Article: REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCES ALLOW HEIDI TO SEE THE POSSIBILITIES NORTHWEST'S CHILD HLEPS SPECIAL-NEEDS CHILDREN BUILD LIVES.(News)

Byline: CHRISTOPHER DURR Special to the P-I

Heidi Hansen loves to see her reflection.

Mirrors - or "prettygirls," as Heidi calls them - have been an important part of her life.

At age 7, Heidi learned to speak by watching the way her parents' mouths moved and emulating them in the mirror, breaking a major communication barrier.

She still likes to look in the mirror and put on little plays with her favorite dolls, and sometimes, with friends.

"She will act out her emotions through the mirror," said Sally Grube, Heidi's mother.

Shortly after birth, Heidi was diagnosed with cri du chat syndrome, a very rare genetic ...

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