An baby boy who was born with a rare condition needs specialist surgery or his 'brain won't have room' to grow.
Beki Jones' son, Teddy - who will turn one in two weeks - was born with craniosynostosis.
The rare condition causes the bones in a baby’s skull join together too early, before the baby’s brain is fully formed.
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Left untreated, the condition can lead to head deformity, increased pressure on the brain, and seizures.
The family live on Teeside but because of the specialist treatment Teddy needs he will be soon have surgery under the care of doctors at Alder Hey Children's Hospital, reports Teeside Live.
Beki said: "It's a premature fusion of the sutures in his skull, his is a single suture-fusion, so his forehead is misshapen.
“The only way to correct it is with surgery and they usually do that between 18 and 24 months.”
Teddy has met with specialists at Alder Hey where his surgery will be performed in the near future.
Beki said: “If he doesn't have the surgery it can lead to deformity, visual disturbances, speech and language problems, and seizures because his brain won’t have enough room to grow.
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“It’s quite obvious with Ted, there’s different characteristics of it.
“His eyes are quite close together, his forehead is a pointed shape, and his temples are deep-set, so that would all get reconstructed.”
One of the neonatal nurses noticed it on the maternity ward just after Teddy’s birth.
Beki said: “They didn’t know if it was just a bit of swelling from delivery or if it was something more sinister, which it was.
“It can cause pressure in the skull so we’re hoping to correct it before it gets to that point.
“And so it’s less traumatic for him as well.”
Thankfully the condition doesn't affect his day-to-day life at the moment, and Teddy is full of fun and just starting to climb.
Beki said: “He’s just like a normal little boy, he’s into everything. He loves to have a dance, he likes musical books, he’s just absolutely gorgeous.”
Teddy also enjoys playing with his three-year-old sister Dolly and her ice cream toy.
As the surgery cannot be performed in the North East, the Jones family will need to stay in Liverpool for a week minimum.
Ronald McDonald House has rooms in the grounds of Alder Hey, where families can stay free of charge while they are away from home.
Beki said: “You don’t have to worry about where to cook your tea or about leaving your belongings in a hotel room."
She is part of an online support group, Cranio Ribbons, for other families who have children with Teddy’s condition.
And as September is awareness month for craniosynostosis, the group have been fundraising to support one of the rooms at Ronald McDonald House for a year, which costs £10,000.
Beki said: “We just want to be able to give something back."
You can donate to Beki's fundraiser here
She has raised almost £1,200 so far through fairs and raffles, and collectively as a group they have raised roughly £4,500.
She added: “People have been so helpful and generous with their time.
“We’re just so grateful and I feel like I’m surrounded by amazing people.”
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