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

[Guest guest]

For the amount of time in the helmet, was this a passive

band/helmet? Even at her age, I would think with 4mm of growth in

those 6 months that you would see a lot more improvement. Do you

have any pictures of her head without the band? Maybe the same

angles before banding and up to this point in banding?

> > >

> > > 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.

> > >