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How a 3D printer helped save this child's life

Staff at Children's Hospital even print exact models of hearts, spines and other body parts to help doctors save lives.

ST. LOUIS — His parents thought he might die in the hospital, but now 1-year-old Tommy Jacobs is one of the happiest kids you'll ever meet.

With the help of technology and a great doctor, Tommy will now be able to live life to the fullest.

His dad Josh and mom Mary will tell you he wasn't always the healthy and happy kid he is now.

Tommy's jaw didn't form properly because of a birth defect, giving him trouble breathing.

"We weren't really realizing how serious it was until we came in to do the sleep study," said Mary Pat-Jacobs.

Doctors said because his sleep apnea was so bad Tommy would need a high-risk surgery.

“Honestly it's a miracle he's alive at this point," said Mary.

A miracle that a 3D printer helped make happen.

"We are printing some models for patient care, right here we have two pediatric hearts, a pediatric spine and a hip and femur model," said Children's engineer Robert Wesley.

It's technology that helps doctors be as precise as possible and gives families like the Jacobs piece of mind.

"He's showing us where the cuts are going to be made and all the precision and preparation, I was reassured before, but this just sealed the deal," said Mary Pat-Jacobs.

The man who made it all happen is Dr. Kamlesh Patel, a plastic surgeon at Children's.

"I can only imagine how it was for them before this was available because with the amount of precision you need this kind of technology really helps," explained Patel.

 

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