Monday, 29 July 2013
The Helmet has arrived!
So on Friday Nanny, Fin and Myself took a drive up to the sevenoaks clinic to have Fins helmet fitted!!
I was feeling quite stressed about everything in the days leading up to appointment. Especially wondering if we were making the right decision. Question were going around my mind like: what if he hates it and spends the next 4 months or so in complete distress? what if its really uncomfortable? what if hes allergic? what if it doesn't work? does he really need it? My mind was a minefield of negativity - looking back though I think its just the unknown. This treatment is in Finnys best interest and I know we are doing the right thing. I think if his Plagiocephaly wasn't quite so Severe and there had been greater improvement with the Cranial Osteopathy then maybe, just maybe he wouldn't have needed the helmet. However he has had all this treatment and he still has an asymmetry of 18mm. Maybe it would have improved slightly - but do i think it would have improved enough for Fin not to worry about it when he was older? No, I definitely think the improvement would have been minimal considering his age also. So for us I am happy our choice was the right one.
So back to the clinic - Again Steve and Corrin were there to greet us and again they were really lovely. The appointment was surprisingly quick! They had his helmet waiting - very cute!! Popped it on Finnys head, he didn't really seem that bothered - although he did find the Velcro and manage to undo it - luckily they come with a clip that's stops little hands doing this the rest of the time. So the helmet fitted - it just needed to be trimmed slightly and smoothed down which took only a few minutes. I had a go at putting it on and taking it off. We had the weaning process explained (to build up to the 23hrs a day). Helmet care explained. Our questions were answered fully and we even got a mould of the expected outcome of Finnys head shape!! I have to admit - it looks amazing, I guess I'm a little sceptical that his head will be that round - but these guys are the experts, so I really am hoping. Most people have hair, teeth and curls to show there children when they are all grown up - we have a head!! They build up the model with plaster cast on the flatter areas and mould the helmet to this - so they have said we can break off the plaster cast to show him what his head was like. I'm not sure I really like it how it is right now.
So the last few days we have been weaning Finny into his helmet. He had it on for an hour Friday. Saturday he had it on an hour off and hour on and we left him helmet free to nap and sleep. Sunday we moved to two hours on and hour off and helmet free during naps and sleep. Today he is having 4 hours on 1 hour off and he has just settled for his nap wearing the helmet and being his usual good self he has settled almost straight away. He really does not seem to mind it that much at all - the only downside is all the sweat, but were giving him a little more water and hes just in a vest. Hopefully his body will adapt and the sweat should reduce!!
So what does Finny say....He says yay for the helmet!!
I was feeling quite stressed about everything in the days leading up to appointment. Especially wondering if we were making the right decision. Question were going around my mind like: what if he hates it and spends the next 4 months or so in complete distress? what if its really uncomfortable? what if hes allergic? what if it doesn't work? does he really need it? My mind was a minefield of negativity - looking back though I think its just the unknown. This treatment is in Finnys best interest and I know we are doing the right thing. I think if his Plagiocephaly wasn't quite so Severe and there had been greater improvement with the Cranial Osteopathy then maybe, just maybe he wouldn't have needed the helmet. However he has had all this treatment and he still has an asymmetry of 18mm. Maybe it would have improved slightly - but do i think it would have improved enough for Fin not to worry about it when he was older? No, I definitely think the improvement would have been minimal considering his age also. So for us I am happy our choice was the right one.
So back to the clinic - Again Steve and Corrin were there to greet us and again they were really lovely. The appointment was surprisingly quick! They had his helmet waiting - very cute!! Popped it on Finnys head, he didn't really seem that bothered - although he did find the Velcro and manage to undo it - luckily they come with a clip that's stops little hands doing this the rest of the time. So the helmet fitted - it just needed to be trimmed slightly and smoothed down which took only a few minutes. I had a go at putting it on and taking it off. We had the weaning process explained (to build up to the 23hrs a day). Helmet care explained. Our questions were answered fully and we even got a mould of the expected outcome of Finnys head shape!! I have to admit - it looks amazing, I guess I'm a little sceptical that his head will be that round - but these guys are the experts, so I really am hoping. Most people have hair, teeth and curls to show there children when they are all grown up - we have a head!! They build up the model with plaster cast on the flatter areas and mould the helmet to this - so they have said we can break off the plaster cast to show him what his head was like. I'm not sure I really like it how it is right now.
