3-D Printing Saves a Child (sydney c, 5th)

Garret Peterson hasn't left the hospital since the day he was born.
His unusually weak windpipe collapsed when put under the slightest pressure, causing him to be unable to breath whenever startled or upset. The sudden onset of this condition horrified his parents; within 30 seconds of a stressful event, Garret would turn blue and stop breathing.

So the Petersons called Dr. Glenn Green, a specialist in similar conditions.  Green teamed up with Scott Hollister, a biomedical engineer with access to a 3-D printing lab.   Using the printer, they created an artificial brace for Garrett's windpipe which would sustain it until it was strong enough to function alone.

However, Garret's condition was more complicated than those Green had dealt with in the past, and they needed FDA approval of the device before they could put it to use.  As soon as the team received permission, they performed surgery on Garrett, and the results were extraordinary.

Garret is now able to breathe on his own, and though he is still in the hospital, he's getting stronger every day, and progressing at a more normal level in other areas of development as well.  His parents are ecstatic, and Green hopes that he can use the printer to help children with similar conditions in the future.

I think that it's fantastic that they were able to help him and his family.  Technology is fascinating.