Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave Gives Update on Daughter Dove Following Neurosurgery

In July, she revealed Dove would be undergoing neurosurgery after being diagnosed with lambdoid craniosynostosis. The diagnosis refers to the premature fusion of the skull bones in the back of the head, which can cause brain-development complications.

This week, she shared a “Dove noggin update” along with a photo of the baby girl in her cranial helmet.

The caption was written as if from Dove, and said, “Hi guys, I am 9 months old and other than a zig zag scar underneath my hair across my head I wouldn’t even know I had neurosurgery a few months back. I have been in this helmet aka doc band for 10 weeks and am about to grow out of it.”

The post continued, “The doc’s said I have to wear another helmet for 10+ more weeks but it truly doesn’t bother me one bit. Mom cried a little when she found that out but then Dr. Urata reminded her that not only is it helping me shape my head further but it is protecting me as I am starting to learn to crawl and lift myself up incase I bump into something. I get to take it off one hour a day, normally during and after bath time which is a good thing bc peeyou it can get stinky.”