Making Progress

Easton and I visited the helmet doctor today for what we thought was just going to be a routine check-up and helmet adjustment. Rex (the helmet man) decided that it was time to re-scan him to see if his head shape has changed any over the past 2 months. At first it looked as if the new scan was nearly identical to the old one - it almost fit perfectly on top of the old one, with small improvements. But after Rex looked at his "numbers" (at his first visit they were all 5's - the worst score) we got a better idea of how Easton's head shape has improved. One of his 5's became a 4 (and was very close to being a 3), another 5 stayed the same but was very close to being a 4 (this measured his symmetry which we knew would be the worst number) and his other 5 became a solid 3. Not bad for 2 months! According to the paperwork I got, 2's mean no helmet is necessary. We're almost there. In fact, Rex told me that Easton's flat spot in the back is gone now and if that was all he had to fix, his helmet would have come off today. But b/c of his head shift, he recommends it stays on for another 2 months (that's 1 month less than he originally told us). We are so excited! We go back in about 4 weeks for another check-up.

FYI - Rex admitted he has never prescribed a helmet for a baby with head asymmetry like Easton's, he has sent them away in the past. He decided to put the helmet on mainly for the flat spot, with a hope and a prayer that he could also make an improvement to the shift of his head. He told me that he is now more optimistic that he can help other babies like Easton, even if it is only a little bit.