Re: Our New Front Page Star....IAN!!!

[Guest guest]

What a cutie. Cool helmet!

Pam UK

On Mon, Jun 22, 2009 at 12:25 PM, <nwilkens2275@...> wrote:

Hi all-Please welcome our newest Front Page Star....IAN!Cinde, if you're still with us, please share Ian's plagio story with the group. Thanks!Jake-2.5 (DOCBand Grad 9/08)Jordan-5

[Guest guest]

Ian's story will sound very familiar to a lot of you - I've noticed in the time I've been a part of this group that many of our stories are similar with the names and faces different!

Ian was born with torticollis, although it wasn't offifically diagnosed until he was about 4 months old. When I look back at pictures from 0-4 months, it seemed so obvious although at the time it didn't seem like a big deal. We tried to "reposition" him, although I put that in quotes because at the time we did not realize, nor were we told, the importance of this and the aggressiveness that we needed to use in doing it. The explanantion of doing this was really more to deal with the "preference" he had to look towards one side; plagiocephaly at this point was never even mentioned as a danger, nor had I ever even considered that it could be a risk.

Ian's plagiocephaly happened so gradually that I'm honestly embarrased to admit that I really didn't even notice it until our primary physican pointed it out to me (she didn't feel that he needed a helmet because, of course, it would round out on it's own . Unfortunately, no specific instructions were given to us on how to successfully reposition, so we tried our best for a short period of time before I requested a referral to a neurosurgeon for assessment. The way our physican acted, we really felt like we were visiting the neurosurgeon for a second opinion that he really didn't need a helmet, so we were quite surprised to hear her recommend a helmet. We had not done any research on helmets and just decided to go straight away to the company they recommended we go to to get the casting done and get the ball rolling.

Ian was about 7.5 months old when he got his first helmet. It was a locally made helmet (see front page picture) that was not FDA approved, had a chin strap (which really worried me and chafed under his chin) and did not fit well. While I'm sure the staff there had a lot of knowledge about helmets, I had a horrible time pulling it out of them and subsequent fittings and adjustments still could not yield a good fit. Then, I joined this group (THANK YOU!) and came to realization very quickly that we did have other options and I quickly found a STARband provider in town who made Ian a second helmet that fit like a glove after he had been wearing the locally made helmet for about 5 weeks with absolutely no change whatsoever in his head shape. The difference between the first and second helmet was so dramatic that I couldn't believe the first company was even still in business.

2 weeks after wearing the STARband, Ian's plagiocephaly went from 9mm (original starting assymetry) to 6mm, and then 2 months later, he was down to 3mm. We decided to make the decision for him to graduate at 1mm just about 2 weeks ago. He looks great, and is such a happy, healthy little guy.

The only true downside of the helmet for us was that it covered up his awesome red hair, which I am now enjoying looking at each and every day!

Cinde Ransom

Indianapolis, IN

Mom to Ian (STARband grad) and Caleb (no plagio)

From: <nwilkens2275@...>Plagiocephaly Sent: Monday, June 22, 2009 7:25:02 AMSubject: Our New Front Page Star....IAN!!!

Hi all-Please welcome our newest Front Page Star....IAN!Cinde, if you're still with us, please share Ian's plagio story with the group. Thanks!Jake-2.5 (DOCBand Grad 9/08)Jordan-5

[Guest guest]

Thanks for sharing your story. I hope you were able to give your feedback to the

neuro regarding your experience with the local helmet and how it compared with

the starband. Congratulations on his graduation.

-christine

sydney, 3 yrs, starband grad

>

> Ian's story will sound very familiar to a lot of you - I've noticed in the

time I've been a part of this group that many of our stories are similar with

the names and faces different!

>  

> Ian was born with torticollis, although it wasn't offifically diagnosed until

he was about 4 months old. When I look back at pictures from 0-4 months, it

seemed so obvious although at the time it didn't seem like a big deal. We tried

to " reposition " him, although I put that in quotes because at the time we did

not realize, nor were we told, the importance of this and the aggressiveness

that we needed to use in doing it. The explanantion of doing this was really

more to deal with the " preference " he had to look towards one side;

plagiocephaly at this point was never even mentioned as a danger, nor had I ever

even considered that it could be a risk.

>  

> Ian's plagiocephaly happened so gradually that I'm honestly embarrased to

admit that I really didn't even notice it until our primary physican pointed it

out to me (she didn't feel that he needed a helmet because, of course, it would

round out on it's own . Unfortunately, no specific instructions were given to

us on how to successfully reposition, so we tried our best for a short period of

time before I requested a referral to a neurosurgeon for assessment. The way our

physican acted, we really felt like we were visiting the neurosurgeon for a

second opinion that he really didn't need a helmet, so we were quite surprised

to hear her recommend a helmet. We had not done any research on helmets and just

decided to go straight away to the company they recommended we go to to get the

casting done and get the ball rolling.

