January 15, 1986 ‘ LIFESTYLES Defects hard to accept VANCOUVER (CP) — When newborn Andrew DeJong went home from hospital, his tiny lip parted by a gaping cleft, his brother reacted immediately “Mommy, Andrew has a cute mouth, doesn’t he?” said young Patrick. Gerdie DeJong still remembers that moment in May. “That really helped me because kids can be so cruel,” she says. “It helps you if kids act that way. They just take it, they accept it the way it is.” Adults may have more difficulty accepting birth it well, exercise, don’t smoke, don't drink, learn al childbirth and the payoff will be a perfect baby, is the implicit message in the media and prenatal classes. There is a three-per-cent statistical risk of birth complications or defects in British Columbia. For parents whose babies are in that minority, the effect can be extreme. “Because of all the emphasis on no alcohol, no drugs, and fitness programs, that group wonders, ‘where did I fall down? ” says Barbara Mackenzie, a nurse clinician at Vancouver Children's Hospital. “Some people are devastated by a relatively minor condition.” Mackenzie's job involves calling or visiting every parent whose child is born with cleft lip or palate, which is usually a correctible condition found in about 60 newborns in British Columbia each year. “Our society's stress on perfection and on how people look has made it harder on parents, especially if the baby looks different,” says Mackenzie. DeJong’s initial shock was not cushioned by profes- sionals who might have whisked the baby away and prepared her; Andrew was born in the family ear, with only her husband present. “My husband turned him around and I thought, ‘Oh my God, his mouth,” remembers DeJong. “You keep thinking, where did I go wrong, what did I do? You feel guilty. I said to my husband, ‘I'm so sorry I didn’t give you a perfect son.” The Vancouver Childbirth Association, which gives prenatal classes for about 700 couples a year, includes five minutes of discussion of childbirth anomalies in its course of 11 classes. fe tell people to consider the possibility there will be a stillbirth, a premature birth or a defect, and we put it away after that,” says instructor Marion Brown. “The fear is there, you're just voicing it. “I think you have to say: “Don't worry about it, the odds are your baby is going to be fine; the numbers of healthy babies are staggering.” Without underestimating the seriousness of a newborn's affliction or the parents’ anguish, DeJong say: the cloud over her son's birthday had a silver lining. “You love it. It doesn't matter what's wrong with the baby. You're more protective. When you get over the shock, I think he’s more special and precious.” ena nnueneNOUnEOpaOueveaneacenaenaneet After five clothes for women VANCOUVER (CP) — Two years ago, Ruark Ros. Liptons and Mannequin chains. This year, he will show his collections in the Craven A Special Moments Fashion Presentation that tours across Canada and features six designers. In May, he will have one of the big shows at the Festival of Canadian Fa- shion, the national showpiece for designers in Toronto. NOT BY CHANCE His success wasn't just a matter of chance. “I took a look at what I felt was necessary to become a success. I figures that ifI was to really make an impact, I should go into evening wear and after-five clothes,” said Smith. “The only other- Canadian designer who was really doing that kind of clothes was Wayne Clark. “And everybody notices after-five clothes. They're al- ways presented at the end of the fashion show and every body remembers them.” Smith's evening clothes aren't easy to forget and most aren't for the faint hearted Sequins, sparkles, glitter, brilliant colors and big bows are all part of his evening look. “Restaurant dresses” in silk charmeuse run about $350, while evening dresses start at about $1,500 and run as high as $5,000 for a com: pletely beaded gown. PROVIDE COLOR “I love seeing women dressed up. I think women at night should be the bright lights, because the lights are subdued. She should provide the color for evening.” Imagine women's man- styled smoking jackets and strapless cocktail dresses cut down to there and slit up to here in teal, hot pink and emerald green sequins. Or how about a gown with" huge velvet puffed sleeves, a gold lame ‘bodice and a full skirt of velvet flocked lame? But Smith says “I think clothes should be comfortable first and I think you should be able to wear them more than once by changing them doing a sportswear line for spring with prices running from $35 to $250 for the jac kets, Skirts, pants and blou- ses in “ice cream” solid color silk shantung as well as silk herringbone, “beautiful florals” and cotton pique that is “very nautical.” Success isn't spoiling Smith, who says he still works 12 to 14 hours a day at the office and doodles con- stantly while he’s at home. YER 4TH ANNUAL EXTRAORDINARY ALL OUT SAVINGS PeDores GE Chahko- Mika Mall SALE 60% flpe footweap Nelson Chahko-Mika Mall’ January ecial ; purchases Over 30 Stores to Serve You! an. 16,17 & 18 3 Days of Super Savings at the ¢) Chahko - Mika Mall ATED ON BEAUTIFUL KOOTENAY LAKE 50 LAKESIDE DRIVE NELSON, B.C JANUARY CLEARANCE 1977 9.8 Merc | 1979 9.8 Merc