Meltham baby’s amazing helmet recovery

Feb 27 2010 by Anne-Marie Senior, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Watts

The couple sought help from Fixby cranial osteopath Nina Gallagher to alleviate Callum’s neck problem and visited the private Leeds Plagiocephaly Clinic where he was fitted with a specialist helmet.

Friends and community groups – including the Meltham Lions’ Club and the Crossroads project – rallied round to help raise £1,000 towards the helmet.

The clinic also helped fund the first £500 to get Callum fitted quickly.

His condition was classed as severe, with the asymmetrical differences of his head measuring 16mm.

After just ten weeks of wearing the helmet for 23 hours a day – which gently holds the head as it grows – Callum’s measurement decreased to just 3mm which is now considered normal.

His parents are delighted.

“If I had listened to the paediatrician he wouldn't have improved,” said Sally.

“Everyone has been so supportive. They have been great. We feel really lucky.”

Clinic manager Steve Mottram said: “We are delighted that Callum has had a good result. He came to us when he was very young.

“We find very young babies have excellent results because everything is still very soft and open.

“We are very grateful to other parents who offer the funds they couldn’t use for other parents to use.”

Sally and Allan expect to raise more money than needed for Callum. They will donate the excess to help other families at the clinic.