Grant’s Story: Transforming Into a Hero with 3D Printing
Innovation in healthcare helped Grant’s care team celebrate his strength during leukemia treatment.
July 23, 2025
Celebrating Grant’s Strength During Leukemia Treatment
Five-year-old Grant is everybody’s best friend and always ready to play, his mom, Kaitlin, says. He loves sports, video games and superheroes. When Grant complained of unexplained arm pain, his family didn’t think much of it. After all, Grant is their “rough and tumble,” rowdy little boy. They took him to the doctor, where he received an exam and some tests, with results that left his family in shock — Grant had B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), a type of bone marrow and blood cancer.
At that moment, Kaitlin knew they were about to begin a long journey, as Grant started intensive cancer treatments at Children’s Nebraska. For over a year, Grant received the advanced medicine and expert pediatric cancer care he needed from a compassionate care team.
After getting to know Grant, his care team knew he would love receiving a custom, 3D-printed toy from the 3D Imaging & Advanced Visualization Lab. The goal was to empower Grant and brighten his day by turning him into his favorite superhero.
“I knew right away it would be something Grant could get behind,” his mom remembers.
The Making of a Custom 3D Action Figure
Three departments at Children’s worked together to create Grant’s action figure: Pediatric Hematology & Oncology, Child Life and 3D Imaging & Advanced Visualization. Matt Watson, a 3D Imaging Lab Specialist at the Mammel Innovation Center, explains how his team turned Grant into a superhero:
They met with Grant at the Infusion Center to scan his head in 3D and with a secondary camera.
Using special software, they manipulated all surfaces of the figure and sent the file to the 3D printer.
The 3D printer took about two hours to print a replica of Grant’s head.
After cleaning up the head, they fit it onto the action figure to deliver to Grant.
Presenting Grant’s Personalized Superhero
Grant was overjoyed to receive his superhero action figure. His family, including his mom, dad and three siblings, gathered at Children’s to celebrate the event.
“It was really meaningful to have our entire family there, where everyone knows Grant,” his mom says. “It was special to have a large gathering of the nurses and team staff come to see him.”
The day also meant a lot to his care team, who found it rewarding to give Grant something that celebrates his strength and brings him joy.
“Grant’s extra special celebration reminds us that we’re coming to work each day to make a difference,” says Christy Hogan, Certified Child Life Specialist. “It helps us focus on why we’re here — to improve the lives of children.”
At home, Grant couldn’t wait to place the figure on the shelf in his bedroom, where he displays all his favorite things. As he started kindergarten, it served as a constant reminder of his superhero strength during his fight against cancer. He even shared his action figure with his classmates during show-and-tell.
Using Innovation to Advance Childhood Cancer Care
Technology is critical for advanced cancer treatments, but it can also help children feel more at ease in the hospital. Patients often have access to video games, movies or other entertainment to provide comfort and distraction.
At Children’s Nebraska, we use technology in unique ways to support our focus on total patient care. Our 3D print lab isn’t just for medical treatment and planning — it’s also for making the hospital experience more positive. This advanced technology helps us care for the whole child by seeing them, celebrating them and supporting them throughout their healing journey.
Supporting Children with Serious Illness
When a child has cancer, they deserve innovative cancer care and an extraordinary patient and family experience. Learn more about our Hematology & Oncology Department and how we provide exceptional care for children like Grant.
