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Our baby's head's wonky!

There was something big that made my tiny twins very different...

Published by: Jessica Gibb
Published on: 2 February 2012

Every mum worries how her child will react when there's a new baby on the way - but I had double the reason to panic, as I was expecting twin boys!
But our five-year-old daughter Evie was thrilled. I wanted her to feel involved. ‘Why don't you choose one name?' I suggested.
Her dad Lynton, 48, shot me a glance. ‘She'll want Tom and Jerry!' he whispered - well, that was her favourite cartoon!
But he breathed a sign of relief when she announced she wanted her baby to be called Sam.
Evie helped us choose the animal border for their nursery, and picked out bouncer chairs.
When the twins finally arrived three weeks early, she ran in minutes after I'd given birth. My mum and dad Carol and Robert, both 54, were struggling to keep up with her.
I gave her Sam first. ‘I named you,' she smiled. Then I settled Thomas on to her lap.
‘Oh, the boys bought you this,' I grinned. Her eyes lit up as I handed her a t-shirt that read World's Best Big Sister in pink letters.
It couldn't have been more fitting. When the twins came home two days later, she'd play with one while I changed the other.
One day, she stared at Thomas. ‘Why won't he lay flat like Sam?'
I'd first noticed Thomas had a pointed, oval-shaped head a day after he was born. The nurse assured me it was just from the birth, but it was still an odd shape. And if Evie was noticing it...
So I told the midwife, who gave us a referral to Whiston Hospital in eight weeks' time.

There, the specialist team diagnosed him straight away.
‘He has a skull deformity called scaphocephalic craniosyntosis.The skull is made up of plates of bone that fuse as we grow older. One part of Thomas's has fused prematurely, so his head won't grow correctly.'
‘He'll be okay, though?' I asked.
The consultant nodded. ‘But there are risks.' I winced as he told us Thomas would need surgery to remove a piece of the skull, approximately four inches by one inch, before stitching him back together. My baby boy would
need more than 70 stitches.
‘If anything went wrong, it could lead to brain damage and paralysis but, if we don't operate, his brain won't have enough room to grow.'
Thomas was booked in for surgery at the Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool when he was 18 weeks old. Back home, I scooped him into my arms. Suddenly, I felt a little hand tug the bottom of my t-shirt.
‘Will Thomas be okay?' Evie whispered. Tears stung my eyes.
‘Of course, sweetheart,' I smiled. How could we break the news that he might not be?
It took me weeks to decide how to tell her. Then, finally, a month before the operation, I went into the living room where Evie was playing with Thomas.
‘Darling, Thomas is poorly, I said. ‘I know, he has a wonky head!' she laughed.
‘Yes, and he needs an operation to make his head the same as Sam's,' I replied.
Her eyes welled up, and she instinctively put a protective arm around her little brother.
A week before the operation, we went to Bournemouth. Evie built sandcastles with the twins, making memories.
Then the day of the op arrived. At the hospital, I carried Thomas down to theatre and gave him a kiss. ‘Sleep tight,' I whispered.
The next four-and-a-half hours were the longest of my life. We stayed at Ronald McDonald House, and chatted away about anything and everything, trying to distract ourselves.
After what seemed like a lifetime, the surgeon appeared. ‘The operation's been successful,' he smiled.
In the recovery room, Thomas was fast asleep, had a massive bandage wrapped around his head. We didn't leave his side for 12 hours. Finally...
‘Look,' I gasped to Lynton. ‘He's coming round.'
A few days later, we brought Sam in. He reached out a little hand and grabbed his brother's top.
Now I couldn't wait to reunite him with Evie. But when she saw Thomas at home a week later, she burst into tears. ‘It's hurting him!' she cried, pointing at the red scar.
‘It's not, sweetheart,' I promised.
For the next few days, Evie barely let him out of her sight - and she started warning other people to take care. ‘Don't touch his head, it's soft!'

Now the twins are six months old, happy and healthy. Lynton and me decided to raise money for Ronald McDonald House. We've set up a Just Giving page and raised £1,270.
Thomas will need check-ups and might need more treatment but, with his big sister around, he's already got the head start that he needs.
Linzi Davies, 34, Widnes, Cheshire