David Vetter

David Joseph Vetter III (September 21, 1971–February 22, 1984) was a boy from Houston, Texas who suffered from a rare genetic disease now known as Severe Combined Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Forced to live in a sterile environment, he became popular with the media as the boy in the plastic bubble.

NASA suit

In 1977, researchers from NASA used their experience with the fabrication of space suits to develop a special US$50,000 suit that would allow David to get out of his cocoon and walk in the outside world. The cumbersome suit was connected to his bubble via an 8-foot (2.5 metre) long stainless steel tube so that he could venture outside without risk of contamination.

Related Topics:
1977 - NASA - US$ - Stainless steel

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On the day Vetter was to receive his gift, many scientists and the press attended to watch the "bubble boy" emerge from his bubble. To everyone's disappointment, however, David refused to wear the suit for the press. A few hours later, after the press had left, he crawled down the tube, but upon pushing his head into the suit he let out a scream and exclaimed "That's the kind of place where germs live!" Later he became more comfortable with the suit, but only used it seven times before outgrowing it and never used the replacement suit provided for him by NASA.

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