Guest guest Posted March 27, 2010 Report Share Posted March 27, 2010 Congratulations. I think CT often takes the exit photos on the graduation day. I took our own unprofessional exit photos a day or two later, just because that was convenient. I'm looking forward to seeing them. -christine sydney, 4 yrs, starband grad > > After seven months, I've finally developed a sense of when Clara's > skull has slipped past her STARband's holding points. This is > different from when the helmet can no longer be closed on her head; > there is a two-week period afterward in which the helmet *can* be > worn, but flexes in a counter-productive fashion, and, in our > experience, makes the plagio look worse than ever. > > Ironically, my first use of this perceptive power was to terminate > treatment. Today I got another appointment on short notice (they've > been good about that, at least) and gave the orthotist a crack at > making the helmet right again. We talked a little about possible > alterations, and neither of us seemed to have any good ideas, so I > didn't put him through a pointless exercise. Since he had no > confidence of restoring the fit with strategic subtractions and > additions, he a first advised further wearing without modification. > But that was only because I had previously laid out a definite plan > to use the helmet like a retainer for a one-month period. When I let > him know that ending treatment was still on the table in my mind, > that was deemed the lowest risk of worsening her head shape. > > I was surprised that it seems to take about two weeks, starting from > a good adjustment, and regardless of circumferential growth, for her > helmet to slip. I think it's because, in order to achieve an > effective fit for asymmetry on an older kid, the helmet has to be > tighter in the first place. > > Clara remained tolerant to the end, even though the misaligned > closure was found to be abrading her scalp. I gave her a chance to > throw the helmet in the garbage immediately, but she declined, and > examined it carefully during our ride home. She's wasn't thrilled by > any means, but she hasn't asked for it to be placed on her head > again, either. I reassured her that we would get her different hats, > like her sister. And she seems to be sleeping better already > tonight. I folded her crocheted blanket into a long pillow and put > her in winter-weight PJs. > > She can now understand English on a word-for-word basis, so I have to > be careful about expressing disappointment about her pronounced ear > misalignment and remaining flat spot as I transition into explaining > the *absence* of the helmet to other people. It really doesn't upset > me, anyway. I was like an extremely aged man, resigned to fate, and > now I'm just relieved that it's over. > > *Is* it really over? I'll be inspecting it over the next four days, > certainly, and then again in two weeks as the family doctor will > hopefully take some measurements for us. What is the standard for > exit photos, one week after taking the helmet off? I'll check in > again with some new data and conclusions for the group. > > -- > Thad Launderville > Montpelier, VT > Clara age 23 1/2 months, STARband graduate TODAY! > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 27, 2010 Report Share Posted March 27, 2010 Thad, Congratulations! I am looking forward to seeing Clara's progress when you post her pics. Tatiana > > After seven months, I've finally developed a sense of when Clara's > skull has slipped past her STARband's holding points. This is > different from when the helmet can no longer be closed on her head; > there is a two-week period afterward in which the helmet *can* be > worn, but flexes in a counter-productive fashion, and, in our > experience, makes the plagio look worse than ever. > > Ironically, my first use of this perceptive power was to terminate > treatment. Today I got another appointment on short notice (they've > been good about that, at least) and gave the orthotist a crack at > making the helmet right again. We talked a little about possible > alterations, and neither of us seemed to have any good ideas, so I > didn't put him through a pointless exercise. Since he had no > confidence of restoring the fit with strategic subtractions and > additions, he a first advised further wearing without modification. > But that was only because I had previously laid out a definite plan > to use the helmet like a retainer for a one-month period. When I let > him know that ending treatment was still on the table in my mind, > that was deemed the lowest risk of worsening her head shape. > > I was surprised that it seems to take about two weeks, starting from > a good adjustment, and regardless of circumferential growth, for her > helmet to slip. I think it's because, in order to achieve an > effective fit for asymmetry on an older kid, the helmet has to be > tighter in the first place. > > Clara remained tolerant to the end, even though the misaligned > closure was found to be abrading her scalp. I gave her a chance to > throw the helmet in the garbage immediately, but she declined, and > examined it carefully during our ride home. She's wasn't thrilled by > any means, but she hasn't asked for it to be placed on her head > again, either. I reassured her that we would get her different hats, > like her sister. And she seems to be sleeping better already > tonight. I folded her crocheted blanket into a long pillow and put > her in winter-weight PJs. > > She can now understand English on a word-for-word basis, so I have to > be careful about expressing