Re: Visible changes in only 12 days with DOC band!!!

[Guest guest]

Hi Diane,

I was just thinking about you and Alyssa. Wondering how that long

trip was going!!! Thanks for the update. I'm so pleased you are

happy. It's really not atypical to see these kinds of changes so

quickly with the DOCband. We saw immediate results too the first week

he wore it. I was so amazed. I had wished we started treatment a

little earlier. Who knows he may have only had to wear it two months

at that rate. Alyssa sounds like she's takin to the band quite

nicely. That's good news all around. My fingers are crossed for more

growth spurts.

Crista-Grayslake, IL

Mom to D.-10 mo old-DOCbanded 5/13 brachy

> Hi-

> I am sorry I haven't posted sooner. Our entire household has been

> sick and it has been pretty hectic around here.

> I went to Phoenix for Alyssa's first adjustment. I did not expect

> to see any difference only 12 days into the treatment.

> I got to see the headsicle. I had no idea that Alyssa's head shape

> was as bad as it is! Not only is there the flat spot on the back

> right side, but the front of her head needs to fill in as well. It

> was clearly visible that her entire skull shape is crooked with one

> side of her face in front of the other. She has a few large bumps

> on the back of her head that I didn't even realize were there. The

> tech said that her headsicle shows clear signs that the plagio

> happened while in utero more so than by positioning.

> I can only imagine what the headsicle would have looked like if it

> had been done while Alyssa was a newborn.

> Anyway, I didn't have any idea how progress would be measured. The

> OT put the sock/stocking thing they used for the casting on

Alyssa's

> head. I looked at the headsicle and then at Alyssa's head and

there

> is a visible difference already! I was completely stunned. One of

> the bumps has smoothed out and the front of her head (temple area)

> filled out a little.

> I have NO idea how this happened so quickly. The OT was very

> pleased, especially because of Alyssa's age (9 months old when

> banded). She is estimating 3 months total time for the band to be

> worn instead of the 4 that I thought. Of course, only time will

> tell how long it will end up being worn.

> I couldn't be happier. The trip this time was rough (3 hour drive

> to one airport, 2.5 hour flight one way) plus Alyssa's diaper

leaked

> while sitting on my lap on the airplane on the way down. It looked

> like I wet MY pants. You should have seen me try to 1. Fit into

the

> bathroom on the plane while holding an infant (this was a small jet)

> 2. Try to change her diaper, remove the band so I could change her

> clothes, change her clothes then put the band back on. 3. Move

> around while in the bathroom. I had to exit the bathroom, turn and

> then re-enter because it was so small 4. Try to blot my pants with

> diaper wipes. I had no extra clothing because we went down and

back

> in the same day.

> The poor person next to us got spit on the entire trip because

> Alyssa has learned how to make noises with her mouth/lips vibrating

> so she did that the ENTIRE trip.

> But............after seeing the results so soon, I decided that I

> would fly from WA to Florida and back if that is what it took

> because it is worth it.

> A few people asked about the band, mostly kids. I got positive

> responses. A pilot pulled me aside in the airport and told me that

> his son had cranio (that long word where the bones fuse

> prematurely) and had to have surgery. He wore the DOC band after

> the surgery and now his head is perfect. He was very enthusiastic

> about my endeavor.

> Cross your fingers for more growth.........I am so excited!!

>

> Diane

> Alyssa

[Guest guest]

Hi there

I had laugh (in a nice way) at your tale of travelling with a little

one. My daughter has been making that vibrating sound and covering

everyone with spit for months- it's terrible! On the plagio front-

and the motor skills front (your other post), it sounds like you are

doing brilliantly-your persistance is paying off. It sounds like she

has just changed so much in the last month or two. It's really

exciting when you see that- we had the same mith my little girl and

it makes you feel so much like you have done the right thing,

doesn't it?

Great stories!

Hannah (mum to Lucia, London, UK)

Plagio, passive helmet, 4/7/04

> Hi-

> I am sorry I haven't posted sooner. Our entire household has been

> sick and it has been pretty hectic around here.

> I went to Phoenix for Alyssa's first adjustment. I did not expect

> to see any difference only 12 days into the treatment.

> I got to see the headsicle. I had no idea that Alyssa's head

shape

> was as bad as it is! Not only is there the flat spot on the back

> right side, but the front of her head needs to fill in as well.

It

> was clearly visible that her entire skull shape is crooked with

one

> side of her face in front of the other. She has a few large bumps

> on the back of her head that I didn't even realize were there.

The

> tech said that her headsicle shows clear signs that the plagio

> happened while in utero more so than by positioning.

> I can only imagine what the headsicle would have looked like if it

> had been done while Alyssa was a newborn.

> Anyway, I didn't have any idea how progress would be measured.

The

> OT put the sock/stocking thing they used for the casting on

Alyssa's

> head. I looked at the headsicle and then at Alyssa's head and

there

> is a visible difference already! I was completely stunned. One

of

> the bumps has smoothed out and the front of her head (temple area)

> filled out a little.