So the last few days we have been weaning Finny into his helmet. He had it on for an hour Friday. Saturday he had it on an hour off and hour on and we left him helmet free to nap and sleep. Sunday we moved to two hours on and hour off and helmet free during naps and sleep. Today he is having 4 hours on 1 hour off and he has just settled for his nap wearing the helmet and being his usual good self he has settled almost straight away. He really does not seem to mind it that much at all - the only downside is all the sweat, but were giving him a little more water and hes just in a vest. Hopefully his body will adapt and the sweat should reduce!!
So what does Finny say....He says yay for the helmet!!
Wednesday, 24 July 2013
Buggython!
We have our first event organised!! Please check out the details below - if you live in the area and want to join us feel free!!
Tuesday, 23 July 2013
Just Giving Page!!
We have our Just giving page set up for any of our supporters who would like to Donate to help raise the funds for Finlay's Helmet. We will be carrying out some events over the next few weeks to generate sponsorship and I will be posting these when I have times and dates finalised.
I f you would like to sponsor us please do so through our Just giving page as we are raising funds alongside the Charity Headstart4babies, Don't forget if your a UK taxpayer to select gift aid. We appreciate any help whatsoever - visit the page at: my little head - Just Giving
...or click the link below our Banner
x
I f you would like to sponsor us please do so through our Just giving page as we are raising funds alongside the Charity Headstart4babies, Don't forget if your a UK taxpayer to select gift aid. We appreciate any help whatsoever - visit the page at: my little head - Just Giving
...or click the link below our Banner
x
Monday, 22 July 2013
Facebook!!
What a hot and busy weekend!!
Just to let you all know we have also set up a facebook page for Finny and we will be updating that with news and information. Please like and share with your friends and Family: My Little Head: Facebook
On another note I have been in contact with a lovely lady who's son has just had his helmet fitted with TIM and they completed there sponsored walk yesterday and raised over their target amount for little Melvin's Helmet within a couple of weeks - Inspirational lets hope we can do the same. Check out Melvin's Journey on facebook here: Melvins Journey
On another note to anyone who is thinking about donating I will be setting up a just giving page I am just finalising a few little things before I get it up and running watch this space!!
Hx
Just to let you all know we have also set up a facebook page for Finny and we will be updating that with news and information. Please like and share with your friends and Family: My Little Head: Facebook
On another note I have been in contact with a lovely lady who's son has just had his helmet fitted with TIM and they completed there sponsored walk yesterday and raised over their target amount for little Melvin's Helmet within a couple of weeks - Inspirational lets hope we can do the same. Check out Melvin's Journey on facebook here: Melvins Journey
On another note to anyone who is thinking about donating I will be setting up a just giving page I am just finalising a few little things before I get it up and running watch this space!!
Hx
Friday, 19 July 2013
Photography!!
Just a quick post regarding the beautiful pictures on our Banner. These were done by one of our very good friends Nicola Kirk. She is extremely talented and has taken some wonderful Photos of Finny for us. Please check out here website: http://www.nicolakirkphotography.co.uk/ and you can also follow her on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicola.kirk.391.
Obviously if you would like some pictures done give her a shout, I would highly recomend her and shes lovely too!!!
P.s She doesnt know Ive wrote this yet!!
Obviously if you would like some pictures done give her a shout, I would highly recomend her and shes lovely too!!!
P.s She doesnt know Ive wrote this yet!!
Monday, 15 July 2013
Clinic Results
Finny had his appointment last Friday, we took Nanny along with us too which was really nice. The drive up to Sevenoaks was blissful as Nanny Drove so we weren't all cramped in my little Tigra for once. Finny was a gem, as I hoped he slept most of the way as it was his nap time and he woke just as we drove into the car park. One thing I would say is don't trust google maps!!! We used it to find the clinic when we got out the car and it wanted to take us in the opposite directions...oops!!