disappointment about her pronounced ear > misalignment and remaining flat spot as I transition into explaining > the *absence* of the helmet to other people. It really doesn't upset > me, anyway. I was like an extremely aged man, resigned to fate, and > now I'm just relieved that it's over. > > *Is* it really over? I'll be inspecting it over the next four days, > certainly, and then again in two weeks as the family doctor will > hopefully take some measurements for us. What is the standard for > exit photos, one week after taking the helmet off? I'll check in > again with some new data and conclusions for the group. > > -- > Thad Launderville > Montpelier, VT > Clara age 23 1/2 months, STARband graduate TODAY! > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 28, 2010 Report Share Posted March 28, 2010 Hi Thad, Congratulations on Clara's graduation. I had a mixed feeling of relief and insecurity when Luke's band came off. I hope you know that you did everything and more for her. Can't wait to see her pix. Mom to Luke, 16 months STARband & DOCband grad '09 NYC > > > > After seven months, I've finally developed a sense of when Clara's > > skull has slipped past her STARband's holding points. This is > > different from when the helmet can no longer be closed on her head; > > there is a two-week period afterward in which the helmet *can* be > > worn, but flexes in a counter-productive fashion, and, in our > > experience, makes the plagio look worse than ever. > > > > Ironically, my first use of this perceptive power was to terminate > > treatment. Today I got another appointment on short notice (they've > > been good about that, at least) and gave the orthotist a crack at > > making the helmet right again. We talked a little about possible > > alterations, and neither of us seemed to have any good ideas, so I > > didn't put him through a pointless exercise. Since he had no > > confidence of restoring the fit with strategic subtractions and > > additions, he a first advised further wearing without modification. > > But that was only because I had previously laid out a definite plan > > to use the helmet like a retainer for a one-month period. When I let > > him know that ending treatment was still on the table in my mind, > > that was deemed the lowest risk of worsening her head shape. > > > > I was surprised that it seems to take about two weeks, starting from > > a good adjustment, and regardless of circumferential growth, for her > > helmet to slip. I think it's because, in order to achieve an > > effective fit for asymmetry on an older kid, the helmet has to be > > tighter in the first place. > > > > Clara remained tolerant to the end, even though the misaligned > > closure was found to be abrading her scalp. I gave her a chance to > > throw the helmet in the garbage immediately, but she declined, and > > examined it carefully during our ride home. She's wasn't thrilled by > > any means, but she hasn't asked for it to be placed on her head > > again, either. I reassured her that we would get her different hats, > > like her sister. And she seems to be sleeping better already > > tonight. I folded her crocheted blanket into a long pillow and put > > her in winter-weight PJs. > > > > She can now understand English on a word-for-word basis, so I have to > > be careful about expressing disappointment about her pronounced ear > > misalignment and remaining flat spot as I transition into explaining > > the *absence* of the helmet to other people. It really doesn't upset > > me, anyway. I was like an extremely aged man, resigned to fate, and > > now I'm just relieved that it's over. > > > > *Is* it really over? I'll be inspecting it over the next four days, > > certainly, and then again in two weeks as the family doctor will > > hopefully take some measurements for us. What is the standard for > > exit photos, one week after taking the helmet off? I'll check in > > again with some new data and conclusions for the group. > > > > -- > > Thad Launderville > > Montpelier, VT > > Clara age 23 1/2 months, STARband graduate TODAY! > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 28, 2010 Report Share Posted March 28, 2010 Hi, I understand, since I'm nervous about when 's helmet comes off too. -Kathy, mom to , almost 22 months wrote: Hi Thad, Congratulations on Clara's graduation. I had a mixed feeling of relief and insecurity when Luke's band came off. I hope you know that you did everything and more for her. Can't wait to see her pix. Mom to Luke, 16 months STARband & DOCband grad '09 NYC > > > > After seven months, I've finally developed a sense of when Clara's > > skull has slipped past her STARband's holding points. This is > > different from when the helmet can no longer be closed on her head; > > there is a two-week period afterward in which the helmet *can* be > > worn, but flexes in a counter-productive fashion, and, in our > > experience, makes the plagio look worse than ever. > > > > Ironically, my first use of this perceptive power was to terminate > > treatment. Today I got another appointment on short notice (they've > > been good about that, at least) and gave the orthotist a crack at > > making the helmet right again. We talked a little about possible > > alterations, and neither of us seemed to have any good ideas, so I > > didn't put him through a pointless exercise. Since he had no > > confidence of restoring the fit with strategic subtractions and > > additions, he a first advised further wearing without modification. > > But that was only because I had previously laid out a definite plan > > to use the helmet