>  

> Ian was about 7.5 months old when he got his first helmet. It was a locally

made helmet (see front page picture) that was not FDA approved, had a chin strap

(which really worried me and chafed under his chin) and did not fit well. While

I'm sure the staff there had a lot of knowledge about helmets, I had a horrible

time pulling it out of them and subsequent fittings and adjustments still could

not yield a good fit. Then, I joined this group (THANK YOU!) and came to

realization very quickly that we did have other options and I quickly found a

STARband provider in town who made Ian a second helmet that fit like a glove

after he had been wearing the locally made helmet for about 5 weeks with

absolutely no change whatsoever in his head shape. The difference between the

first and second helmet was so dramatic that I couldn't believe the first

company was even still in business.

>  

> 2 weeks after wearing the STARband, Ian's plagiocephaly went from 9mm

(original starting assymetry) to 6mm, and then 2 months later, he was down to

3mm. We decided to make the decision for him to graduate at 1mm just about 2

weeks ago. He looks great, and is such a happy, healthy little guy.

>  

> The only true downside of the helmet for us was that it covered up his awesome

red hair, which I am now enjoying looking at each and every day!

>  

> Cinde Ransom

> Indianapolis, IN

> Mom to Ian (STARband grad) and Caleb (no plagio)

>

>

>

>

> ________________________________

> From: <nwilkens2275@...>

> Plagiocephaly

> Sent: Monday, June 22, 2009 7:25:02 AM

> Subject: Our New Front Page Star....IAN!!!

>

>

>

>

>

> Hi all-

> Please welcome our newest Front Page Star....IAN!

>

> Cinde, if you're still with us, please share Ian's plagio story with the

group. Thanks!

>

>

> Jake-2.5 (DOCBand Grad 9/08)

> Jordan-5

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for sharing your staoy. What great correction he received. Congrats on his graduation.

Angie Jenna STAR grad 2003 and KY repo

Our New Front Page Star....IAN!!!> > > > > > Hi all-> Please welcome our newest Front Page Star....IAN!> > Cinde, if you're still with us, please share Ian's plagio story with the group. Thanks!> > > Jake-2.5 (DOCBand Grad 9/08)> Jordan-5>

[Guest guest]

He's so cute!! Thanks for sharing your story and for calling me to offer a

little local advice. I appreciate it so much!!!!

-, Indianapolis, Mom to Johann (helmet free for 2 years) and Anders

(soon-to-be-banded)

>

> Ian's story will sound very familiar to a lot of you - I've noticed in the

time I've been a part of this group that many of our stories are similar with

the names and faces different!

>  

> Ian was born with torticollis, although it wasn't offifically diagnosed until

he was about 4 months old. When I look back at pictures from 0-4 months, it

seemed so obvious although at the time it didn't seem like a big deal. We tried

to " reposition " him, although I put that in quotes because at the time we did

not realize, nor were we told, the importance of this and the aggressiveness

that we needed to use in doing it. The explanantion of doing this was really

more to deal with the " preference " he had to look towards one side;

plagiocephaly at this point was never even mentioned as a danger, nor had I ever

even considered that it could be a risk.

>  

> Ian's plagiocephaly happened so gradually that I'm honestly embarrased to

admit that I really didn't even notice it until our primary physican pointed it

out to me (she didn't feel that he needed a helmet because, of course, it would

round out on it's own . Unfortunately, no specific instructions were given to

us on how to successfully reposition, so we tried our best for a short period of

time before I requested a referral to a neurosurgeon for assessment. The way our

physican acted, we really felt like we were visiting the neurosurgeon for a

second opinion that he really didn't need a helmet, so we were quite surprised

to hear her recommend a helmet. We had not done any research on helmets and just

decided to go straight away to the company they recommended we go to to get the

casting done and get the ball rolling.

>  

> Ian was about 7.5 months old when he got his first helmet. It was a locally

made helmet (see front page picture) that was not FDA approved, had a chin strap

(which really worried me and chafed under his chin) and did not fit well. While

I'm sure the staff there had a lot of knowledge about helmets, I had a horrible

time pulling it out of them and subsequent fittings and adjustments still could

not yield a good fit. Then, I joined this group (THANK YOU!) and came to

realization very quickly that we did have other options and I quickly found a

STARband provider in town who made Ian a second helmet that fit like a glove

after he had been wearing the locally made helmet for about 5 weeks with

absolutely no change whatsoever in his head shape. The difference between the

first and second helmet was so dramatic that I couldn't believe the first

company was even still in business.

>  

> 2 weeks after wearing the STARband, Ian's plagiocephaly went from 9mm

(original starting assymetry) to 6mm, and then 2 months later, he was down to

3mm. We decided to make the decision for him to graduate at 1mm just about 2

weeks ago. He looks great, and is such a happy, healthy little guy.

>  

> The only true downside of the helmet for us was that it covered up his awesome

red hair, which I am now enjoying looking at each and every day!

>  

> Cinde Ransom

> Indianapolis, IN

> Mom to Ian (STARband grad) and Caleb (no plagio)

>

>

>

>

> ________________________________

> From: <nwilkens2275@...>

> Plagiocephaly

> Sent: Monday, June 22, 2009 7:25:02 AM

> Subject: Our New Front Page Star....IAN!!!

>

>

>

>

>

> Hi all-

> Please welcome our newest Front Page Star....IAN!

>

> Cinde, if you're still with us, please share Ian's plagio story with the

group. Thanks!

>

>

> Jake-2.5 (DOCBand Grad 9/08)

> Jordan-5

>