Re: More of my thoughts about treating Makenna with the helmet.

[Guest guest]

:

The study you're describing sounds great! I'm so happy to hear they

will finally be doing an actual study on plagio to see if the head

actually does correct itself over time or not. This will also give

everyone a chance to see how well helmets work. That's terrific

Mackenna will be a part of the study. You will really be able to see

her head changes if she is casted every 6 wks.. It is a darn good

thing she took the casting so well, if not that's not something you

want to go thru with a screaming baby every few wks..

Now for your concerns, yes people will stare. It's inevitable. But

I didn't find it to be so bad. I simply kept telling myself that I

would stare too if I didn't know what the helmets/bands are for.

It's simply human nature to stare at something that's " different " . I

got used to it in a short time. I didn't even notice the stares

after a month or so. What really irritated me was the whispering

people would do. But I also got used to that. Don't beat yourself

up over your decision. It's much easier to do this now than to have

Makenna coming home from school crying 10 yrs from now after her

peers were picking on her.

Also, 6 mos sounds like a long time to have her in a helmet, but that

too goes by so much faster than you think. Especially after the

first month when you notice some improvement. My Abby was in her

bands for 8.5 mos., it really flew by.

Keep your chin up, you're doing what's best for your little darling.

Debbie Abby's mom DOCGrad

MI

> I'm glad we have decided to get the helmet, i'm just a little

worried

> about other peoples comments. I shouldnt be, my eldest daughter had

> Cerebral Palsy and was wheel chair bound and i took her everywhere

> and learned to not care about the stares. My two sons both have

> Tourette syndrome, and people will stare sometimes when we are out

in

> the public. I guess its just another way i'm suppose to educate

> people. My boys ages 8 and 10 are not thrilled about Makenna having

> to get the band. They are worried she will be funny looking. I have

> tryed to explain that we are doing this now so she will not be made

> fun of in the future. What really made me decide to get the helmet

is

> that the Doctor said that how Makennas head looks right now, is

going

> to be how it will be when she is an adult, she wont be able to

change

> it later. I dont want to have regrets if i didnt get the helmet, so

> im going to try and hope we get good results. Makenna was 6 months

on

> the 17th of this month, and the Doc said she will wear the helmet

> until she is 12 months (WOW< LONG TIME). I trust this doc, my boys

> neurologist at barnes hospital in st louis said Dr Marsh is one of

> the best in the states, and i actually read an article on the

> internet about plagio and treatment that 3 different docs were

> interviewed for. Oh, and Makenna will be part of a study, where

they

> will cast her every 6 weeks and put the cast in a CAT scan to show

> exactly the results and progress that has been made. 15 babies with

> helmets and 15 without helmets are being part of the research. Good

> thing Makenna thought the casting was fun, or i wouldnt have agreed

> to be part of the research. I had always noticed that on her left

> eye, the inner skin flap covered more of the tear duct, that is

from

> her plagio, im hopeing that will get better with treatment. Well, i

> just needed to get a few things of my chest. Being so new to this

i'm

> always thinking about it....Everyone have a great day! Gotta get

the

> boys ready for wrestling practice. Gee, i feel like i'm always on

the

> go!LOL

>

> Illinois