Re: Question about done with DOC -to

[Guest guest]

Hi -

Thank you for your response. I totally understand about not

compromising the use of the DOC band. I realize that just because I

saw some gaps/room for growth, it didn't mean that the band was

outgrown or had not reached its maximum benefits. Like I said, I am

happy with the improvements I have seen. I think I had higher hopes

of the facial asymmetry improving more, but Alyssa's face no longer

looks crooked in relation to the rest of her head and her eyes look

equal in size now. The main asymmetry that I hoped would be fixed

more is the difference in cheek size. But, we have come a long

way. Alyssa was 3 months dev. delayed at one point and our Birth to

3 dept. encouraged me to apply for SSI disability benefits for her.

There were months on end that I truly thought there was something

seriously wrong with her mentally and she had her therapists worried

about her as well. It is an amazing story.

After all of the kids I saw at Childrens, various appointments, I

realize that I am focusing on the asymmetry too much. I am very

lucky that most of Alyssa's other issues resolved and I feel lucky

to have had the correction that we did with the DOC band. I have to

remember how far Alyssa has come and be thankful for all of the

results along the way. There are many worse things than facial

asymmetry and I kind of feel ashamed that I have been focusing on it

so much.

Diane

Alyssa DOC grad 11/04

WA state

>

> Hi-

> I just got mailed my before and after headsicles. They are sure

> fascinating. We got really good correction but after seeing the

> after headsicle it is haunting me because I see that there is more

> room for correction. The OT said that a second band would

probably

> not be worthwhile because of the good correction that we did get

and

> because the plagio was due to in utero positioning and those areas

> are very difficult to correct. Most of the additional correction

> that would benefit Alyssa would involve growth on the sides of her

> head - just behind her left temple and the area behind her right

> ear. The OT could not say whether or not it would even be

possible

> for those areas to correct with band #2.

> I can see that if it would be possible for those areas to fill in,

> it would really improve the overall outcome.

> My question for those of you whose kids graduated from the DOC

> band....did you graduate because it was " time " - the 4 months had

> passed or did you graduate because the band just didn't fit

anymore.

> We graduated because it was " time. " Alyssa was in the band for 4

> months and I was told that the pressure points just were not as

> affective as they were in the beginning.

> Alyssa had a lot of room left for growth in the band though. I

knew

> it then and I definitely know it now after trying the band on

> the " after " headsicle and seeing how much more room she had left

in

> the band.

> I wanted to keep Alyssa in as long as possible even if the

pressure

> points were no longer affective. Even if the DOC was to turn into

a

> passive band and I just waited out the growth, it would have been

> fine because I see what " could have been " had she filled in those

> areas.

> I know the band isn't designed to be used as a passive band but

what

> would it have hurt if we had not removed the band after the 4

months

> and tried to get another 4-8 weeks out of it even if the pressure

> points were not as effective? I tried to get them to let Alyssa

> wear it longer but they didn't go for that, maybe because they

> wanted to save me travel time/expense. There was still quite a

bit

> of room left for growth and a little more growth in the band would

> have made a big difference.

> I am really curious if the majority of your kids graduated from

the

> DOC because of the maximum time element or because of there not

> being room left in the band.

> Thanks for any info./insight. I am really happy with the results.

> But, it is kind of hard to come this far and then see just 1-2

small

> areas that if given more time to fill in a little bit more, the

> results would have been that much better. I wish Alyssa could

have

> gone another 4-6 weeks in the band.

>

>

> Diane

> Alyssa - DOC band graduate 11/04

> WA state

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> For more plagio info

[Guest guest]

Diane,

Do not be ashamed. We only want whats best for our children. I'm glad you are happy with the results. I totally understand how the band looks like it has more space. I made at CT explain it both times. It appeared na's bands had tons of room but when they explained the whole shape and holding thing it made more sense. It's a very complicated process even though it looks simple (sometimes).

Of course if you really want to do another band and can get the RX and pay for it then go for it. You need to be comfortable with the outcome.

mom to na

DOC Grad 2/04

Tort Resolved

South Carolina

www.thefilyaws.com

alex00alys03 <alex00alys03@...> wrote:

Hi -Thank you for your response. I totally understand about not compromising the use of the DOC band. I realize that just because I saw some gaps/room for growth, it didn't mean that the band was outgrown or had not reached its maximum benefits. Like I said, I am happy with the improvements I have seen. I think I had higher hopes of the facial asymmetry improving more, but Alyssa's face no longer looks crooked in relation to the rest of her head and her eyes look equal in size now. The main asymmetry that I hoped would be fixed more is the difference in cheek size. But, we have come a long way. Alyssa was 3 months dev. delayed at one point and our Birth to 3 dept. encouraged me to apply for SSI disability benefits for her. There were months on end that I truly thought

there was something seriously wrong with her mentally and she had her therapists worried about her as well. It is an amazing story.After all of the kids I saw at Childrens, various appointments, I realize that I am focusing on the asymmetry too much. I am very lucky that most of Alyssa's other issues resolved and I feel lucky to have had the correction that we did with the DOC band. I have to remember how far Alyssa has come and be thankful for all of the results along the way. There are many worse things than facial asymmetry and I kind of feel ashamed that I have been focusing on it so much. DianeAlyssa DOC grad 11/04WA state> > Hi-> I just got mailed my before and after headsicles. They are sure > fascinating. We got really good correction but after seeing the > after headsicle it is haunting me because I see that there is more > room for correction. The OT said that a second band would probably > not be worthwhile because of the

good correction that we did get and > because the plagio was due to in utero positioning and those areas > are very difficult to correct. Most of the additional correction > that would benefit Alyssa would involve growth on the sides of her > head - just behind her left temple and the area behind her right > ear. The OT could not say whether or not it would even be possible > for those areas to correct with band #2.> I can see that if it would be possible for those areas to fill in, > it would really improve the overall outcome. > My question for those of you whose kids graduated from the DOC > band....did you graduate because it was "time" - the 4 months had > passed or did you graduate because the band just didn't fit anymore.> We graduated because it was "time." Alyssa was in the band for 4 > months and I was told that the pressure points just were not as

> affective as they were in the beginning. > Alyssa had a lot of room left for growth in the band though. I knew > it then and I definitely know it now after trying the band on > the "after" headsicle and seeing how much more room she had left in > the band.> I wanted to keep Alyssa in as long as possible even if the pressure > points were no longer affective. Even if the DOC was to turn into a > passive band and I just waited out the growth, it would have been > fine because I see what "could have been" had she filled in those > areas. > I know the band isn't designed to be used as a passive band but what > would it have hurt if we had not removed the band after the 4 months > and tried to get another 4-8 weeks out of it even if the pressure > points were not as effective? I tried to get them to let Alyssa > wear it longer but they

didn't go for that, maybe because they > wanted to save me travel time/expense. There was still quite a bit > of room left for growth and a little more growth in the band would > have made a big difference.> I am really curious if the majority of your kids graduated from the > DOC because of the maximum time element or because of there not > being room left in the band. > Thanks for any info./insight. I am really happy with the results. > But, it is kind of hard to come this far and then see just 1-2 small > areas that if given more time to fill in a little bit more, the > results would have been that much better. I wish Alyssa could have > gone another 4-6 weeks in the band.> > > Diane> Alyssa - DOC band graduate 11/04> WA state > > > > > > > > For more plagio info, go to

www.plagiocephaly.org/support >