New Hardware

Micah is sporting some new hardware!  If you're up for a novel, continue reading:-)

When Micah was about a week old, I noticed that his neck was always turned so that he was sleeping on the right side of his head.  He quickly developed a visible flat spot on that side.  We started chiropractic treatments right away and did stretches a couple of times a day which seemed to help.  The pediatrician informed us about a helmet that could be used to round out his head, but she felt that the flat spot would pop out since he was able to sit up in the Bumbo and be off of his head more during the day. 

 

At his six month appointment, our pediatrician was still somewhat concerned about the shape of his head, but she didn't suggest anything at that point.  After Lance and I discussed it, we decided to ask the pediatrician to be referred to a specialist.  We met with a doctor a couple weeks ago who took several measurements of Micah's head.  He still has the flat spot on one side, flatness on the back, a peak towards the top of his head, one side on the front of his head sticks out more than the other, and one of his ears is 5 mm forward compared to the other.  This probably sounds like his head is completely distorted, but we honestly didn't notice most of these things.  We could see the flatness on the back and side of his head, but we didn't notice the other things until the doctor pointed them out.  The doctor explained that some of it could get better, but if it doesn't, his adult head will be a much larger version of his head now.  Much larger probably means much more noticeable.  He concluded that Micah would benefit from wearing a helmet.  This is completely a cosmetic procedure.  His brain or development will not be altered whether he wears the helmet or not.  So, it was a hard decision for both of us.  His skull has already started to fuse together, so it's not something that can really be done much later. 

 

I felt like we were being grilled with questions, and I felt like a really bad parent because of our lack of knowledge in many areas.  Of course, lots of thoughts and emotions ran through both of our heads.  Why didn't the pediatrician see some of these things?  Why wasn't he diagnosed with plagiocephaly (flattening of the head) months ago?  Why did the doctor have to use so many big words that totally made us feel stupid?  Why hadn't we noticed his ears didn't quite match up?  If we would have sought a second opinion earlier, would we even have to make the decision to put a helmet on our son?  Is it silly to worry about the shape of his head when he's perfectly healthy?  What if the helmet does affect his development? 

 

We decided to go ahead with the helmet.  Our main concern was his future self-esteem.  I taught fourth grade for 6 years.  Kids can be brutal to each other.  I know every kid is going to get made fun of at one time or another, but a flat head would be a great excuse for kids to give him a nickname he probably wouldn't appreciate.  Hopefully, we will alleviate that problem for him. 

 

Yesterday was his first day with the helmet;  one hour on and one hour off.  His schedule for today is two hours on and one hour off.  He will wear it through the night by day 6, and he will be wearing it for 23 hours a day by the end of seven days.  He is such a trooper!  It doesn't really seem to phase him.  It's pretty tight, so he doesn't appreciate it going on or coming off, but he's fine once it's on.  Thanks to Aunt Karie, we will have some ISU decals to decorate his helmet, but we have to wait until our appointment next week to put them on. 

 

We also decided to check into physical therapy.  We had our first appointment today, and the PT diagnosed him with Torticollis.  She said he has about 75% mobility on one side, which she said isn't too bad.  He turns his head well to that side, can track movement to that side, but he does have some pain when forced to turn his chin past his shoulder.  Hopefully we can get him to 100% quickly.  Again, my emotions ran crazy.  Why wasn't he diagnosed with Torticollis several months ago?  Would physical therapy have prevented him from wearing a helmet? 

 

God stopped me in my "worry tracks" today.  Matthew 6:25 says, "There I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, not about your body, what you will put on.  Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?"  Ahhh...a weight was lifted off my shoulders.  Life is more than the helmet on Micah's head. 

 

Matthew 7:7 says, "Ask and it will be given to you;  seek and you will find;  knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives;  he who seeks finds;  and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."  Lance and I are responsible for our children, not the doctors.  I am reminded in this verse to ask God for medical guidance, to seek answers for our children's medical issues, and to knock on the doors God opens for us.  God says if we ask Him and seek Him for help, the door will be opened.  God is good. 

 

So for now, we have to visit the helmet office next week for another fitting, and then we have follow up appointments every two weeks.  We have physical therapy appointments once a week.  We have several stretches to do at least 4 times a day which Micah totally resists at this point.  We have a schedule to follow every few hours for wearing the helmet for the next 5 days.  We are contemplating starting chiropractic appointments again.  How thankful I am to be a stay at home mom.  I have no idea how all of this would get done otherwise! 

 

The helmet doctor suggested we take some "before" pictures, so we can track Micah's progress.  He said we will already be able to see progress at our one week appointment.  I am definitely looking forward to that. 

If you look closely at his ears, you can see that his right one if further forward than the left one.

Here you can see the flatness on the back of his head and also the peak towards the top.

The right side of his head bulges or appears fuller on the front.

 

 Mara is really curious about Micah's helmet.  She keeps forgetting what it's called so she's always asking, "What's that?"  She has tried to put it on and has asked for her own helmet.  She asks, "Head hurts?  Owie?"  She likes to touch it quite a bit, but she has been very gentle so far.  And I guess if she happens to get rough, his head is protected!

 

The hardest part for me so far is not being able to kiss his forehead.  I didn't realize how often I do that until I can't.  Kissing plastic just doesn't do it for me.  It just takes a little more effort to go around the plastic and reach his nose. 

 

Thanks to everyone who has been praying for us.  We are very blessed to have two healthy kids.  We will keep you posted on our helmet adventure!