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12 * WATERLOO CHRONICLE * Wednesday, October 3, 2007 en one of their own has a Wproblem. the staff at Waterâ€" loo‘s HomeSense store don‘t waste time thinking about ways to help. Instead, they jump into action. "HomeSense is a family, we‘re not coâ€"workers," said Jenna Sachse, who works in the store‘s customer service department. Jeanette and Ron Buchanan know firstâ€"hand just how generous the staff there can be. Ron used to be the assistant managâ€" er of the store. But after his daughter Bianca was born with a rare genetic disorder, called Beckwith Wiedemann Syndrome, the family moved to Dutâ€" ton, Ont., to be closer to their relatives. Bianca‘s condition means the 16â€" monthâ€"old has an enlarged tongue, which is affecting her speech developâ€" ment and causing massive damage to her jaw. She also has a large belly butâ€" ton, and one side of her body grows at a different rate than the other. "Other than that, she‘s a normal, happy little girl," Jeanette said. "It doesâ€" n‘t affect them cognitively at all. She‘s mentally and intellectually fine." One day she will outgrow the synâ€" drome, but right now it puts her at a high risk of developing cancer, which she is tested for every three months. "There‘s really no understanding of why it happens," Jeanette said. Most of the information they have received has come from the United States, and that‘s where the family is going to have Bianâ€" ca‘s tongue operated on. "Canada is a little bit behind on their knowledge of it and they don‘t recognize the benefits of having the tongue operated on. They only do it in Ontario if it‘s causing feeding or breathing issues," she said. Because Bianca doesn‘t suffer from either one of those symptoms, her tongue reduction surgery is not covâ€" ered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan, she said. "We are getting the surgery done because we don‘t want anymore damâ€" age done to her facial features. She‘s actually developing a facial deformity because her jaw is being displaced." OHIP has denied the family‘s request for coverage three times, so they travelled to St. Louis, Mo., recently for her surgery. Outpouring of support for Bianca Bianca had to stay in the hospital for five days, and if all went well, it will cost them $18,000. If she needs to stay an MEMORY FOAM BED TOPPERS By Jennirer Ormston Chronicle Staff _ We Custom Cut Foam ... For Everything! ... JUST ASK! Former Waterloo toddler Bianca Buchanan suffers from a rare genetic disorder. Her treatment isn‘t funded by OHIP, but the girl‘s parents have received generous supâ€" port from their former coâ€"workers. suaitteo noro extra day, or requires more nursing care or extra pain medication, it could cost up to $40,000. The family, meanwhile, never could have expected the outpouring of finanâ€" cial support they have received since going public with their problem, Jeanette said. The Waterloo HomeSense store recently held a barbecue fundraiser that brought in $2,000 for the family. "It was unbelievable," said Sachse, adding they will hold another one down the road. "To see everyone come out, just to have a hot dog, was amazing. We work with such an amazing staff." Jeanette used to work for the Waterâ€" loo regional police, and her former coâ€" workers also recently held a barbecue to collect money for Bianca. The Winâ€" LIFESTYLE ners in London, where Ron now works, has held a doughnut drive. And an aucâ€" tion is being held in Dutton on Oct. 20. "The support has been amazing, absolutely amazing," Jeanette said. _ The couple attended HomeSense‘s fundraiser barbecue recently, and Jeanette admits they were "very overâ€" whelmed." "Even though we‘ve left (Waterloo}, we haven‘t forgotten them and it‘s nice to see they haven‘t forgotten us either," she said. "At the end of the day, it‘s all for our daughter, but it‘s nice to see that everybody else is worried about her. "It‘s very comforting to know that we have support out there." The family welcomes donations at PO. Box 392, Dutton, Ont., NOL 1J0. To contribute auction items, contact Helen Jones at 519â€"785â€"1652. i The Foam Store o . waneen & oo uas rayra ’ g » y:}‘ ‘c'xfifious AND * â€"_ _ FOAM _ _ PADDING ____P" __ nemory roam for all your camping and RV needs for all marine applications celebration of Waterloo‘s green spaces will take 1 \place during Community Parks Week on Oct. 6 in Waterloo Park. Citizens can enjoy a wagon ride through the park, build a birdhouse, bang on a drum, play with clay or enjoy historical games and crafts. â€" Children, as well as adults, can get up close and personal with some of the farm animals, get wet with water fun, face painting and more. There will be refreshments, prizes and fun for the entire family. Community Parks Week is an annual autumn iniâ€" tiative that encourages individuals and communities to protect and restore the environment through parâ€" ticipation in a variety of outdoor physical activities and outdoor experiences, which respect and protect the environment. Please join the city for the fourth annual Fall Fun Fest from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Waterloo Park (near Lion‘s Lagoon, off Albert and Young streets. For more information about this event, visit the city‘s home page at www.waterloo.ca, or call Rhonda Larsh, environment and parks services, at 519â€"747â€" 8606. You can also email partnersinparks@city. waterâ€" loo.on.ca. The department of physics and astronomy at the University of Waterloo is holding a series of free, public lectures for the community. All age groups and education levels are welcome to attend. This event is part of the 50th anniversary celebraâ€" tions at the University of Waterloo. Lectures will be presented by one of the department‘s leading researchers in astronomy. The upcoming event date is Oct. 17. The title of the lecture is the Lighter Side of Black Holes and it will be presented by Robert Mann. _ The lecture series, Evenings with the Stars, is hapâ€" pening on the third Wednesday of every month, April to November, excluding August.. e The lectures will start at 8 p.m. and following the lecture a tour through our observatory will take place â€" weather permitting. The location is Room 145, physics building, Uni versity of Waterloo.. 8 s Parking is available for $3 in lot A, which is locatâ€" ed at the corner of Seagram Drive and University Avenue. A campus map can be found at www.uwaâ€" terloo.ca/map/map_colour.pdf . Please refer to the physics department‘s website for more information about the specific lectures at www.physics.uwaterloo.ca/events/starlectures.html. 360 Trillium Dr. Kitchener nhme 519.748.1491 NEW HOURS: Mon. â€" Thurs. 8â€"6, Fri. 8â€"4 ERGONOMIC SEAT PADS & BOLSTERS FACTORY QUTLET Fall Fun Fest at Waterloo Park The lighter side of black holes PILLOWS