Cora is getting a DOC Band

The past week have been filled with appointments with Physical Therapists, and other doctors. She was evaluated yesterday at a cranial remolding specialist.

Turns out, in addition to the flat spots on her head from the torticollis, her face was being pushed forward on the left. This was making her forehead protrude, her eye become a little sunken, her cheek appear larger, and make her ears misaligned.

She was offiicially diagnosed with "increased head height, sloped forehead, left pareital occipital flattening, right frontal flattening, left eye and cheek anterior to the right, left plagiocephaly, left (more than right) brachycephaly, increased head width"

Treatment is with a device called a DOC Band. Basically, it is a very lightweight plastic band that is a perfect mold of Cora's head. On the inside of the band, there is foam (not soft foam) that applies gentle pressure on the "bad" spots and over time, it remolds the head into the correct position. Every week, the foam is shaved and after (hopefully) 8-12 weeks, Cora has a perfect round head.

There are a few downsides to this - well, other than the OBVIOUS one that she has to wear it. The closest place is really far from us. It took my almost 2 hours to get there. We will have to go every week for an adjustment. But, the biggest downside is the fact that is will cost $4000, plus of course the cost to travel back and forth every week. And, insurance will not cover 90% of it. Guess we are not getting a new chimney this year.

We will probably have our appointment this week or next week for the actual molding, which is done digitally. And then it takes a week to get the band. I already bought some stickers for it :)