like a retainer for a one-month period. When I let > > him know that ending treatment was still on the table in my mind, > > that was deemed the lowest risk of worsening her head shape. > > > > I was surprised that it seems to take about two weeks, starting from > > a good adjustment, and regardless of circumferential growth, for her > > helmet to slip. I think it's because, in order to achieve an > > effective fit for asymmetry on an older kid, the helmet has to be > > tighter in the first place. > > > > Clara remained tolerant to the end, even though the misaligned > > closure was found to be abrading her scalp. I gave her a chance to > > throw the helmet in the garbage immediately, but she declined, and > > examined it carefully during our ride home. She's wasn't thrilled by > > any means, but she hasn't asked for it to be placed on her head > > again, either. I reassured her that we would get her different hats, > > like her sister. And she seems to be sleeping better already > > tonight. I folded her crocheted blanket into a long pillow and put > > her in winter-weight PJs. > > > > She can now understand English on a word-for-word basis, so I have to > > be careful about expressing disappointment about her pronounced ear > > misalignment and remaining flat spot as I transition into explaining > > the *absence* of the helmet to other people. It really doesn't upset > > me, anyway. I was like an extremely aged man, resigned to fate, and > > now I'm just relieved that it's over. > > > > *Is* it really over? I'll be inspecting it over the next four days, > > certainly, and then again in two weeks as the family doctor will > > hopefully take some measurements for us. What is the standard for > > exit photos, one week after taking the helmet off? I'll check in > > again with some new data and conclusions for the group. > > > > -- > > Thad Launderville > > Montpelier, VT > > Clara age 23 1/2 months, STARband graduate TODAY! > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 29, 2010 Report Share Posted March 29, 2010 Congrats on being all done! I have to agree I had a lot of mixed feelings about being all done as well. I think sometimes its hard to really know when enough is enough, we all just want the best for our kids! le 10 mos Hanger Grad > > > > > > > > After seven months, I've finally developed a sense of when Clara's > > > > skull has slipped past her STARband's holding points. This is > > > > different from when the helmet can no longer be closed on her head; > > > > there is a two-week period afterward in which the helmet *can* be > > > > worn, but flexes in a counter-productive fashion, and, in our > > > > experience, makes the plagio look worse than ever. > > > > > > > > Ironically, my first use of this perceptive power was to terminate > > > > treatment. Today I got another appointment on short notice (they've > > > > been good about that, at least) and gave the orthotist a crack at > > > > making the helmet right again. We talked a little about possible > > > > alterations, and neither of us seemed to have any good ideas, so I > > > > didn't put him through a pointless exercise. Since he had no > > > > confidence of restoring the fit with strategic subtractions and > > > > additions, he a first advised further wearing without modification. > > > > But that was only because I had previously laid out a definite plan > > > > to use the helmet like a retainer for a one-month period. When I let > > > > him know that ending treatment was still on the table in my mind, > > > > that was deemed the lowest risk of worsening her head shape. > > > > > > > > I was surprised that it seems to take about two weeks, starting from > > > > a good adjustment, and regardless of circumferential growth, for her > > > > helmet to slip. I think it's because, in order to achieve an > > > > effective fit for asymmetry on an older kid, the helmet has to be > > > > tighter in the first place. > > > > > > > > Clara remained tolerant to the end, even though the misaligned > > > > closure was found to be abrading her scalp. I gave her a chance to > > > > throw the helmet in the garbage immediately, but she declined, and > > > > examined it carefully during our ride home. She's wasn't thrilled by > > > > any means, but she hasn't asked for it to be placed on her head > > > > again, either. I reassured her that we would get her different hats, > > > > like her sister. And she seems to be sleeping better already > > > > tonight. I folded her crocheted blanket into a long pillow and put > > > > her in winter-weight PJs. > > > > > > > > She can now understand English on a word-for-word basis, so I have to > > > > be careful about expressing disappointment about her pronounced ear > > > > misalignment and remaining flat spot as I transition into explaining > > > > the *absence* of the helmet to other people. It really doesn't upset > > > > me, anyway. I was like an extremely aged man, resigned to fate, and > > > > now I'm just relieved that it's over. > > > > > > > > *Is* it really over? I'll be inspecting it over the next four days, > > > > certainly, and then again in two weeks as the family doctor will > > > > hopefully take some measurements for us. What is the standard for > > > > exit photos, one week after taking the helmet off? I'll check in > > > > again with some new data and conclusions for the group. > > > > > > > > -- > > > > Thad Launderville > > > > Montpelier, VT > > > > Clara age 23 1/2 months, STARband graduate TODAY! > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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