Re: 's birthday helmet!

January 18, 2002

Kellie:

I'm soooo glad you've had such a wonderful day! My gosh, that is one

of the nicest things I've ever heard of too with them all getting him

so many bday gifts. That's so nice. Your family deserves it all

after the fiasco you've been thru!

Glad you're feeling better too. Abby has it now (you saw my post)

and I'm praying I don't.

HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY to . It sounds like it's been great thus far!

Debbie Abby's mom DOCgrad

MI

> Hi everyone. It's my baby's first birthday today, and it just so

happened to

> be the day I took him to Children's in Seattle to receive his

helmet. To

> backtrack a little, remember the other day when he had the flu?

Well, my

> sister, my husband and I both came down with it also, and yesterday

we were

> all three laid up. It was awful! But thankfully it was just a 24

hour thing

> for me...I'm as good as new... still has a little bit of runs

but

> otherwise is himself, no more throwing up. , my dh is still

a little

> under the weather. Anyway, yesterday, being so sick, I was sure I

wouldn't

> be able to make it to his fitting. But I felt fine this morning,

got up and

> took him to Seattle, which is only about a 40 minute drive north

for me.

> When we got there, the receptionists all said " Happy birthday

! " And

> took him back to the room where there were about five wrapped

presents

> waiting for him. I could not believe it! I said, " You have got to

be

> kidding me! You didn't have to do this, " and they said, " Well, we

do this

> for all the kids who come in on their birthdays. " I thought it was

one of

> the nicest gestures I'd ever seen, and I am very happy with the

work

> Children's did on 's helmet. It is more of a typical helmet,

the top is

> closed with airholes, and there is a chin strap. He doesn't seem

to mind it

> one bit, even at his older age. They told me that being one year

old, he

> might try to take it off more, but he is just going on about his

day playing

> like normal. And of course, from the last helmet the military

made, I was

> prepared for the stares and comments I'd get from the public, which

> surprisingly enough, don't really bother me anymore. I took him to

the store

> to get a few things and got a few stupid comments:

>

> " Oh, he looks like a little space boy. "

>

> Then the same lady asked me why he was wearing it. I simply

explained to her

> what it was for, and she says, in a nasty tone, " Well, my niece had

that

> problem with the flat head, but she's fine. She didn't have to

have anything

> like that. " And I said, " Well, he's had significant correction

also without

> a helmet, but it's not enough. "

>

> But basically, I know what I'm doing is for the best for my child

and I

> simply don't care what people say or think. One older lady looked

at him and

> then looked away and then looked up at me, like, " What did you do

to your

> child? " WHATEVER!!!

>

> Also, Children's made a mold of what they anticipate 's

correction to

> look like if he completes the treatment, probably six to ten months

from now

> since he is so old, and if his head looks even half as good as the

mold, I

> will be so happy!

>

> Today has been a great day!

>

> Kellie, mom of , ONE YEAR OLD TODAY!!!

January 18, 2002

Kellie, I'm happy to hear that you're all feeling better, and just in

time for the big day!

That's unbelievable that they had presents waiting there for him, I

have never heard of such a personal touch. Sounds like you're going

to a great place for 's helmet.

I hope had a great birthday, give him birthday smooches from me!

Niki

Kaylie & Danny (STAR grads)

Phila., PA