Leaving items in a taxi is a common occurrence, but retrieving them can be as difficult as climbing to the heavens. If the lost item is very important, it can be truly heartbreaking. Ms. Lau, a mother of two, accidentally left a valuable infant head-moulding helmet in a taxi two days ago. Not only did it hit her wallet hard, but it would also affect her child's corrective treatment, causing her great distress. She could only post online, hoping to encounter a kind soul to help her find it.
Ms. Lau's baby daughter is now 6 months old. When the baby was born, it coincided with the fifth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ms. Lau's family unfortunately contracted the virus in turn, so they could only isolate the baby in her room and minimise contact with her. Although they successfully kept the baby from being infected, it is suspected that this led to the baby sleeping on one side for too long, resulting in a flattened and sunken skull on one side of her head. Ms. Lau was worried that the baby's appearance would be affected as she grew up, or even lead to problems such as a stiff neck, protruding eyes, and vision impairment. Therefore, she took the baby to a relevant institution for examination and a custom-made cranial orthotic helmet to begin a course of treatment.
Ms Lau's baby needs to wear a helmet for a long time to treat plagiocephaly. (Provided by interviewee)
Lost baby head shaping helmet, pale pink with butterfly pattern. (Provided by interviewee)
Around midday on July 26th, at approximately 12:00 PM, Miss Lau, before heading to work, took her elder daughter and baby to her mother-in-law's house to leave them in her care. While travelling in a taxi on Hau Kwong Road in Sau Mau Ping, and disembarking on Kung Lok Road in Kwun Tong, she accidentally left behind an orthopedic helmet. The helmet was at the time placed inside a black and white Mickey Mouse eco-bag. Miss Lau is very worried that whoever finds the helmet may not realise its importance and will discard it carelessly.
Orthopaedic helmets must be manufactured by specialist factories in the United States, with each costing over $20,000 – a considerable sum for Ms Liu, which has greatly increased the financial burden of raising her two children.Furthermore, each custom order takes two weeks to complete; the baby must be re-measured and then spend another two weeks getting used to the new helmet, which severely disrupts the baby’s orthopaedic treatment.Ms Lau has already contacted the taxi rank and reported the matter to the police, but unfortunately has received no response. She therefore earnestly appeals to the public to keep an eye out for the helmet in the hope of recovering it. Anyone who finds it is asked to call 9666 9055; Ms Lau is willing to offer a small reward.
Paediatric specialist Dr. Wu Chun-ban explained that "infantile plagiocephaly" can be caused by congenital factors, complications during birth, or poor sleeping posture after birth. Its impact on infants depends on the severity, with severe cases affecting facial features, causing ear asymmetry, and even putting pressure on the brain, requiring early treatment. Using a custom-made corrective helmet is a common treatment for plagiocephaly. An infant's skull slows its growth after 12 months and begins to set around 18 months, so the golden period for treating plagiocephaly is between 4-6 months after birth, and continuous wear for 3-6 months is necessary for effectiveness.
Miss Liu's baby girl's skull was obviously asymmetrical (left) before wearing a helmet, and it improved slightly after wearing it for a period of time (right). However, the helmet was lost before the course of treatment was completed, leaving Miss Liu extremely anxious. (Provided by interviewee)
