Mother Jillian Wilson and partner Lee Barneby Jillian. Both parents thought that the problem would ‘sort itself out’ and didn’t think too much of it.

It was Jillian’s parents who brought to their attention the problem with Aleece’s condition. Grandparents Eric and Christine Wilson had seen an article on the regional BBC website ‘Look North’, and brought up the subject of plagiocephaly (also known as flat head syndrome) with Jillian.

They didn’t want to cause upset, but there was no avoiding s from Morley, Leeds, were overjoyed when their beautiful daughter was born on 18th November 2006. Although Jillian had to go through caesarean section, her daughter was delivered without any further complications.

As Aleece grew, Jillian noticed that her little daughter preferred to sleep and play on her back. She never thought that this was an issue until at aged four months, Aleece’s head appeared look like ‘a rugby ball’ as described this when they used the word ‘deformed’ to describe Aleece’s head shape. Jillian says: “When they used that word I couldn’t help getting upset. I guess that I was blinded by love for Aleece and couldn’t really see the problem – I just didn’t want to face the fact that my little girl was less than perfect.”

Jillian’s parents had found information on Technology in Motion centre in Leeds, which treats many plagiocephaly cases using a helmet called a Cranial Remoulding Helmet.

After their first consultation at the centre, Jillian felt reassured that other parents faced the same dilemma, and she wasn’t alone. It became apparent that Aleece’s case was one of the most extreme to ever come into the centre, so Jillian decided that she had to go for the treatment, but she had her concerns: “I worried about what people would think of Aleece in her helmet, and even things that seem silly now such as not being able to stroke her hair or kiss her on the head. But I knew that this would be life changing for her and we had to go through with it.”

Aleece’s treatment began at aged 7 1/2 months and ended just after she was a year old, and Mum Jillian is more than happy with the results achieved. She says: “The Cranial Remoulding Helmet has given my daughter visually, a normal face shape and her ears no longer stick out. She would always have looked beautiful in my eyes, but now I receive so many compliments on what a beautiful little girl I have, and I never got that before. I could not have asked for a better outcome.”