Family's joy at Padiham baby's progress (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Family's joy at Padiham baby's progress

9:00am Thursday 29th December 2011 in Padiham By Chris Gee, Reporter

A BABY suffering from the rare condition flat head syndrome, has made rapid progress since having a special helmet fitted.

Two months ago, seven-month-old Fred Worth, from Padiham, visited a clinic in Leeds to have the helmet put on, which he has to wear for 23 hours-a-day.

And already the condition, also known as plagiochephaly, has responded.

It was classed as “very severe” in Fred, but doctors now describe recent scans taken since the helmet was fitted as showing the condition as “moderate”.

In September, Fred’s mum, Fiona Clarke, 31, started a fundraising campaign to raise £2,000 for the treatment.

Fred’s personality captured people’s imagination in Padiham and Burnley and the target was reached in weeks.

Fiona said: “At first doctors said there was nothing that could be done and told me just to ‘brush his hair to one side’ when he was older.

“As he gets bigger it would have become more obvious and the first thing people see, “But after researching the condition, I found the clinic in Leeds and they’ve been great.

“I would like to thank all those who donated and helped, it’s made a massive difference to Fred.”

Fred returns to Leeds every fortnight to have the headgear, known as a star band, adjusted.

He is due to wear it until April.

“He doesn’t mind it at all,” said Fiona.

“In fact he seems to get a little more anxious when we take it off to wash him. I think he might be wanting a motorbike in 15 years.

“We’ve had a lovely Christmas and Fred’s really enjoyed it.

“We took him to the ice skating in Blackpool and he was captivated by the lights and sounds. So much so he wasn’t even interested in his bottle.”