When U.S. Navy Veteran Quan Taylor found out about the 3D printer at the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa, Florida, he immediately knew what to ask for.

“A bullet came out of my back but I couldn’t keep it, so I asked Jamie if he could print me a bullet so I could remember what I went through,” he said.

Now, he’s hoping to design an adaptive game controller so he can play video games with one of his friends, a fellow VA patient who has limited use of his hands.

Jamie Kaplan, a VA recreational therapist says that the ability to create with the 3D printer has changed the way his Veteran patients think. Now, they are no longer limited to available adaptive devices but rather what they can imagine.

While 3D printers are not common in VA hospitals yet, that could change.

“Every VA in the country is a teaching hospital, a lot of people don’t realize that many medical advancements started in the VA system,” Kaplan said.

As of now, the printed products are small, but provide hope to provide Veterans of what is possible.

“You can do anything. Don’t let your wheelchair or situation limit you in the things that you do,” Quan said.

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The Tampa VAMC leadership

Jamie and Quan in front of the 3d Printer at Tampa VAMC

Two products printed at the Tampa VAMC