Kevin Churchill

Name – Kevin Churchill

Parents – Kirsty and Kevin Churchill

Location – Tyne and Wear, Newcastle

Kevin wearing his new STARband helmet

Diagnosis – Severe Right Plagiocephaly

Age treatment started – 11 months

Kevin Churchill, one of STARband’s most recent users, is a true survivor.

The tot was born 10 weeks prematurely on June 18, 2006, at the Royal Victoria Infirmary’s special baby care unit in Newcastle. Weighing less than three pounds, he was given a 15% chance of survival.

However, brave Kevin defied expectations, and after just one month, he was allowed to leave hospital.

Although delighted to have their son back home, the real challenge for parents Kirsty and Kevin, and grandparents Malcolm and Debra, was only just beginning.

Baby Kevin, now approaching his first birthday, continues to face a catalogue of health problems, including chronic lung disease, partial deafness and stomach problems.

He also suffers from plagiocephaly, also known as ‘flat head syndrome’ – caused, in Kevin’s case, from prolonged exposure in the birth canal, after his mother’s waters broke after just 18 weeks. As well as resulting in an abnormal head shape, Kevin also has balance, co-ordination and movement problems.

Kevin’s grandmother first heard about STARband from her sister-in-law. The treatment, which uses a specially-fitted band or helmet, enables the baby’s head to be gradually reshaped as it grows. The technology has enabled over a thousand babies to achieve normal, rounded heads, after just a few months of use.

After an initial consultation at the Technology in Motion centre in Leeds, which specialises in cranial remoulding treatment, the family were convinced of the benefits, and launched a concerted fundraising campaign to cover the cost of Kevin’s new headwear.

Grandfather Malcolm said: “The consultant told us that Kevin had one of the most severe cases of plagiocephaly that he had seen. For us, it became a race against the clock. The sooner we could get Kevin started on his treatment, the better. We couldn’t pay for the treatment outright, so fundraising was the way to go.”

A packed programme of activities was launched, ranging from football tournaments and raffles to social nights and sponsored walks. As former publicans in Tyne and Wear, the family had a wide network of former customers to call upon, who were only too willing to contribute to the cause. As a result, Kevin took proud possession of his STARband helmet in May 2007.

“There were one or two teething troubles in the first week, but we haven’t looked back since,” said Malcolm. “Kevin is now really happy to wear it. In fact, he really misses it on the rare occasion that he doesn’t have it on.”

Although only a month into the treatment, the family has already been extremely encouraged by the results. In the first week alone, Kevin enjoyed a 3mm improvement in his head shape.

“We feel really optimistic about the future now,” said Malcolm. “It’s early days, but the treatment is already having a noticeable effect, which is very exciting.”

He added: “Kevin is an amazing baby. He’s been through so much, but he never cries, just smiles all the time. We obviously want the very best for him, and the STARband helmet is our way of making sure he can enjoy a completely normal life in the future.”

In the meantime, the family is continuing with its fundraising efforts, and is putting the finishing touches to a spectacular abseil event off the Malmaison hotel on the Newcastle quayside.

“For us, the events are as much about raising awareness as they are about raising funds,” said Malcolm. “We were lucky, in that we found out about plagiocephaly from a family member. But there are plenty of people out there living in ignorance – not aware of how simple it is to get the right help for their baby.

“If Kevin’s story helps to raise the profile of plagiocephaly and STARband, we will be absolutely delighted.”