Family find 'unknown' cure in News of the World column

Saved by our own Dr Jones

By Sarah Arnold

A BABY with a deformed skull is now about to be totally cured—thanks to the News of the World.

Doctors told the distraught family of little Harry Osborne that nothing could be done.

Parents Jennifer and Jamie (right) were heartbroken—until her ambulance worker mum Julia read Dr Hilary Jones's Sunday Surgery column during her tea break.

Dr Hilary revealed a US wonder treatment, now available in the UK, for the condition.

Harry, now 10 months old, suffers from deformational plagiocephaly—an abnormal head shape that can be caused by pressure on the skull when babies sleep on their backs. "When Mum showed me the News of the World, my heart leapt," says Jennifer, 36. "Thanks to you we realised help was out there.

"Harry's head is shaped like an oval on its side. The hospital told us there was no cure and we should keep his hair long to cover it!"

Helmet

Dr Hilary pointed out that the new treatment—which involves wearing a special skull-moulding helmet called Starband—had to be completed before babies were 14 months old to be effective. So the Osbornes, of Dartford, Kent, searched the internet and found a Harley Street specialist who used Starband. Grandparents Julia and Jack gave them the money to pay for it. Now Harry has to wear the helmet for 12 to 16 weeks—and after that he will look just like any normal baby.

"He got it in the nick of time because at 10 months there is not long left before the skull bones fuse," said Julia. "It's a good job Dr Hilary is on the ball—because so few specialists seem to know about this treatment. The NHS hasn't even approved it yet.

"Also plagiocephaly is increasing because the NHS advises parents to put babies on their backs to avoid cot deaths.

Safe

"So the more parents know about the treatment the better."

Dr Hilary said last night: "Deformational plagiocephaly normally sorts itself out. But if it doesn't there's clear evidence that Starband is a very safe and effective treatment.

"I'm delighted to have played a small part in helping Harry."