Future takes shape for Paige (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Future takes shape for Paige

Paige Rouse with her mother Caroline Picture Ref: 77757-73THE internet is known for providing answers to complex questions.

But Caroline Crawford had no idea cyber space contained what could be a cure for her toddler Paige Rouse, who has a rare skull deformity.

In April, Miss Crawford, 23, read in the Advertiser how a £1,500 Cranio helmet was to be fitted to Oliver Dean now eight months old to help realign his skull.

Tests had shown the lad's skull was 30mm out of shape.

Through the Advertiser she contacted Oliver's parents, Pauline and Rob, who told her more.

Both Oliver and 11-month-old Paige suffer from the same condition, plagiocephaly a flattening of the skull.

Paige's misalignment currently stands at 39mm, but like Oliver she is making rapid progress. It is expected that her skull will turn to a normal shape.

Miss Crawford, of Carter Close, Abbeyfields, said that she had no idea what treatment was available until she read our original story.

"I read Oliver's story and I contacted Caroline and Headstart4babies," she said.

"Paige was fitted with her helmet at the end of April. There has definitely been an improvement."

The helmets, which encourage correct growth, are not available on the NHS

Paige is receiving the treatment from the same London clinic as Oliver.

Meanwhile, Mr and Mrs Dean, of Upper Stratton, say Oliver may be completely cured by the summer. The misalignment has reduced to just 10mm.

Mrs Dean, who works at BP Castrol in Old Town, said she and her husband are "chuffed to bits".

"We were not expecting to see that much of an improvement," she said.

"We could tell just by looking at him that the helmet had helped reduce the misalignment but we were really surprised to learn by how much. We are thrilled."

Oliver has to wear the helmet 23 hours a day but his mum says he's taking to it well.

"He's happy with it," said Mrs Dean. "He sleeps and eats while wearing it and we only take it off to bath him and wash the helmet.

"It was a bit of a novelty to begin with but it's just become a part of the routine for him."

Like his new pal, Paige, Oliver was born with a perfectly shaped head.

Their family GP told them that little treatment was available on the NHS.

That's when they found a website belonging to Headstart4babies.

From there they discovered a specialist London clinic ran by top surgeon Dr Chris Brecher dealt with severe types of the condition.

Mrs Dean added: "We were disappointed to begin with that this helmet was not available on the NHS.

"My husband and I take the view that had our child had some kind of cosmetic problem like bad teeth something would have been done."

Kevin Shoesmith