> I have NO idea how this happened so quickly. The OT was very

> pleased, especially because of Alyssa's age (9 months old when

> banded). She is estimating 3 months total time for the band to be

> worn instead of the 4 that I thought. Of course, only time will

> tell how long it will end up being worn.

> I couldn't be happier. The trip this time was rough (3 hour drive

> to one airport, 2.5 hour flight one way) plus Alyssa's diaper

leaked

> while sitting on my lap on the airplane on the way down. It

looked

> like I wet MY pants. You should have seen me try to 1. Fit into

the

> bathroom on the plane while holding an infant (this was a small

jet)

> 2. Try to change her diaper, remove the band so I could change her

> clothes, change her clothes then put the band back on. 3. Move

> around while in the bathroom. I had to exit the bathroom, turn

and

> then re-enter because it was so small 4. Try to blot my pants with

> diaper wipes. I had no extra clothing because we went down and

back

> in the same day.

> The poor person next to us got spit on the entire trip because

> Alyssa has learned how to make noises with her mouth/lips

vibrating

> so she did that the ENTIRE trip.

> But............after seeing the results so soon, I decided that I

> would fly from WA to Florida and back if that is what it took

> because it is worth it.

> A few people asked about the band, mostly kids. I got positive

> responses. A pilot pulled me aside in the airport and told me

that

> his son had cranio (that long word where the bones fuse

> prematurely) and had to have surgery. He wore the DOC band after

> the surgery and now his head is perfect. He was very enthusiastic

> about my endeavor.

> Cross your fingers for more growth.........I am so excited!!

>

> Diane

> Alyssa

[Guest guest]

Diane that is great news! Yes, it is possible and it should happen

this way! Nice work and way to grow Alyssa!! Makes all the

traveling worth it!

I hope everyone is feeling better.

Dustie

> Hi-

> I am sorry I haven't posted sooner. Our entire household has been

> sick and it has been pretty hectic around here.

> I went to Phoenix for Alyssa's first adjustment. I did not expect

> to see any difference only 12 days into the treatment.

> I got to see the headsicle. I had no idea that Alyssa's head

shape

> was as bad as it is! Not only is there the flat spot on the back

> right side, but the front of her head needs to fill in as well.

It

> was clearly visible that her entire skull shape is crooked with

one

> side of her face in front of the other. She has a few large bumps

> on the back of her head that I didn't even realize were there.

The

> tech said that her headsicle shows clear signs that the plagio

> happened while in utero more so than by positioning.

> I can only imagine what the headsicle would have looked like if it

> had been done while Alyssa was a newborn.

> Anyway, I didn't have any idea how progress would be measured.

The

> OT put the sock/stocking thing they used for the casting on

Alyssa's

> head. I looked at the headsicle and then at Alyssa's head and

there

> is a visible difference already! I was completely stunned. One

of

> the bumps has smoothed out and the front of her head (temple area)

> filled out a little.

> I have NO idea how this happened so quickly. The OT was very

> pleased, especially because of Alyssa's age (9 months old when

> banded). She is estimating 3 months total time for the band to be

> worn instead of the 4 that I thought. Of course, only time will

> tell how long it will end up being worn.

> I couldn't be happier. The trip this time was rough (3 hour drive

> to one airport, 2.5 hour flight one way) plus Alyssa's diaper

leaked

> while sitting on my lap on the airplane on the way down. It

looked

> like I wet MY pants. You should have seen me try to 1. Fit into

the

> bathroom on the plane while holding an infant (this was a small

jet)

> 2. Try to change her diaper, remove the band so I could change her

> clothes, change her clothes then put the band back on. 3. Move

> around while in the bathroom. I had to exit the bathroom, turn

and

> then re-enter because it was so small 4. Try to blot my pants with

> diaper wipes. I had no extra clothing because we went down and

back

> in the same day.

> The poor person next to us got spit on the entire trip because

> Alyssa has learned how to make noises with her mouth/lips

vibrating

> so she did that the ENTIRE trip.

> But............after seeing the results so soon, I decided that I

> would fly from WA to Florida and back if that is what it took

> because it is worth it.

> A few people asked about the band, mostly kids. I got positive

> responses. A pilot pulled me aside in the airport and told me

that

> his son had cranio (that long word where the bones fuse

> prematurely) and had to have surgery. He wore the DOC band after

> the surgery and now his head is perfect. He was very enthusiastic

> about my endeavor.

> Cross your fingers for more growth.........I am so excited!!

>

> Diane

> Alyssa

[Guest guest]

WOOOOHOOOO Diane!

Thanks for sharing such an awesome update with us! Isn't it amazing

how well these bands/helmets work? Keep us posted on Alyssa's

progress.

> Hi-

> I am sorry I haven't posted sooner. Our entire household has been

> sick and it has been pretty hectic around here.

> I went to Phoenix for Alyssa's first adjustment. I did not expect

> to see any difference only 12 days into the treatment.

