To Inquiring Mind,
I would like to thank you for your comment! It is so good to hear from someone who is done and can say that this is but a moment and it will seem so short in the big picture of it all. I would like to know how you found us! I hope this means that this is getting out there! If you know of others in your same situation please let them know about it also. I really feel you can help us! So again, thank you, thank you, thank you. I just can't say it enough!
To Chelsea,
I hope all is going well with you and that you are adjusting to life with the helmet. Keep it up! And my advice to you is the same as Inquiring Mind's was to me, don't be so hard on your self! Find the humor in all of this. It is those things that will help get you through.
I would love to hear from both of you. Please e-mail me. It would be really great to be able to "talk" with you!
Thank you again for helping to lighten my load a little!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
6 More Weeks
We went to the Plastic Surgeon's last week and he said we should be all done in 6 weeks! Now don't get me wrong, I am so excited! But at the same time I have to admit I am ready to be done with all of this. I am ready to kiss her head when ever I want without kissing a helmet. I am ready to snuggle her without being afraid of getting clunked in the head! Again, I am not regretting our decision to do the helmet. I know this is for the best, and I know 6 weeks really isn't all that long. I just have my moments! I try and keep things very positive on our family blog. And I know I should probably do the same for all of you, but I want you to know we ALL have our moments! That is why I am doing this. It is important for me to know that other people are going through the same thing that I am. I guess I can only assume that you all feel the same. Part of what I want this blog to be is a place for us to share with each other. I found this quote that I hope says it all:
Author Anna Quindlen says, "The great motherhood friendships are the ones in which two women can admit [how difficult mothering is] quietly to each other, over cups of [herbal] tea at a table sticky with spilled apple juice and littered with markers without tops" (Loud and Clear, 30).
What we are doing for our babies is difficult. But by being there for each other I am hoping we can lift the load a little. So we have 6 more weeks (actually 5, it has been a week since we went to the Plastic Surgeons, not that I am counting down or anything!) but this is something that has changed me for the rest of my life. There will be life after the helmet, and this too shall pass!
Author Anna Quindlen says, "The great motherhood friendships are the ones in which two women can admit [how difficult mothering is] quietly to each other, over cups of [herbal] tea at a table sticky with spilled apple juice and littered with markers without tops" (Loud and Clear, 30).
What we are doing for our babies is difficult. But by being there for each other I am hoping we can lift the load a little. So we have 6 more weeks (actually 5, it has been a week since we went to the Plastic Surgeons, not that I am counting down or anything!) but this is something that has changed me for the rest of my life. There will be life after the helmet, and this too shall pass!
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
How Far We Have Come!
This is our Maycie at her first appointment with Fit Well. This is the end of February beginning of March. What a good mom am I that I don't have an exact date! Sorry!
This is her 6 weeks ago the day before we got the second helmet. She was still tilting her head and you can still see the flat kind of spot over her left eye. Better then when we started but not there yet!
This is Maycie today. Her head tilt is pretty much gone and her head shape is so much better! We go to the Plastic Surgeons office tomorrow. I'm sure we aren't done, but look how far we have come! I look at these pictures and know that we did the right thing!
This is her 6 weeks ago the day before we got the second helmet. She was still tilting her head and you can still see the flat kind of spot over her left eye. Better then when we started but not there yet!
This is Maycie today. Her head tilt is pretty much gone and her head shape is so much better! We go to the Plastic Surgeons office tomorrow. I'm sure we aren't done, but look how far we have come! I look at these pictures and know that we did the right thing!Insurance Company
For our insurance company there were a few requirements that we had to meet. When I called Fit Well to make our appointment they were very helpful and told me everything that I would need to provide. However they are required to tell you that this first appointment is to take pictures and measurements to send to the insurance company to see if they will cover the helmet. They told me that it usually takes about 10 days. We called our insurance company right after we went to Fit Well to make sure there was nothing we could do to help the process and to check our coverage. They told us that there was nothing for us to do at that time but they also didn't want to talk about our coverage then either. We really had to press and use the word "if" alot! "If this gets approved" that kind of thing. This is something I would recommend doing because the average coverage is an 80/20 split but it isn't always. You will want to know what you have ahead of you financially.
Our insurance also required a letter from us as her parents. They wanted a 3 month history of what we had been doing to correct the problem. Considering she wasn't much older then 4 months that sent me for a loop! But again Fit Well, our Physical Therapist, Pediatrician, Plastic Surgeon (our team!) were all very helpful. They told me that anything we had been doing should be put into the letter. Things like putting the mobile on the other side of her crib to encourage her to turn her head. We bought her a special tummy time mat that encouraged the lifting of her head even more then normal tummy time. I also wrote it in a very positive tone with the assumption they were going to approve the helmet. If you would like to read our letter I would be happy to e-mail you a copy.
In the end we had to call the insurance company again. Fit Well called the insurance company after 2 weeks and were basically told we will get to it when we get to it. They told me it might help if we called. I called and got told basically the same thing. My husband then called, he is really good at getting results! He asked to speak with the nurse in charge of the approval. My advice is to do this. We had approval by the next day. They care more if they know you care!
I had told our Physical Therapist things were taking longer then we had hoped. She offered to write a letter if we needed and mentioned getting one from our Plastic Surgeon as well. We ended up not needing these but I am sure who ever you are working with would be glad to do the same for you if you need it.
