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

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I think you may have misread part of my message. The 4mm of growth

was in a 2 month period. Is that alot or not much?? I will try to

post picture of her head throught the stages. Like I said before, I

don't feel she has had much correction. They don't have a scanner,

so you have to rely on manual measuring. The problem with that is if

they don't measure in the EXACT same place, the measurement may not

be correct. This is so frustrating! I wish Canada would get with

the program! One good note to mention for future Valley Ortho

patients, the OT said he was thinking about getting a hand held

scanner!

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.

> > > >