Rhys Evans, described as Britain’s first "bubble baby," has returned to Great Ormond Street Hospital to thank the doctors who saved his life as a child. His visit comes 25 years after he underwent pioneering gene therapy at the London children’s hospital.
As a baby, Evans had a rare genetic condition that meant he had no working immune system. To protect him from potentially dangerous infections, he was kept in a sterilised bubble-like environment at Great Ormond Street while doctors treated him.
The case was seen as a major medical milestone because Evans was the first baby in the UK to receive this form of gene therapy. His story has remained closely linked to Great Ormond Street Hospital, often known as GOSH, where specialists cared for him during the most critical stage of his life.
His return to the hospital is a reminder of how far treatment for severe immune disorders has progressed over the past quarter century. It also highlights the long-term impact of early gene therapy and the role of specialist children’s hospitals in treating rare conditions.
