ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Meghan Orbich's baby son Ian was critically ill and running out of options, when she spotted something on social media that changed everything.
"Actually I was killing time on Facebook," said Orbich. "I saw this story from the child who had previously had the surgery done, and I just thought, 'Oh that sounds cool.'"
The story was about Garrett Peterson, a little boy with a life-threatening condition called severe tracheobronchomalacia, who had just received a custom-designed, experimental airway splint at the University of Michigan's C.S. Mott Children's Hospital. The splint was made using a 3D printer.
Ian Orbich also had severe tracheobronchomalacia. It left his airway about the size of a coffee stirrer and so weak it could collapse without warning, leaving Ian unable to breathe.
Ian's heart had already stopped multiple times, and he couldn't leave the hospital. The future looked bleak, until that glimmer of hope appeared in Orbich's Facebook feed.
After talking with Ian's doctors, Orbich contacted the University of Michigan and asked if she could send Ian's medical records. Just four hours after the records arrived, Orbich received a phone call from Dr. Glenn Green.
"I could not believe it was him on the phone," remembered Orbich.
"I thought that we had a solution that would be very helpful for him," said Green.
Doctors at U of M had only used the custom-designed splints in two critically ill children, but both were doing well. So in April 2014, Ian and his parents traveled from Pennsylvania to Ann Arbor.
"We saw exactly where the collapsed windpipe was and we designed a shell to go over that area that was compressed so small making it unable for him to breathe," said Green. "We took that design to the 3D printer and in about 24 hours, we had the actual implant that we would use."
Surgeons implanted the splint, allowing Ian to breathe properly for the first time in his life.
"Beforehand it was like breathing through a flat wet noodle that was all floppy, and afterward it was wide open, just as wide as it should be," said Green.
"It's almost unbelievable," said Orbich.
It's a second chance for Ian, but just a hint of what doctors believe 3D printing could mean in the future.
"We see this as an entire game changer for surgery," said Green. "One of the biggest nightmares that I face as a surgeon is when a child comes in that is in great distress that I have nothing to offer. These types of kids have been bothering me for awhile. Just having something that works now is so rewarding."
It's been just over a year since Ian's surgery.
"He's doing wonderful," says Orbich. "Ian hasn't been back to the hospital except for appointments since early February."
Ian is now sitting on his own and smiling a lot.
"He's reaching for toys, playing with toys, he's interacting," said Orbich. "He's starting to take tastes of food, which we weren't able to do any of that before."
Best of all, Ian is finally home with his big brother Owen.
"It's unbelievable to see how much they love each other," said Orbich.
Owen and Ian have enjoyed lots of time outside this summer, from the sandbox to the swimming pool. Although, there are limits.
"He (Owen) wants him to jump on the trampoline with him, so it's kind of challenging," laughed their father Justin Orbich.
Ian is slowly being weaned from his ventilator and is working on learning to stand.
"He so badly wants to be able to do it. He is very motivated and silly. His personality is really starting to show. The difference from a year ago is unbelievable," said Meghan Orbich.
The splint is designed to dissolve after Ian's airway grows big enough and strong enough to support itself.
To date, four children have received the custom airway splints. All were treated through an emergency exemption clause. Doctors at Mott are working with the FDA to win approval for a clinical trial and secure funding.
The hope is that this device could be used in children with tracheobronchomalacia much earlier, to prevent the complications that come with standard treatment.
"The idea is to have this provided for children before they get into such distress," said Green.
Ian's parents are forever grateful to the doctors and to the families of the first two patients for sharing their stories.
"Had I not seen the media attention that Garrett got, Ian would not be with us today," said Orbich. "We really hope that by us talking about Ian's surgery and the success he has had that other people would be helped. We're excited for the next milestones he's going to hit and to show everyone who's helped him along the way just how great he's doing."
To learn more about the custom-designed splints, click here.