Before and After Photographs

We took some photos of Ben's final head shape and emailed them to LOC who put them together with the photos they took before treatment.  The difference is amazing - especially the aerial shot - can see such a change in shape there.  Not just the head shape thats altered too...how much older does he look and how much hair has grown!!

Ending treatment

We took Ben to Birmingham Childrens Hospital the other day to see the Craniofacial surgeons.  We were wanted to check that the asymmetry hadn't affected the formation of his jaw etc...

We saw the Registrar and then were asked to go through into a room of 10 people!!  We didn't realise we were walking into a multi-disciplinary team meeting!  Good job Daddy (ortho surgeon) was there!!

They talked technical to Daddy so Mummy just listened but basically they told us that we had to now take the helmet off.  The reasons being that, it is pushing his left cheekbone in and starting to cause more asymmetry problems around the eye and also that it was creating red pressure marks all across the bottom of his skull and we now need to let that grow out naturally.

They measured Bens head three times and they got measurements of between 3 and 5mm each time and we are satisfied that the helmet has reached the end of its usefulness in terms of correcting the shape.

We asked if the plagio could return and it is one of those questions that can't really be answered.  It is unlikely that it will but we have gone back to vigorous repositioning.  However Ben spends much less time lying down now he is older so the risk isn't as high.

We will return to the hospital in 6 months time to re-evaluate the cheek bone situation and to look at the overall shape of his head.

So Ben has been enjoying feeling fresh air on his head and the red marks have all reduced quite considerably already. We had to go and do a spot of sunhat buying though!!

3mm in 3 weeks!

We popped off down to the LOC clinic today with our special guest...our friend Aunty Anna!! We went via Tewkesbury so we could have lunch and actually managed to avoid being out in most of the rain!!

Ben soon made himself at home in the waiting room sitting on Aunty Anna's knee to have his dinner...on the menu today was chickpea lasagne and rice pudding and...we managed not to cover Aunty Anna in food!  Ben said hello to another fellow helmet wearer and then it was time for us to go through.

Ben and Anna in the waiting room (not covered in Ben's dinner)

He started off well with the measuring and was quite happy but then some measurements needed checking and Ben was none too happy, even less happy when we popped him in a bumbo (chunky thighs - they get wedged!).  Measurements were finally complete and he has dropped another 3mm!!!!!!!!! So now we are down to 18mm to go!

Rachel did some more adjustments to the helmet - letting his forehead out so that it can continue to even up and she gave him some more space at the sides as he was starting to get bumps above his ears.  This really is the best time for Ben to be in his helmet as he is growing so much and it is very helpful that he continues to sit at the 98th centile.  Keep growing Benji!

Back down to Ross at the start of June!

Go Ben!! 5mm this month!

Bit of a soggy journey and then walk to the clinic in Ross on Wye but Ben was nice and dry in his buggy!  After entertaining the receptionist in the waiting room we went in to see Rachel and Ben DIDN'T cry this time when he had the stocking put on his head.  He did get a bit irritated with the callipers but once he had stopped bouncing like Tigger Rachel was able to get the measurements and.....another 5mm reduction in his asymmetry!!!  Wow!! Thats 11mm done, 21 to go! 1/3 of the way there!  Rachel altered the helmet quite a bit as the side was digging into his cheek and she has given him more room to grow on his forehand (on the side that we want to grow out!!) which is good.

We can really see the difference in his head and the alignment of his facial features looks much better so even if his growth slows down we are pleased!

Rachel said whatever we are feeding him keep going as we need him to keep growing into the helmet and stick at the 98th centile!

Bens new trick now when his helmet comes off for cleaning is to rub and shake his head around!  Think he likes the freedom and his head itches a bit.  He likes to have a cuddle whilst you rub his head or give his hair a brush.

His hair is getting so long now and he sports a mohican look when his helmet comes off where it has stuck through the hole in the top!  He has a small bald patch on the back of his head where the helmet has a holding point but hopefully that will sort itself out when he gets discharged and is helmet-less!  Small price to pay for a beautiful shaped head though!

Back in Ross in 3 weeks...keep growing Ben! More miracle grow must be purchased!

So much easier now I can sit!

Ben is still doing really well with his helmet and really doesn't notice whether he has/hasn't got it on.  So easy to put it on now particularly as Ben has mastered the art of sitting now!  No more odd positions trying to prop him up or hold him in a sitting position with my legs whilst playing catch the head!  Would have used the bumbo but mr chubby legs gets wedged in it!  Now he just sits there patiently and takes it all in his stride!

 Ready...

 Steady...

Go!!

Yey! Another 4mm...but I hate wearing that stocking!

Another trip down to Ross on Wye today.  Ben has done very well and improved another 4mm!  Thats 6mm in total or 19% of the improvement complete!  The back of his head is losing the flat angle on the right hand side and his eyes look better already as they were slightly misaligned and gave the illusion they were different sizes and shapes.  Rachel said that once the back of his head is sorted she will start adjusting the helmet to improve his forehead, it can't all be done at once as due to the severity the band would have too much adjustment in it and might spin.

Ben was none too impressed at having his head measured again and screamed at Rachel!  He also wasn't very impressed with wearing the stocking on his head (as seen in the photo below - he also wasn't impressed at this photo being taken!!).

Back in Ross in 4 weeks time now.  Rachel put some more adjustment into the helmet so it should last us 4 weeks!  Well Done Ben!!

The twins discover the helmet

Ben visited his twinnie friends Daisy May and Noah today and they were intrigued by the thing that he had on his head that they didn't!!  Noah liked touching it and Daisy May was fascinated by the hole in the top and spent quite a while stroking Bens hair that was sticking out through it!!