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Boy's family says thanks to helpers
THE family of a boy facing his first Christmas wearing a helmet to help correct the growth of his skull have thanked everyone who has helped towards the cost of his treatment.
Finley Armer is eight months old and in October was diagnosed with severe positional plagiocephaly and severe brachycephaly, a flattening of the back and side of the head.
After searching for help on the internet, his mother Donna, 26, of Regent Street, Desborough, contacted a cranial doctor in London who said her son needed a helmet to help with the growth of his skull.
However, the family faces costs of more than 2,000 for the helmet and the consultation fees, and also the cost of travelling expenses to London and back for check-ups.
Finley will have to wear the cranial helmet for 23 hours a day for about the next 10 months, but his mother has already noticed the difference it has made.
She said: "The helmet helps the skull grow in a more normal way and it seems to be working. I just want Finley to have a normal childhood."
Mrs Armer noticed her son had a problem shortly after he was born.
She said: "When Finley was about six-weeks-old we noticed his head was a bit flat on one side. In July we had a doctors appointment where I mentioned it as I didn't feel I was getting anywhere talking to the health visitors.
"I was referred to a clinic in Corby in September where they said medically Finley was fine. The only problem was cosmetic and his head was severely out of shape."
After being told to look on the internet for help, Mrs Armer found the website www.ahead4babies.com which helps correct abnormally-growing
skulls.
Mrs Armer's father, John Mitchell, said: "Without the helmet his skull would continue to grow abnormally, which would lead to health problems including the misalignment of his jaw, ears and skull.
"The condition was already affecting his ability to sit up and is restricting his neck movement – for which he has regularly physiotherapy provided by the NHS."
There is no funding for treatment of the condition by the NHS.
Mrs Armer lives with her husband Lee, 33, and other sons Hayden, seven, and Reece, three.
The family and friends took part in an eight-mile sponsored walk in November and have had donations towards Finley's treatment from people across the town.
Mrs Armer said she wanted to thank the workers and management of Rigid Containers, Joseph Cheaney and Sons and regulars at the George.
On December 18, Desborough Beavers leader Steve Burt will have his beard and head shaved to raise more money towards the cost of the treatment.
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Weather for Kettering
Sunday 27 May 2012
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