Re: New to group...anyone from Vancouver, BC?

[Guest guest]

,

Valley Orthocare is the only maker of this type of helmet. As far as

I know this is not a passive helmet. As with the DOC and Starband

helmets the Valley Ortho helmet has light pressue on the prominant

areas to redirect growth as well. At the beginning (when the photos

we taken) we were having problems with keeping the helmet from

tilting and turning. The fit is much better now. If the helmet

starts to tilt and turn it means it's time for an adjustment. Do you

know what the sideburns are for on the DOC and Starband helmets? Is

it used the hold the helmet straight? Thanks for the info on the

Canadian locations. Unfortunately, the travel and cost is not an

option for us.

Francine

> > > >

> > > > Hi Jenn

> > > >

> > > > This is basically how our situation came about:

> > > > Around 6 weeks old I noticed the flatness of my son's head

and

> > > tried

> > > > my own repoing without success..

> > > > At his 3 month appt. my family doctor noted the flatness, and

> > said

> > > > to continue with repoing and see how his head looked at 6

months.

> > > > At about 18 weeks old I took him back very concerned because

> > > despite

> > > > repoing his head seemed to look even worse, and I did not

want to

> > > > wait until his 6 month appt.

> > > > My doctor said that my concerns were cosmetic, but knowing

how

> > > > concerned I was he said he would have my son referred to

> > Children's

> > > > Hospital for further diagnosis.

> > > > I waited a couple weeks, had no call from Children's, called

my

> > > > doctor's office, and they said if I hadn't neard in one month

> > from

> > > > when they had sent in the request, then I should check back.

> > > > Of course a month went by with no call, so I checked with my

> > > > doctor's office and they looked into it and I finally

received a

> > > > call from Children's the following week. Whew.

> > > > When the lady from Children's Hospital called she set up an

appt.

> > > > for about 1 1/2 months later - Nov.19- and also gave me the

> > number

> > > > for Valley Orthocare. She told me to call them and set up for

my

> > > son

> > > > to have a casting of his head after we left our appt. at

> > > Children's,

> > > > on the same day.

> > > > So these steps were done without any sort of specialist or

anyone

> > > > besides my family doctor looking at my son's head.

> > > > I called Valley Orthocare and they basically set up

everything as

> > > if

> > > > my son for sure was getting a helmet, and if for some reason

we

> > > > didn't need one we were to cancel everything.

> > > > When she told me the cost I was surprised, and I started

looking

> > > > into our extended healthcare plan. I called them and they

said

> > they

> > > > needed a doctor's note, or referral for the cranial orthotic,

and

> > a

> > > > quote of what material was used to make it. They considered

it a

> > > > brace if it was made out of metal or rigid plastic, and it

would

> > be

> > > > covered if it was medically necessary.

> > > > I called Valley Orthocare, and the lady there very graciously

> > faxed

> > > > over an estimate letter for the helmet-it is a standard

letter

> > they

> > > > use and just put in your info.

> > > > It explains the procedure, what it is made of, and the cost

of

> > > > providing the helmet.

> > > > I then made another appt. with my family doctor, and asked

him to

> > > > write a prescription or note saying that the helmet was

medically

> > > > necessary. I think at this point he agreed that this was

beyond

> > > > cosmetic because the severity of my son's brachy makes his

head

> > > > really bulge at the sides, and that is what concerns me the

most.

> > > > I sent everything into our insurance company, along with a

letter

> > > > from myself, and just found out that it was approved. Our

work

> > plan

> > > > is really good, and covers 100% with no deductible. I have to

pay

> > > up

> > > > front when we take the helmet, and then the plan reimburses

me.

> > > > I hope our situation helps you. Every case is different I

> > > > understand, but it is nice to know that there are others

close to

> > > > home who are going through the same thing. I feel very

> > optimitstic

> > > > about everything because I know a helmet will definitely help

my

> > > > son, and I now that as a parent I did everything I was

supposed

> > to,

> > > > he just has a soft skull, more so than most babies.

> > > >

> > > > I now sit in limbo awaiting our appt. at Children's Hospital.

I

> > > will

> > > > let you know more once we go.

> > > >