David Vetter, known as the “Bubble Boy,” lived his entire life in a sterile bubble due to Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID), a rare genetic disorder that left him highly vulnerable to infections. Born in 1971, he was placed in isolation immediately after birth, as his older brother had succumbed to the same disease.

Despite his confinement, his family and doctors sought to provide him with a sense of normalcy, even developing a NASA-engineered spacesuit that allowed him brief experiences outside his bubble. However, a 1983 bone marrow transplant from his sister introduced the Epstein-Barr virus, leading to lymphoma. David passed away at age 12.

His life inspired advancements in SCID research, newborn screening programs, and improved treatments, leaving a lasting medical legacy.