David Vetter

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/david-vetter

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. When was David Vetter born?September 21, 1971
2. Where was David Vetter born?Houston, Texas
3. When did David Vetter die?February 22, 1984
4. What is the medical condition?Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID)
5. Why did David live inside a plastic bubble?Because his immune system was so fragile, doctors put him in a sterile bubble to keep all germs away and keep him safe from infections.
6. How did the bubble keep David protected from germs?The bubble had special filters that cleaned the air and every item that entered was sterilized, so no bacteria or viruses could get inside.

Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID): A group of rare genetic disorders characterized by profound defects in the development and function of adaptive immune cells.
Sterile Isolator: A sealed, germ-free chamber used for medical containment and treatment of patients with compromised immune systems.
Bone Marrow Transplant: A medical procedure to replace diseased or damaged bone marrow with healthy stem cells, often used to restore immune function.
Pathogens: Microorganisms, such as bacteria and viruses, that can cause disease.