Our insurance also required a letter from us as her parents. They wanted a 3 month history of what we had been doing to correct the problem. Considering she wasn't much older then 4 months that sent me for a loop! But again Fit Well, our Physical Therapist, Pediatrician, Plastic Surgeon (our team!) were all very helpful. They told me that anything we had been doing should be put into the letter. Things like putting the mobile on the other side of her crib to encourage her to turn her head. We bought her a special tummy time mat that encouraged the lifting of her head even more then normal tummy time. I also wrote it in a very positive tone with the assumption they were going to approve the helmet. If you would like to read our letter I would be happy to e-mail you a copy.
In the end we had to call the insurance company again. Fit Well called the insurance company after 2 weeks and were basically told we will get to it when we get to it. They told me it might help if we called. I called and got told basically the same thing. My husband then called, he is really good at getting results! He asked to speak with the nurse in charge of the approval. My advice is to do this. We had approval by the next day. They care more if they know you care!
I had told our Physical Therapist things were taking longer then we had hoped. She offered to write a letter if we needed and mentioned getting one from our Plastic Surgeon as well. We ended up not needing these but I am sure who ever you are working with would be glad to do the same for you if you need it.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Our Story
My name is Brook Collins. I am a stay at home mom of 5 kids. My youngest child, Maycie, is 8 months old and is currently going through P.A.P. Orthosis Cranial Remolding Therapy. From the time she was born she would tip her head to the same side and then turn her head to look up. It looked like the most uncomfortable position in the world to me, but she wouldn't move didn't like anyone else trying to move her! We tried some things at home, like putting the mobile on the other side of her crib to encourage her to turn her head.
At her 4 month appointment out Pediatrician noticed that her face was taking on an A symmetrical shape. She was diagnosed with tortocalis and we started Physical Therapy. Our Physical Therapist sent us to see a Plastic Surgeon who started us on the road to our helmet. There was nothing along the way that was not new to me. I had four other children and had never experienced anything like this before. Every new appointment was a new experience. I had no idea you could do Physical Therapy with a baby for an hour. But you know what - they can! I had no idea that getting a helmet would be such a long road. We went into Fit Well and they took pictures for the insurance company. I don't know if every insurance company requires this but we had to write a letter telling them what we had done on our own to help our daughter. There is nothing like explaining yourself as a parent to people who don't even know you! In the end we had to call the insurance company. For us it didn't take more then a phone call but I know some times it does. Talk to your doctors and/or physical therapist. I know they would be more then happy to write the letters to help you!
Next we went into Fit Well to have the mold of her head done. Two weeks later we were able to pick it up. They were very helpful and more then willing to answer any questions we had. One of Maycie's problems was a very pronounced bump on the back of her head which really became prominent during this time. This caused the helmet to put too much pressure on the back of her head. They tried to adjust it for us but in the end the pressure had caused her head to get infected and abscess. At one point it was as big as a golf ball. In the end they decided to just make her a new helmet.
We are now about 6 weeks into our second helmet. It is going very well! There was a visible difference in the back of her head after just one week!
I have run into a number of people over the last 6 weeks who know someone who has had a helmet, but I have only talked to 2 families who have actually done the helmet. Talking to these 2 families helped me so much! Both of them told me it was so worth everything they went through and did. The more I thought about it the more I wanted to be able to talk to others who had been through what we were going through and to be able to share what we had learned with others who were just starting.
As I started asking at Fit Well, Physical Therapy and doing some research on my own I found nothing that would help me with what I wanted. That is why I started this blog. I am hoping it is able to find those who are looking for the same kind of support I am! I hope we are able to share our stories good and bad. I hope, for those who are just getting started on the road or thinking about it, it helps you know what to do.
At her 4 month appointment out Pediatrician noticed that her face was taking on an A symmetrical shape. She was diagnosed with tortocalis and we started Physical Therapy. Our Physical Therapist sent us to see a Plastic Surgeon who started us on the road to our helmet. There was nothing along the way that was not new to me. I had four other children and had never experienced anything like this before. Every new appointment was a new experience. I had no idea you could do Physical Therapy with a baby for an hour. But you know what - they can! I had no idea that getting a helmet would be such a long road. We went into Fit Well and they took pictures for the insurance company. I don't know if every insurance company requires this but we had to write a letter telling them what we had done on our own to help our daughter. There is nothing like explaining yourself as a parent to people who don't even know you! In the end we had to call the insurance company. For us it didn't take more then a phone call but I know some times it does. Talk to your doctors and/or physical therapist. I know they would be more then happy to write the letters to help you!
Next we went into Fit Well to have the mold of her head done. Two weeks later we were able to pick it up. They were very helpful and more then willing to answer any questions we had. One of Maycie's problems was a very pronounced bump on the back of her head which really became prominent during this time. This caused the helmet to put too much pressure on the back of her head. They tried to adjust it for us but in the end the pressure had caused her head to get infected and abscess. At one point it was as big as a golf ball. In the end they decided to just make her a new helmet.
We are now about 6 weeks into our second helmet. It is going very well! There was a visible difference in the back of her head after just one week!
I have run into a number of people over the last 6 weeks who know someone who has had a helmet, but I have only talked to 2 families who have actually done the helmet. Talking to these 2 families helped me so much! Both of them told me it was so worth everything they went through and did. The more I thought about it the more I wanted to be able to talk to others who had been through what we were going through and to be able to share what we had learned with others who were just starting.
As I started asking at Fit Well, Physical Therapy and doing some research on my own I found nothing that would help me with what I wanted. That is why I started this blog. I am hoping it is able to find those who are looking for the same kind of support I am! I hope we are able to share our stories good and bad. I hope, for those who are just getting started on the road or thinking about it, it helps you know what to do.
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