Individuals born with SCID are abnormally susceptible to infections, and exposure to typically innocuous pathogenscan be fatal. Their first son, David Joseph Vetter III, was also born with SCID and died at 7 months of age. David had severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), an inherited condition in which the patient lacks the white blood cells that fight infection. Vetter's parents were David Joseph Vetter, Jr. and Carol Ann Vetter. It was written by Douglas Day Stewart, executive produced by Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg (who, at the time, produced Starsky and Hutch and Charlie's Angels), and directed by Randal Kleiser, who would work with Travolta again in Greasesho… The suit was connected to his bubble via an eight-foot (2.5 m) long cloth tube and although cumbersome, it allowed him to venture outside without serious risk of contamination. David quickly corrected me and told me that he was a star because his picture was in the paper the day before and stars don’t have to clean up toys. We prepared him to be able to socialize and eventually join the outside world. He longed to drink a Coke and walk barefoot on the grass. Still, David’s best epitaph may be the one on his gravestone in Conroe. The Vetters hoped their daughter would provide the match. In his first years of life he lived mostly at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, Texas. As a captivated public … At the time of his birth in 1971, a bone marrow transplant from an exact matched donor was the only cure for SCID, but there was no match available in David’s family. We were grateful for the bubble; the bubble was the only treatment option available for David at the time. As a captivated public watched, he grew up isolated from both germs and human touch before finally dying, at age 12, after the failure of a then experimental bone-marrow transplant. [11], "American Experience. Vetter was initially resistant to the suit, and although he later became more comfortable wearing it, he used it only seven times. 'Bubble boy' medical legacy lives on 25 years after death. But in January 1984, David began showing signs of illness and soon was removed from the bubble for treatment. Water, air, food, diapers and clothes were sterilized before entering the sterile chamber. It was a story that touched the world, the cute little boy who lived virtually his whole life inside a series of sterile plastic bubbles, waiting for a cure for his fatal immune disease that, tragically, never came. In her words, “David was a great blessing to our family and to the world.”. Vetter said it was “kind of unbelievable it happened to us, plain, ordinary people.” Marveling at his family’s ability to cope, he said it was like “the whole world came crashing down” when David was diagnosed. A program of the Immune Deficiency Foundation, SCID Compass is a program designed to guide parents of infants diagnosed with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), people living with SCID, and the medical community through the journey of learning about this rare life-threatening medical disorder and finding support to navigate the lifelong health challenges. Individuals born with SCID are abnormally susceptible to infections, and exposure to typically innocuous pathogens can be fatal. The Immune Deficiency Foundation improves the diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life of people affected by primary immunodeficiency through fostering a community empowered by advocacy, education, and research. For 12 years, thanks to news coverage around his birthday, he captured hearts worldwide.”. Vetter's psychologist, Mary Murphy, wrote a book about Vetter's case that was to be published in 1995; however, its initial publication was blocked by his parents and Baylor College of Medicine. The Boy In The Bubble. Houston ranked among 'rattiest' cities... Mail theft cases seeing an uptick across Houston area. Their walls were fitted with heavy-duty rubber gloves through which doctors cared for him; food was sterilized and slipped in through air locks. Vetter had his sister and friends for company while at home. David had friends, was schooled at home and the hospital by teachers, and played and fought with his sister just like any little brother. Be fashion-forward with dresses under $20 online at... Chron Exclusive: Save $1,000 on roof replacement, New Chrome extension can save you hundreds, Longhorn Band will not be at Baylor game due to 'Eyes of Texas', Ex-Blue Bell Creameries CEO charged in deadly listeria case, TABC suspends liquor licenses at 4 Houston-area bars, Get an extra 30% off these items at the Vera Bradley Outlet sale. SCID Compass At a time when HIV/AIDS was coming onto the scene, David also put diseases of the immune system on people’s radar screen. “A lot of kids are alive today because David was here,” David J. Vetter said last week in a rare interview about his son. In late 1983, as David began losing hope he would ever leave the bubble, doctors told the Vetters of a promising new bone marrow transplant technique using less than perfect matches. HPD Chief Art Acevedo to discuss racism on new... Houston billionaire charged with $2 billion tax... Beyoncé is one of America's richest women. Science was protecting David, this was never an experiment.”. ©2020 Immune Deficiency Foundation. Known as “the boy in the bubble,” or just David, he was the Texas Medical Center’s most famous patient from the early ’70s to the mid-’80s. His wife told us … Vetter's surname was not revealed to the general public until 10 years after his death in order to preserve his family's privacy. “The next day, he told me that he was a star,” Carol Ann lovingly remembers, “I didn’t know what he was referring to and told him that, yes indeed he was a star because he lights up my life. “The Vetters were the only parents who asked if we could protect their boy,” said Dr. Mary Ann South, a pediatric immunologist and one of David’s team of doctors. Get alerts when your voice can make a difference, Promote policies that help the PI community, Immune Deficiency Foundation Our goals were to keep David safe, bring the outside in and make sure he felt loved.”, July 29, 1977 - Carol Ann holds DavidPhoto Credit: Texas Children’s Hospital, “David’s life showed courage, patience and understanding. “More than any scientist, he taught us by his life.”. Todd Ackerman is a veteran reporter who has covered medicine for the Houston Chronicle since 2001. [9], Vetter's parents later divorced. His father went on to become the mayor of Shenandoah, Texas. A graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles, he previously worked for the Raleigh News & Observer, the National Catholic Register, the Los Angeles Downtown News and the San Clemente Sun-Post.