Fundraiser will help buy helmet for baby Ernie, from Fareham

Little Ernie Edwards was born with severe brachycephaly, which affects the back of his skull, and mild plagiocephaly which affects the side.

It means his skull is protruding forward, up and to the side.

To help with the condition his mum Sarah, from Fareham, wants to buy a helmet which can help stop the effects of the syndrome.

The 28-year-old said: ‘As his condition is so severe, it won’t correct itself as he grows – it will only get worse and more noticeable.

‘The NHS will not pay for the helmet because it says there isn’t enough evidence that it actually works. But if we do nothing then when Ernie is older he won’t be able to wear a hat, a bike helmet or glasses. He could also be bullied for the way he looks.

‘The best thing we can do is try to help it now while he’s a baby.’

Apart from the syndrome Ernie, who is four months old, is a happy little boy. Sarah said they started noticing something amiss when he was eight weeks old and he found it difficult to hold his head up when he was on his stomach.

‘That is when we noticed something was first wrong,’ she added.

‘He did have meningitis when he was three weeks old so we weren’t sure if it was related to that.’

Now they have the diagnosis, the family want to raise £2,150 to pay for the helmet.

Ernie will gradually increase the number of hours he wears it and Sarah is hoping to see an improvement after four months.

To help get the money, Sarah has organised a family fun day on April 2 at Wymering Methodist Church hall in Sixth Avenue.

There will be bouncy castle, face painting, games, a raffle and other activities. It is on at 2pm.

To donate visit gofundme.com/treatment-for-ernie.