Skull ordeal is over for Erinn

Mar 9 2007 Dumfries & Galloway Standard

A TODDLER who spent 33-weeks wearing a plastic helmet to fix her mis-shapen head has finished her treatment.

Little Erinn Cain had to wear the helmet for 23-hours a day because she suffered from Plagiocephaly — or flat head syndrome as it’s commonly known.

The tot will now be able to live life free of the helmet.

Her mum Caroline said: “She’s getting on brilliantly without it, although she walked around with her woolly hat on for a few days. She won’t really remember life without the helmet.”

Erinn had to get used to feeling the effects when she bumps her head.

Caroline said: “She’s already got a wee bruise. She fell and banged her ear. Before she wouldn’t have felt it, if she knocked her head.”

Wearing the lightweight helmet — known as a STARband — has resulted in Erinn’s head being reduced from 18mm flat to 7mm flat.

Yet despite the living proof, the NHS do not recognise such treatment works.

Caroline, 28, and her husband Clifford, 31, have vowed to continue fighting to get Plagiocephaly recognised by the NHS.

As well as fighting for treatment to be made available on the NHS, Caroline wants new parents to be made aware of the condition.

She said: “Midwives and health visitors should be telling parents about this condition.

“After 18 months, a baby’s head is no longer malleable. If we’d found out about this condition when Erinn was six weeks old, there is much more we could have done about it.

“There are special mattresses and pillows you can buy to correct the shape in younger babies.”

Caroline and Clifford had to fork out £2000 for Erinn’s treatment.

It was thanks to many fundraisers they met their target.

A petition with 15,000 signatures was handed into the Scottish Parliament requesting Plagiocephaly is recognised and funding is made available for treatment.

A decision for the Parliament is expected on March, 20.