The Boy Who Lived in a Bubble

 "The Boy Who Lived in a Bubble"

A baby boy was born in Texas, USA in 1971. He was named David Philip Vetter...

Ten seconds after birth, David was placed in a specially sterilized bubble-like chamber... because he was born with a rare disease called Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID)...

Due to Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID), a disease that prevents the body's immune system from functioning,

He had no immunity like normal people, and even the slightest infection from the outside could cause his death.

David Philip became famous for living in a completely sterile environment during his short life.

At that time, this was the only option for children born with SCID until a bone marrow transplant was performed.

All that was needed to enter the bubble was first placed in a chamber with ethylene oxide for four  hours. It had to be sterilized and ventilated for seven days. David was only touched through plastic gloves that were placed on the walls of the bubble.

He saw the world from inside those bubbles.

Food, water, and toys were only given to him after they were all sterilized.

What made it even more difficult was that not even his mother, father, or sister could touch him directly or hold him.

Even when he cried, no one could hold him and love him, comfort him, or comfort him.

Although he had many people to love, he had to live alone in an isolated world. Fate made him a prisoner in the bubble.

Although David's childhood was filled with games and love, all he had was a lonely life inside a bubble.

 David was a very intelligent and curious child

He had as normal a life as possible, including formal education and access to television, 

But at one point Philip complained: "Why school? Why did you teach me to read? What's the point? I can never do anything anyway. So why?"

When he was four years old, he discovered that he could make holes in his skull, his parents explained Philip's condition... When David was older, his own sister was going to donate bone marrow, a decision she had never had before. 

As he grew up, he had great desires, like other children, to fly in the sky and play outside with his friends. 

That little boy wanted a lot and cried a lot for it, but what good would it do to him except to sit alone and cry.

The boy's life was a pain for the local people, as were his father, mother, and sister. 

 David's behavior became increasingly erratic due to the lack of proper human contact. As he entered adolescence, he became angry and depressed, and constantly worried about germs.

NASA, aware of Philip's problems, made him a temporary solution, a special "space suit" that allowed him to go outside and walk around. It was one of the happiest moments of his life.

The government discussed cutting funding for research to find a cure, but there was no public support for it.

His life continued like this for 12 years.

In 1983, the doctors, who had initially encouraged David's parents, recommended that he have a bone marrow transplant. Initially, the transplant seemed to go well, and there was hope that David would be able to break out of the bubble,

so they decided to do a bone marrow transplant.

His sister's bone marrow was a good match for David. Everyone hoped that everything would be fine. 

But, unfortunately, his body developed an infection after the surgery. A few months later, David became ill for the first time in his life; he suffered from diarrhea, fever, severe vomiting, and intestinal bleeding. David had to be taken out of the bubble for treatment. Once taken out of the bubble, he deteriorated and fell into a coma. Finally, David's mother was able to touch his skin for the first and last time in his life. On February 22, 1984, at the age of 12, 

the little life said goodbye to this world.

September 21, 1971 – February 22, 1984]

[Cause of death Lymphoma; complications from SCID, after an unsuccessful bone marrow transplant]

David's death was a great lesson to the world. It opened a new way for studies of human immunity and diseases.  Despite the great pain he suffered, his life made great contributions to medicine. Our hearts stop for a moment in front of the pain that that little mind went through, without seeing the outside world, without knowing anyone's touch. Although David Philip Vetter, the 'Bubble Boy', is the hero of a tragic story, his life remains in our memories as a symbol of love and tolerance.

In 1976, a film based on David's life, The Boy in the Plastic Bubble [1976), was released.