So we all arrived at the clinic and shown to a little room. We were seen by Steve and Corrin who were both lovely. They started off asking us about why we had decided to go for the appointment to which we gave a brief explanation of the Finnys history. They then asked us some general questions relating to Finny and his head. Corrine then had a little feel of his head and checked for tightness in his neck - which he still has slightly so she showed us some simple stretches (so much for the Health visitor saying he was too small for any). Corrin then started to take some measurements of Finnys head and she then used this to show us where Finny sat on the chart. He measured 84% CI which measures the flatness to the back of the head, a 'normal' head width in relation to the length is 74% (+ or - 4%). So Finny has only mild flattening to the back. His asymmetry (plagiocephaly) measured 18mm (0 - 4mm being the 'normal') this measures as severe. Looking at both readings together he is in the top half of the Severe category on the chart.
Corrine and Steve advised they would hope to get Finny down into the yellow if not better with Helmet treatment and they said we could go away and have a think about whether we want to go ahead.
However we had already decided if he was more than moderate we would definitely go ahead with treatment, this is about Finnys future not our pockets! We asked a few questions about a number of different things IE success rate which Steve said was 100%. He also advised that if we were to leave it to right itself it would be very unlikely to improve much more especially as he is now over 4 months and we have tried repositioning and osteopathy. So everything seems very positive!! I feel relieved to finally just have some answers. I wonder why the NHS don't even measure babies, it was so simple and quick and no fancy equipment was involved. At least if they did this, it would allow parents to see in numbers if there babies heads are improving and if it continues or slows to halt, like ours seem to do.....
So Finny then had to be photographed. He got to sit in one of these activity, swivel toy centre which he loved (and wanted to eat) with a lovely sock over his head. The pictures where taken and Finny was none the wiser - He just wanted his lunch by then. We got to choose from a number of different helmet designs of course we went for the little cat one. We paid the deposit and booked the fitting for two weeks time!
So now we just need to find the rest of the money. The grandparents have been kind enough to offer some so with the deposit that's almost half the cost taken care of. I'm hoping to look into funding as were on a low income at the moment, but if that doesn't materialise then My trusty Plastic friend will have to come out of hiding!! If anyone has any ideas about fundraising feel free to comment!!
So wow its all go now!!
So we all arrived at the clinic and shown to a little room. We were seen by Steve and Corrin who were both lovely. They started off asking us about why we had decided to go for the appointment to which we gave a brief explanation of the Finnys history. They then asked us some general questions relating to Finny and his head. Corrine then had a little feel of his head and checked for tightness in his neck - which he still has slightly so she showed us some simple stretches (so much for the Health visitor saying he was too small for any). Corrin then started to take some measurements of Finnys head and she then used this to show us where Finny sat on the chart. He measured 84% CI which measures the flatness to the back of the head, a 'normal' head width in relation to the length is 74% (+ or - 4%). So Finny has only mild flattening to the back. His asymmetry (plagiocephaly) measured 18mm (0 - 4mm being the 'normal') this measures as severe. Looking at both readings together he is in the top half of the Severe category on the chart.
 | |
| The brown spot shows where Finnys measurements place him on the chart (taken from Technology in Motion Website) |
However we had already decided if he was more than moderate we would definitely go ahead with treatment, this is about Finnys future not our pockets! We asked a few questions about a number of different things IE success rate which Steve said was 100%. He also advised that if we were to leave it to right itself it would be very unlikely to improve much more especially as he is now over 4 months and we have tried repositioning and osteopathy. So everything seems very positive!! I feel relieved to finally just have some answers. I wonder why the NHS don't even measure babies, it was so simple and quick and no fancy equipment was involved. At least if they did this, it would allow parents to see in numbers if there babies heads are improving and if it continues or slows to halt, like ours seem to do.....
So Finny then had to be photographed. He got to sit in one of these activity, swivel toy centre which he loved (and wanted to eat) with a lovely sock over his head. The pictures where taken and Finny was none the wiser - He just wanted his lunch by then. We got to choose from a number of different helmet designs of course we went for the little cat one. We paid the deposit and booked the fitting for two weeks time!
So now we just need to find the rest of the money. The grandparents have been kind enough to offer some so with the deposit that's almost half the cost taken care of. I'm hoping to look into funding as were on a low income at the moment, but if that doesn't materialise then My trusty Plastic friend will have to come out of hiding!! If anyone has any ideas about fundraising feel free to comment!!
So wow its all go now!!
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