Do you remember ‘Bubble Boy’? This is the story of David Vetter

You may have heard of ‘Bubble Boy’, the nickname given to a child who lived in a sterile plastic bubble for most of his life. But do you know the real story behind the nickname? The story of David Vetter, a boy who was born with a rare genetic disorder that left him without a functioning immune system.

David Vetter was born in 1971 in Texas, USA. He had severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), a condition that prevented his body from producing white blood cells, the key defenders against infections. Without white blood cells, even a common cold could be fatal for David.

David’s parents knew about his condition before he was born, because they had lost their first son to the same disorder when he was seven months old. They agreed to participate in an experimental treatment that involved placing David in a sterile plastic bubble right after birth. The bubble was designed to protect him from any germs until he could receive a bone marrow transplant from a compatible donor, which would give him a new immune system.

The bubble was not a single unit, but a series of connected chambers that allowed David to move around and interact with his family and doctors. He had toys, books, a television, and a telephone inside the bubble. He also had a special suit that he could wear to go outside the…