Quicker and faster 3-D printers have allowed not just amazing objects to be created, but have started to affect how doctors treat patients.

    We've put together a list of some of the most amazingmedical break throughs made possible with 3-D printing.

Life-Saving Airway

    In 2013, doctors created a new airway for kaiba Gionfriddo, aboy born with an airway that kept collapsing (萎陷). To save his life doctors printed tiny tubes to join together in different shapes and sizes until one finally worked for Kaiba. It was placed in Kaiba's bronchus (支气管) so that it no longer collapsed. Even more remarkably, once the plant was placed it couldstay there. It's designed to eventually be absorbed into the body.

New “Bionic” Hands

    One of the most remarkable ways 3-D printing is now being used is as a way to create prosthetics (假肢). A boy born without an arm named Alex was able to get a new“bionic”hand thanks to it. Last year a college student spent 8 weeks coming up with a special prosthetic design that only cost a few hundred dollars in materials. He said he wanted to create a prosthetic far cheaper than other choices that can run tens of thousands of dollars.

A practice Heart

    In Seattle, doctors have been able to use 3-D printing technology to“practice”risky operations so that they will face fewer surprises in the operating room. Kami Sutton was born with her heart“in the wrong place”. For a recent operation her doctor was able to take many scans of Sutton's heart and print out a model. “Kami's heart is truly one-of-a-kind,”Dr. Stephan Seslar, a heart disease specialist said. “Operating on her without understanding the structure of her heart better could be very dangerous.”

A New Skull

    A U.K. man was able to have part of his skull rebuilt thanks toa 3-D printer. Stephen Power broke his cheek bones in a crash. To help Powerh is doctors instead created 3-D bones all carefully printed in the shape of his face. “This is really the first time we've taken it to this stage, where everything has been planned and modeled in advance — and worked sweetly,”said Adrian Sugar, a doctor.

    Every man wants his son to be somewhat of a clone, not in features but in footsteps. As he grows you also age, and your ambitions become more unachievable. You begin to realize that your boy, in your footsteps, could probably accomplish what you hoped for. But footsteps can be muddied and they can go off in different directions.

    My son Jody has hated school since day one in kindergarten. Science projects waited until the last moment. Book reports weren't written until the final threat.

    I've been a newspaperman all my adult life. My daughter is a university graduate working towards her master's degree in English. But Jody? When he entered the tenth grade he became a “vo-tech” student (技校学生). They're called “motorheads” by the rest of the student body.

    When a secretary in my office first called him “motorhead”, I was shocked. “Hey, he's a good kid,” I wanted to say. “And smart, really.”

I learned later that motorheads are, indeed, different. They usually have dirty hands and wear dirty work clothes. And they don't often make school honor rolls (光荣榜).

    But being the parent of a motorhead is itself an experience in education. We who labor in clean shirts in offices don't have the abilities that motorheads have. I began to learn this when I had my car crashed. The cost to repair it was estimated at $800. “Hey, I can fix it,” said Jody. I doubted it, but let him go ahead, for I had nothing to lose.

    My son, with other motorheads, fixed the car. They got parts from a junkyard, and ability from vo-tech classes. The cost was $25 instead of $800.

Since that first repair job, a broken air-conditioner, a non-functioning washer and a non-toasting toaster have been fixed. