Gabriel’s story: recovery after craniosynostosis surgery with LOCband Lite

When Gabriel was born, his mum, Diana, noticed something unusual about his head shape. One of his eyes appeared more closed than the other, and his eyebrows didn’t seem to line up evenly.

“As a mum, you just know when something isn’t right. His head looked different, and I could see it straight away.”

She raised her concerns with her GP but was told it was likely due to the birth and that it was too early to tell. As Gabriel grew, his head shape became more noticeably uneven, so Diana returned to the GP. Again, there were no clear answers. Diana had given birth via caesarean section, so she wasn’t convinced by the explanation that it was caused by delivery.

Still without answers, she turned to a friend whose son had been treated for plagiocephaly using the LOCband Lite helmet. They recommended that she contact us here at LOC. Diana got in touch with one of our senior orthotists, Saeed Hamid, and sent over some photos of Gabriel’s head shape via email. Saeed arranged a telephone consultation to discuss her concerns in more detail. During the call, he identified signs of craniosynostosis, a condition where the bones of a baby’s skull join together too early and advised a referral for further investigation.

Unfortunately, Gabriel’s GP sent the wrong referral to Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), so it wasn’t flagged as urgent. It delayed things at a critical time, but Diana didn’t give up. She followed up with the GP, made a formal complaint, and contacted GOSH herself to ensure the referral was received correctly.

The delay meant Gabriel wasn’t seen until he was five months old, but his surgery was finally scheduled.

Starting LOCband Lite helmet treatment

Diana later shared that learning Gabriel had craniosynostosis had been scary. She had never heard of the condition before and worried about the short- and long-term impact. But she found comfort in the care she received from the craniofacial team at GOSH, who provided ongoing support and reassurance throughout his c

Gabriel’s surgery took place on the day he turned five months old. His parents had prepared for a difficult recovery, but Gabriel surprised them all. Diana shared that she had expected him to be upset or in pain, but instead, he was strong.

Starting helmet therapy with LOC

Two weeks after surgery, Gabriel came to our Kingston clinic to start helmet treatment with Saeed. A 3D scan was taken to create his bespoke LOC Cranioband Lite helmet, and the family started helmet treatment shortly afterwards. Gabriel adapted well to wearing his helmet and had no trouble sleeping in it. He continued treatment with regular reviews at the clinic and was later seen by Jo Drake, Head of plagiocephaly treatment.

“Jo was amazing, so thoughtful and reassuring. She made us feel comfortable and always explained what was happening.”

At the start of helmet therapy, Gabriel’s asymmetry measured 8 mm. After wearing his LOC Cranioband Lite, it was reduced to 1 mm, well within the normal range. Gabriel wore the helmet for around a year, using two helmets throughout the course of his treatment to accommodate his growth. The warmer months made it a bit more challenging at times, but the results were clear.

Gabriel is doing brilliantly. He is happy, thriving and his head shape is now well within the normal range.

Considering treatment for you baby?

If you’re concerned about your baby’s head shape, we’re here to help. You can complete our free flat head photo assessment form or contact us to book a consultation with one of our experienced orthotists.