, and we have found God to be completely trustworthy and faithful. We know what it’s like to hear bad news. We know how it feels to pray that God will do one thing in a situation, only to realize He has done something else. We know how easily each member of a family can be thrown off balance by one person’s challenges, and we are well acquainted with the financial strain of a major medical situation.

Whether you find yourself reading this book out of curiosity because you are a fan of our show, out of desperation because you, too, have a child with special needs, or for some reason in between, I’m glad you picked it up. I hope our story will strengthen your faith, encourage you to keep trusting God with your impossible burden no matter how bleak things appear, and remind you that prayer really does make a difference. I have made every effort to tell our story with as much transparency and honesty as possible. You’ll quickly see that everything has not been easy for us, as I’m sure it has not been easy for you. But in the end, as we walk with God, I pray that despite the challenges you face, you will view your life as I view mine: blessed.