Over 12 months showing great progress

[Guest guest]

My son was 12 1/2 months when we went for his initial consultation. He was just over 13 months when he got his starband. He has a host of issues contributing to his plagio and has microcephaly, so we figured he still had a lot of growing left. The orthotist said it was up to us because he was not sure what we would get out of it but was reassuring that he felt there was some room for improvement.

After only a few weeks in the band, we had one hot day that started a heat rash that progressively got worse. My son was out of the band for about 2 weeks, restarting the journey September 15th. They said to bring him back in when he'd been in the band 2-3 weeks.

We just went yesterday and the orthotist checked everything out and said it was looking good. I asked him to measure (hand measurements) because I thought his head was looking better. He said he normally wouldn't yet since he's been out so long and his growth is slow, but that he'd do it for me.

You should have seen what I can only describe as astonishment on his face when measuring. My son went from 418 to 423, so a mini growth spurt. He started at 93% and is now 87% and his cranial vault asymmetry already has gone from 13 mm to 6-7 mm. I almost cried! I was wondering if we would get any improvement and figured he'd be in the band for so long, but now the orthotist said one more good growth spurt like that and we may decide to take him out of it. He wants to strive for under 85% and under 5 mm, but heck, if the band fits longer why not keep him in it (he's so darn cute in his little speed racer helmet).

For someone else that had asked about having a band and it not being shaved, that might be the case for my son. It has not been shaved yet, and I figured it had to do with the in and out of it due to the rash. The orthotist didn't shave yesterday either after taking the measurements. I asked about it and he said he would only shave if warranted and would be seen by pink spots all over the back of the head versus just in the few pressure spots. I guess there is enough room in the band for the growth to be adequately redirected so shaving it may not be necessary in my son's case.

Thanks for all the info I've learned from all of you and from your stories of frustration and success!

Angie, mom to 6/20/08