Scarborough mum's plea to raise money for a helmet to cure her baby's flat head syndrome

Alfie-James Webberley was born at Scarborough Hospital on January 31 2019. But a few months later his mum Leanne noticed something not quite right with his head.

She said: “We woke up one morning and and it was like his head had been blown up from the eyebrows upwards. I was quite concerned but we were told it would just correct itself.”

Following a visit at Scarborough Hospital, in which doctors measured the circumference of Alfie-James’ head, Leanne, 27, found out her baby might have fluid in his brain. A first MRI scan failed to gather enough information so the little boy was referred to York where doctors put him under general anaesthetic.

“The minutes seemed like hours and hours but when the results came out it was a major relief. We were told there were no signs of fluid and that it was probably brachycephaly.”

After researching the condition, commonly known as flat head syndrome, the mum-of-three booked an appointment at a specialist clinic in Leeds, which built a bespoke helmet to correct the shape of Alfie-James’ head.

According to the NHS, which does not provide the helmets, flat head syndrome usually improves with time. However, Leanne was told her son’s condition was “too severe” to improve without treatment.

“The longer you wait, the less effective it is, so the clinic agreed to make the helmet before we could raise all the money to pay for it. Since he’s been wearing it his head has already improved, it’s a slow progress but it works.”

To pay for the helmet, which costs £2,050, Leanne has set up a GoFundMe page which has so far raised more than half the money. However, she’s hoping for a final push to raise the last £650 she needs.

Anyone who would like to help can visit the page HERE.