Posted on September 27, 2022
3 Kids, 12 Helmets, Globetrotting Family Makes Cranial Remolding Journey Fun
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Or in one family’s case, cranial remolding helmets.
The Anderson family has been making the most out of a condition they’re all too familiar with. They have four children – Emily, 14, Lydia, 12, James 3, and Jeven, 18 months, and three of them were born with craniosynostosis. Their dad, Mike, had it too.
Craniosynostosis and Cranial Remolding Therapy
Craniosynostosis is a condition in which a baby’s skull joins too soon. It can result in an abnormal head shape. If left untreated, pediatric craniosynostosis can lead to serious complications – including vision, hearing and speech problems.
Craniosynostosis is often diagnosed very young in infants. Most children who are diagnosed and treated early go on to live healthy lives. Treatment involves surgery, and then the baby wears a series of cranial remolding helmets to help reshape the head.
By now, the helmet therapy process is old hat for parents Kelli and Mike. Over the years, the Andersons have gone through a total of 12 cranial remolding helmets for Lydia, James and Jeven.
In helmet therapy, babies wear their orthotic helmets for 23 hour every day for several months. Helmet therapy requires regular visits to a cranial therapist who works to monitor progress, make helmet adjustments and fit new helmets as the baby’s head grows.
Finding Mary Free Bed
With Jeven’s diagnosis and therapy journey ahead of them, the Andersons discovered the expertise of the Mary Free Bed Orthotics & Prosthetics + Bionics team for their pediatric cranial remolding needs. It was a long way from their home in Brazil, but the Andersons were willing to make the regular trek to work with the Mary Free Bed cranial remolding specialists.
“I was concerned with the distance between us and the being able to stay compliant,” said Melissa Cordial-Stout, certified orthotist and cranial remold team lead at Mary Free Bed. “We made a deal to keep in touch. I taught Mom how to do some measurements on the head so she could keep me updated on how fast he was growing.”
Getting Creative with Cranial Remolding Helmets
Kelli has always tried to make helmet wearing fun – finding ways to let each child’s personality shine while also raising awareness for the condition. She started off with small creative touches – like decorating the helmets with decals and stickers.
When baby Jeven began wearing his helmets, Kelli’s creativity took off. She had an idea for his design:
A pilot’s helmet.
The aviation pilot theme made sense for the Andersons; Kelli and Mike have worked as missionaries in Brazil for the past 15 years. All four of their children were born there. With the kids having craniosynostosis, the family would regularly fly back to the U.S. for surgery, helmet design and fittings.
“The boys have been in the cockpit of almost every flight we’ve been on,” said Kelli. “All of the pilots want to take pictures with them!”
And we have lift-off!
Kelli took the theme to new creative heights. Thanks to Mom’s Photoshop skills, Jeven toured the globe with his helmet. (You can check out the family’s photos and Jeven’s world travels in the gallery below.)
As they make plans for their next missionary adventure in Peru, the Andersons moved from Brazil to West Michigan – where Kelli grew up – to be closer to family and the Mary Free Bed team.
Now, Jeven is clear for takeoff. He made his final helmet appointment in August and no longer has to wear a helmet.
“We were so blessed to find Mary Free Bed and Melissa, who has extensive experience with treating craniosynostosis,” said Kelli.
Learn more about how the Andersons worked with the Mary Free Bed Pediatric Cranial Remolding Program on Jeven’s helmets to help him grow on his cranial remolding journey.
For more information about cranial remolding at Mary Free Bed call 616.840.8007 or 800.668.6001.
The Anderson’s story was also covered by the team at WOOD TV8. Learn from the family and get a behind-the-scenes look at the pediatric cranial remolding technology at Mary Free Bed here.
