Hiccup girl breaks down on 'Today'

Jennifer Mee's relentless hiccups brought her more than international attention. They also brought her together with her biological father, NBC Today show viewers learned this morning.

The mention of her father brought tears to Mee's eyes during her brief appearance on the show about 8:30 a.m. Michael Mee is in Vermont, she said, and the two talk now by phone every day.

From New York, Jennifer told Tampabay.com today that her father contacted her through one of her sisters, whose father also lives in Vermont.

"It was a new experience," she said. "I didn't think I'd ever be able to get in touch with him, and now that I have, I'm glad I did."

"It's been great," Mike Mee told Tampabay.com this afternoon. "That's the only word I can think of right now. It's been fantastic. We had fun."

Jennifer said she was a toddler when she last saw her birth father. This summer, she spent two weeks with Mee, and she reconnected with his parents, who live in Connecticut.

"It was a lot of fun. Oh, man," Jennifer said. "I celebrated my 16th birthday with them."

"He's had some issues in the past," Jennifer's mother, Rachel Robidoux, said of Jennifer's father. "Maybe the time is right. I hope he doesn't disappoint her."

"A lot of it had to do with drugs," Jennifer said of Mee's earlier problems, which she said were not apparent during her summer visit.

"You fall into a pattern, and it's really hard to come out," said Mike Mee, who works in hotel maintenance in Rutland, Vt. "Drinking was a really big issue. It's been a long time, and I had my own problems. I guess if you can overcome them, everything turns out great."

Early today, Jennifer was part of a segment called "Where are they Today?'' that updated popular stories. Today flew her, her mother and stepfather Chris Robidoux to New York City for the appearance.

Wiping away tears on the air, Mee smiled while she answered questions about returning to high school and turning 16 and how she has gained control over the hiccups. She said the hiccups are gone, although her mother told Tampabay.com Tuesday she still has occasional bouts.

Asked by anchor Ann Curry "What else is making you happy?" Mee replied: "Just everything." Mee said she doesn't know why the hiccups stopped when they did. "We don't know for sure," Mee said. "We have to say it was a mixture of everything."

Mike Mee said he watched Jennifer on television this morning. "I got right to work and sat down in front of the TV and waited," he said.

Jennifer ran away from home briefly in June but said her relationship with her family in St. Petersburg has improved. "It's really good, I think, since I came back from seeing my dad," she told Tampabay.com. "I'm not as smart-mouthed, but sometimes I have my moments."

More on Jennifer's battle with hiccups here.

-- Casey Cora and Mary Jane Park, Times staff writers