> I got to see the headsicle. I had no idea that Alyssa's head shape

> was as bad as it is! Not only is there the flat spot on the back

> right side, but the front of her head needs to fill in as well. It

> was clearly visible that her entire skull shape is crooked with one

> side of her face in front of the other. She has a few large bumps

> on the back of her head that I didn't even realize were there. The

> tech said that her headsicle shows clear signs that the plagio

> happened while in utero more so than by positioning.

> I can only imagine what the headsicle would have looked like if it

> had been done while Alyssa was a newborn.

> Anyway, I didn't have any idea how progress would be measured. The

> OT put the sock/stocking thing they used for the casting on

Alyssa's

> head. I looked at the headsicle and then at Alyssa's head and

there

> is a visible difference already! I was completely stunned. One of

> the bumps has smoothed out and the front of her head (temple area)

> filled out a little.

> I have NO idea how this happened so quickly. The OT was very

> pleased, especially because of Alyssa's age (9 months old when

> banded). She is estimating 3 months total time for the band to be

> worn instead of the 4 that I thought. Of course, only time will

> tell how long it will end up being worn.

> I couldn't be happier. The trip this time was rough (3 hour drive

> to one airport, 2.5 hour flight one way) plus Alyssa's diaper

leaked

> while sitting on my lap on the airplane on the way down. It looked

> like I wet MY pants. You should have seen me try to 1. Fit into

the

> bathroom on the plane while holding an infant (this was a small jet)

> 2. Try to change her diaper, remove the band so I could change her

> clothes, change her clothes then put the band back on. 3. Move

> around while in the bathroom. I had to exit the bathroom, turn and

> then re-enter because it was so small 4. Try to blot my pants with

> diaper wipes. I had no extra clothing because we went down and

back

> in the same day.

> The poor person next to us got spit on the entire trip because

> Alyssa has learned how to make noises with her mouth/lips vibrating

> so she did that the ENTIRE trip.

> But............after seeing the results so soon, I decided that I

> would fly from WA to Florida and back if that is what it took

> because it is worth it.

> A few people asked about the band, mostly kids. I got positive

> responses. A pilot pulled me aside in the airport and told me that

> his son had cranio (that long word where the bones fuse

> prematurely) and had to have surgery. He wore the DOC band after

> the surgery and now his head is perfect. He was very enthusiastic

> about my endeavor.

> Cross your fingers for more growth.........I am so excited!!

>

> Diane

> Alyssa

[Guest guest]

Hi Diane

That is great news. The rounding that is. Hopefully your next trip

will be a bit better. )

Sandy Willow's Mom

> Hi-

> I am sorry I haven't posted sooner. Our entire household has been

> sick and it has been pretty hectic around here.

> I went to Phoenix for Alyssa's first adjustment. I did not expect

> to see any difference only 12 days into the treatment.

> I got to see the headsicle. I had no idea that Alyssa's head shape

> was as bad as it is! Not only is there the flat spot on the back

> right side, but the front of her head needs to fill in as well. It

> was clearly visible that her entire skull shape is crooked with one

> side of her face in front of the other. She has a few large bumps

> on the back of her head that I didn't even realize were there. The

> tech said that her headsicle shows clear signs that the plagio

> happened while in utero more so than by positioning.

> I can only imagine what the headsicle would have looked like if it

> had been done while Alyssa was a newborn.

> Anyway, I didn't have any idea how progress would be measured. The

> OT put the sock/stocking thing they used for the casting on

Alyssa's

> head. I looked at the headsicle and then at Alyssa's head and

there

> is a visible difference already! I was completely stunned. One of

> the bumps has smoothed out and the front of her head (temple area)

> filled out a little.

> I have NO idea how this happened so quickly. The OT was very

> pleased, especially because of Alyssa's age (9 months old when

> banded). She is estimating 3 months total time for the band to be

> worn instead of the 4 that I thought. Of course, only time will

> tell how long it will end up being worn.

> I couldn't be happier. The trip this time was rough (3 hour drive

> to one airport, 2.5 hour flight one way) plus Alyssa's diaper

leaked

> while sitting on my lap on the airplane on the way down. It looked

> like I wet MY pants. You should have seen me try to 1. Fit into

the

> bathroom on the plane while holding an infant (this was a small jet)

> 2. Try to change her diaper, remove the band so I could change her

> clothes, change her clothes then put the band back on. 3. Move

> around while in the bathroom. I had to exit the bathroom, turn and

> then re-enter because it was so small 4. Try to blot my pants with

> diaper wipes. I had no extra clothing because we went down and

back

> in the same day.

> The poor person next to us got spit on the entire trip because

> Alyssa has learned how to make noises with her mouth/lips vibrating

> so she did that the ENTIRE trip.

> But............after seeing the results so soon, I decided that I

> would fly from WA to Florida and back if that is what it took

> because it is worth it.

> A few people asked about the band, mostly kids. I got positive

> responses. A pilot pulled me aside in the airport and told me that

> his son had cranio (that long word where the bones fuse

> prematurely) and had to have surgery. He wore the DOC band after

> the surgery and now his head is perfect. He was very enthusiastic

> about my endeavor.

> Cross your fingers for more growth.........I am so excited!!

>

> Diane

> Alyssa