When your child is born, it is almost impossible to think he or she is anything but perfect. In my case, it was no different! Jack was the most beautify baby I had ever seen! From the moment I first held him, I had never felt so much love come over me. It is because of this love and adoration that I was completely oblivious to the fact that he was NOT PERFECT in everyway.

During Jack’s five-month visit to his Pediatrician, I was told that Jack’s head was not shaping correctly. His doctor asked, “Mrs. Newhard, have you ever noticed the flat spot on the back of Jack’s skull? Do you see that one ear lies lower than the other on his face? Have you ever heard of a cranial helmet?” Of course, my reply for all three questions was a big, “NO!”

I felt like I had been punched in the stomach. Tears streamed down my face immediately, and I was so confused as to what this all meant. Jack’s pediatrician recommended that we get a second opinion from an orthopedist. He gave us the number and information for MedEast Post-Op and Surgical, Inc. His daughter had also needed a helmet, and he was very pleased with his interaction with the company.

The day we met Allison from MedEast was the complete opposite of what I had expected. I thought for sure hearing the news that my son was going to need a helmet would be one of the worst days of my life. However, the helmet has been Jack’s greatest blessing. It was not until we were introduced to the possibility of a helmet, that I noticed how round Jack’s head actually was. It was shaped like a pumpkin. The more I looked at pictures of his head, the more I could see how much a helmet was needed. My husband and I decided to commit to it 100%. Once the helmet was made, we placed it on Jack’s head immediately. We only took it off when bathing and changing him. Jack quickly became accustomed to it and before we knew it, it almost became part of him.

Although the changes were gradual, the end product is nothing short of amazing. Jack looks completely different. He now looks perfect! Allison’s guidance and support through this process has been astounding. She never patronized me for asking the same questions over and over or became annoyed with my continual need to analyze every spot on my son’s head. She promised me that it would all eventually “even out” and his head would start to expand front to back, rather than side to side. It took a little while, but every promise she made came true.

I could not be happier! As a parent, it is so reassuring to know that there are people who care about your child and will take the time to make him/her perfect. Please do not be upset when you hear your child is in need of a helmet. It will make your child’s future so much brighter, and I promise you the advantages out weight any disadvantages. The helmet has truly been a blessing to Jack and our family.

It’s funny you can spend every moment with your child and still not notice she isn’t turning her head to the left.

When our pediatrician diagnosed our daughter Holly’s torticollis at her two month visit, I learned the flattening on the right side of her head wasn’t normal, and needed correcting. We began physical therapy immediately. Holly’s progress was encouraging, so we were fixing the cause, but not yet the effect.

My physical therapist classified Holly as having a moderate case of plagiocephaly. At first I was very optimistic that towels and repositioning would fix the issue, and I was going to avoid these “helmets” I had little understanding of. After a month, I started to be more objective. Research revealed the helmet process could start at three months, and I didn’t want to miss any more growth spurts. I remember the night I came to the realization, and then acceptance, that Holly was helmet bound. Once you get it through your own head your child needs a helmet, you can’t get one on her head fast enough.

I was able to make an appointment that week with MedEast Post-Op and Surgical, Inc. I was happy there was a facility in Blue Bell, a reasonable drive from my home. I met with Allison, who diagnosed my daughter as an extreme case. In a way, it validated my sense of mother’s intuition. I felt better knowing I may have missed the warning signs of torticollis, but at least I was being as proactive as possible in correcting the resulting problem. I had walked in with fears of traumatic plaster molds on unhappy campers. Allison put a little stocking on my daughter’s head and laid her on the STARscannerâ„¢. I thought this was just to perform an assessment, but when I learned this created the mold as well, I was amazed… and relieved.

The next week, I kissed Holly’s head often. I was mourning the loss of snuggle time with my baby in anticipation of the helmet. We went in for our first fitting, and there it was, this pink round shell. Holly did not even fuss when Allison put it on. Her little smiles hadn’t gone anywhere. I had read blogs from other parents who said the babies really didn’t mind, and they were right. When it comes to cranial orthotics, it’s the parents that have the hardest time adjusting.

Allison has been so kind and accessible throughout this ordeal. Her office is child friendly for my older daughter, making bi-weekly adjustments less of a hassle. When I was looking at Holly in the mirror one day, I had a minor freak out where I noticed her facial asymmetry for the first time. I emailed Allison and she responded promptly, and talked me down from the ledge with the objectivity and knowledge of an expert in her field. I am always amazed with her artisanship, knowing where and when to adjust the helmet. She is not just a provider of durable medical equipment, she is a coach and a craftsman.

The improvements thus far have been wonderful, and I know they will only get better with time. To those parents nervously researching their options, please know your little one is in good hands, and you are making the right decision.