STAR Family of Cranial Remolding Orthoses

Orthomerica has provided a wonderful service to our daughter. The Starband has been a huge blessing in Sarah's life. We cannot say "Thank You" enough to our orthotists, Carrie and Annette, Children's Care Rehabilitation Center, Orthomerica, Davin and Starband. My husband and I were extremely grateful when you took Sarah on as a new patient. This was an answer to our prayer! Following is Sarah's story:

Sarah was born on February 11, 2004, our fourth beautiful baby girl with amazing blue eyes. We couldn't help notice immediately that her head was quite tall and sloped from the sides. We were reassured that this was just the typical newborn "cone" shape and that it would soon round out. Her uterine hotel was a bit cramped during my pregnancy which included my water breaking at 22 weeks, 9 stopped labors and a breech baby that turned right before she was born via a c-section 3 1/2 weeks early.

At our two week check up we asked our family doctor about her head shape and he said he would evaluate it at her two month check up. She was gaining weight, had finished three weeks of phototherapy for jaundice and was surviving colic with the help of her family. Her two month check up was a good one, shots were given, weight was up and her head just needed a bit more time to reshape.

Sarah then seemed under the weather and we went to an after hours clinic. The doctor kept questioning us about her head, even though her throat was the purpose of the visit. We started getting comments from strangers about her head being cone shaped. Everyone's eyes were opened when Sarah and her cousin Noah had a cute photo session together. Their heads side by side showed us exactly how differently shaped Sarah's head was.

At our four month check up our doctor said she needed a referral because her head shape was not getting better and was in the 3rd percentile for growth. The doctor ordered a skull x-ray to check that her sutures were open. The film showed that her sutures may be fused on the sides of her head.The next day was a CT scan that showed her sutures were all nicely open. The neurosurgeon said that she had a small head circumference and jaw for her age and a very prominent vertex skull posteriorly compared to her anterior skull. His recommendations were to see a neurologist, geneticist and have a possible MRI to check on brain growth. If she has a progressive problem with this deformity, a referral to a plastic surgeon could be given. Surgery! This was a busy and scary week.

Our family doctor sent us to Children's Care Rehabilitation Center and Sarah was fitted with her first Starband Helmet. She was just 4 months old and was diagnosed with plagiocephaly. Carrie, her orthotist, did the casting and measurements and within 10 days she received a new helmet. This first week was the busiest. She was quite sweaty which we fixed by dressing her in a diaper and T-shirt. We established a helmet cleaning routine with her regular baby shampoo on the inside and rubbing alcohol on the outside. Learning to take it on and off was managed in the first day because she wore it one hour on, one hour off. Her awesome big sisters Rachel, Rebekah and Hannah helped make this week special by wearing their bicycle helmets also. They are her biggest fans. Breastfeeding was successful after a small adjustment in our holding position. After day six, she only noticed her helmet when it was off for bathtime and cleaning, otherwise it was baby business as usual.

Going out in public for the first few times made us feel like everyone was looking at us. People are very curious and ask questions. Our quick answer is that she is reshaping her beautiful head. But we found that if we smother her with tons of kisses and make her giggle, people look beyond and see what they should see, family members truly in love with their child.

Sarah's head shape changed in the first week of helmet therapy, but then her head growth slowed down and seemed to be stalling. Carrie was in constant contact with Davin Heyd at Orthomerica. Together they made a great team, made some helmet changes and took many pictures. Her head began to get wider over a three month period which resulted in needing Starband number two.

As we casted for helmet number two, our trip to the neurologist resulted in another sedation for an MRI. Sarah handled this quite well. She was only a little scared, or, was it just Mom and Dad? The neurologist said that her brain is the same shape as her skull, but that she was able to find all the structures. Although the head growth was slow, it has been growing in a nice curve along the 3rd percentile. She posted Sarah's picture and history on a website for doctors to see if anyone had any suggestions or comments. Before discontinuing the helmet, the neurologist wants to check Sarah's head shape. She even thought it looked a little more round in the back just in the time between appointments.

Helmet number two has been on for about 1 month. She had her first big growth spell since July. This resulted in a definite change on her left side. Things are really taking off for Sarah. She is sitting, crawling, playing patty-cake and in love with her kitty.

We will be keeping Davin and Orthomerica updated about every two weeks. Thank you so much for what you have done. Our supportive family and friends continue to keep Sarah Kate in their prayers and cannot wait to see the final results of this amazing helmet.