40 — Sunday, October 26, 1997 — North Shore News

HEATHER Gray-Grant '_. 1s establishing a char-

: Hable foundation to fund operations for

“this little Russian:

- girl's severe distig- -Urement. Her cleft” palate, right, is so severe she cannot eat, or speak normal-:— ly. The foundation will help others too.

| Avvisit to London Drugs on Lonsdale + Tuesday at 4 p.m, left Aleem Mawji | ¢memories...-

had* entered ‘the store to buy three

Copy three original videotapés from

i ling. in‘ Africa in August. But when he returned to his green Escort rental car in front of - the store, the originals were gone — along with 900 negatives from the wedding. Mawji’s father- in-law had just brought the negatives from

Girl’s plight touches NV Mom’s heart

By Martin Millerchip

Contributing Writer miller@nsnews.com

THE hope of a normal life for a little Russian girl with a major med- ical problem rests with a North Vancouver mother of two.

But the clock is ticking for Anastasia Shurova while Heather Gray-Grant races to complete the organization and fundraising necessary for an operation that needs to take place as soon as possible.

Seven years ago in Tver, near Moscow, Anastasia’s mother, Olga, was misdiag- nosed with stomach cancer.

Instead, she was pregnant.

But for four months she, and the baby inside her, received chemotherapy until the mistake was discovered.

The results were horrible.

Anastasia was born with no upper lip and no hard or soft palette. As a baby she had no ability to suck or swallow and had to learn how to choke down all food and liquids.

Two — surgeries _— that attempted to repair her palette and lip have only aggravated the problem.

d it is hard to compre- hend a medical system that would strap a baby girl to a hospital bed and allow no visi- tors — including her mother.

Additionally, since the age of three months, doctors have been pulling Anastasia’s teeth

- Reward for newlyweds’ negs

Kenya. Pictures had yet to be made.

“That’s everything,” said Mawji, a Vancouver resident who works in North Van. “There were no pictures dune. Everything about our wedding is in there, so we have no memories of our wedding as it stands right now in terms of pictures or tapes.”

Mawji is offering a $200 no-questions-asked reward for the return of the negatives and videos. He can be reached at 986-4545 during the day.

' 1997 Green Christmas Award

Recognizing North Shore artisans and craftpersons who creatively promote the 3R’s: Reduce, ReuSe, Recycle during the holiday season.

‘Local artists and craftspersons are invited to submit a sample of their work which must be made from reused /recycled materials for a

_“people’s choice” vote at the Delbrook Christmas Craft Fair Nov. 22 & 23, Delbrock Recreation Centre. The winner is awarded free rental of a

: sales table at next year’s fair. Deadline for entries is Nov. 17.

‘

‘Drop-off your sample and fill out an application form at:

RAY, 4

148 East 2nd Street, North Vancouver,

between the hours of 9am and 5pm, weekdays. Call 984-9730 for more

reeyding orogiam

tece terre tarirartcr -

information.

from what passes as the roof of her mouth with no anesthetic or post-operative pain killers.

Perhaps the six-year-old girl’s emotional difficulties are just as painful.

The “corrective” surgery has exaggerated her deformity to the point that children tease, torment, or worse, shun the little girl who can’t speak, talk, breathe or sv-allow prop- erly.

Anastasia’s parents have given up on her attending any school in her present condi- tion, and life in her apartment complex is lonely as the other children will not play with her.

There is still hope for Anastasia. Surgery should be able to give back a normal life.

But the first and most important bone graft must take place soon, while her bones are growing quickly.

And even if the surgery is available in Russia, the Shurova’s have no access to it.

Anastasia’s father works for the military and gets paid when funds are available. Pay cheques are often months apart and not retro-active.

FAMILY SERVICES

of the NORTH SHORE

Big boys don’t cry

Little do we know the effect of those very words. When a young boy is told he’s not supposed to cry its translated as he’s not supposed to feel. Society has taught our boy that it’s not okay to express emo- tion unless it’s anger.

As we approach November, Together Against Violence Month, it's a good time to re- | examine how fathers and sons communicate. Since boys tend to imitate their dads, perhaps helping the guys talk more about how they feel, could help every- ene in the long run.

‘Violence against women is a man’s problem” says course leader Jim Hamilton. “If we can help men understand its okay to talk about their feelings instead of taking revenge or trying to get even, we can make a big difference in relationships.”

Jim teaches a workshop for fathers and sons that looks at the conflicting messages facing men

Gray-Grant says a 60-sec- ond call to Canada is made at the expense of food on the table.

She heard about Anastasia’s plight nwo years ago from a Russian friend who emigrated to Canada in 1991 and even- tually decided to do something about a story that had touched her heart.

It wasn’t like Gray-Grant had time on her hands.

She’s 2 wife, a mother of two healthily rambunctious lit- tle boys, a business devclop- ment manager for the law firm of Russell and DuMoulin and currently studying for media- tion certification.

She has been spending four to eight hours a week “although it can easily exceed that” working to create The Anastasia Foundation.

The foundation’s aim is to raise $45,000 by the end of November in the hopes of get-

ting Anastasia here for the first ”

operation in the carly new year.

Gray-Grant has the com- mitment of highly rated Victoria plastic surgeon Dr.

Jason Gray.

Gray is happy to donate his skills but hospital time and care, and travel costs for Anastasia and her mum must be found.

Once here, the Shurova’s will stay on for 18 months, depending on the little girl’s healing, powers, for three fur- ther operations.

“We do not want this tax- payer driven. We do not want the (B.C.) healthcare system paying for foreign children,” says Gray-Grant.

The Upper Lonsdale resi- dent is deterinined that the foundation will find the funds for Anastasia and children like her.

This is not just about Anastasia.

Gray-Grant envisions a foundation that will continue to provide for at least one sim- ilar child a year.

But she needs help.

Tax-deductible donations can be sent to: The Anastasia Foundation, c/o The St. James Community Service Suciety, 329 Powell Street, Vancouver, B.C., V6G LAS.

Families Matter

Watch for information about Family Services of the North Shore every Sunday. We'll keep you informed about events and Family Life Education courses. As well, we'll offer advice from professionals on all aspects of family life. We welcome your comments.

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about anger and rage and how anger is sometirnes used as a way to avoid other emotions.

The question is “How many male actors do you know that have never held a gun?” jim poses this question and answers “I think Robin Williams is the - only one”. “Okay, how many have you seen cry?”

Sometimes exploring your feelings is tough

Fathers & Teen Sons: Working Together To End Abuse

In this workshop, we will took at the conflicting messages facing males about anger and rage and how anger is sometimes used as a way of avoiding other emotions. We will consider useful ways of expressing uncomfortable emotions.

#FSS2 = — Sat. 10:00-3:00pm

$30/family Tsess. Nov, 22

2. J. Hamilton F.S.N.S. (NV)

Media Violence . & Your Child

The media message - what are our children learning from it? Broaden your awareness of the wide fange of m.sdia available and its effects on children, their well-being and behaviour. . #FS49 = Mon. 7:00-9:30pm _

Parents: Be Aware & Help Your Child Stay Safe oo This presentation will pro- vide parents with the infor- mation and skills they

need to help their child Stay safe and to support. their child's healthy devel- opment. Our group leader has specialized training

and experience working with children who have been abused. This pro- gram will raise parents’ awareness about the safety needs of their child.

#FS40 = —s Tues. 7:00-9:00pm Free

1 sess. Nov. 18 W. Chandier Carson Graham

The United Way campaign needs your support.

™ . a . . . an . ~~ aa . t. . ve wee Family Services’of the Nortit Shore fs a-rbn profit organizatien deditdtedto ehrichiitg noe : FO AN wo

oo, “and.strengthening famHy fi fo - To register for courses.or for further information. > f Call 988-5281 ‘Fax988:3961 “#101 - 255 West Ist Street; North Vancouver

‘er ore the. North Share 4 i:

oC 1410-Clyde Avenue, West Vancouver

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