Re: evaluation: I should be thrilled, but...

July 3, 2002

Christy,

Congrats on all the improvement you've received from repositioning!

We love hearing that, and I can't wait to hear the new repositioning

and stretching techniques that you've learned!

I would imagine that if I were in your shoes, I'd be a bit leary too

on whether the assym. was duer to tort/plagio or to a birth defect,

like you were originally told. I would think, however, that if you

are seeing improvement just by keeping her off the flat side, then

the assym is directly linked to tort/plagio. If it were a birth

defect, I don't know if it would have improved or not. And remember,

if you are still unnerved by it, you have the choice on whether or

not to band Abby.

Good luck to you, and keep us posted!

Niki

Kaylie & Danny (STAR grads)

Phila., PA

> Well...we had a very short evaluation w/ CT yesterday. After almost

> 200 miles of driving (Abby cried for 1 1/2 hours of it...teething,

I

> think), we were maybe 2 blocks away when somehow the road made

a " Y " .

> Mapquest didn't tell us about a " Y " in the road, and naturally we

had

> to take the wrong arm which spit us out onto some horrible, traffic

> ridden thoroughfare. Suffice it to say, we were a half hour late

> But Charlotte was gracious and spent about 15 minutes w/us.

>

> The great news is that repositioning has been very effective. The

> plagio is mild, and continued repositioning should take care of it.

> If we want Abby to have a band, Charlotte says she'd only need to

> wear it for a short while.

>

> So that is great news, albeit bittersweet. It seems that her facial

> asymmetry would go along w/ moderate or severe plagio. The docs

> originally had dx Abby w/ a rare birth defect where one side of the

> face is smaller. That's how we ended up at the specialists office

who

> said, " No, no. It's plagio/tort. " That's part of my quandry over

her

> ear & facial asymmetry. I want to believe that it's part of the

> plagio/tort, but what if it IS a birth defect?

>

> I was actually hopeful that I could put a helmet on Abby and

> everything would pop right into place. I do know that she is much

> more symmetrical since she's been off her flat side, so maybe

things

> just take time and I need to have patience. Gads, I should be

> thrilled, but here I am panicking that her problems are permanent.

> Her tort is moderate, so maybe the pull of the neck muscle is

> restricting growth on that side of her face/head???

>

> Tell me to keep thinking positively and be patient. Everything has

> been going so incredibly great, so we should have every reason to

> celebrate. I didn't know that such worrying came along w/

motherhood.

>

> Cheers?

> Christy (mom to Abby ~ 3 mos & 3 wks old)

>

> PS: We got some new repositioning & tort stretching ideas. Will

have

> to share them at a later time.

July 3, 2002

Chrsity:

I can understand your feelings right now......you were probably

hoping they'd recommend the band for Abby, that the band would

correct her facial assymetries. Did Charlotte feel the band would

improve the assymetries??? IF you are still concerned that her

assymetries could be a result of a birth defect, then I suggest

calling the specialists back for another evaluation or ask for a 2nd

opinion, it won't hurt & might help put your mind at ease.

It is terrific news though that your repositioning has definitley

helped Abby!! Way to go .

Abby is still young, so if you feel she could still benefit from the

band at age 6 mos if she still has flatness, then you could band her

then still with good results.

Hang in there...the worrying never stops! Darned if you do, darned

if you don't.

Sorry you got lost too . How frustrating!

Debbie Abby's mom DOCgrad

MI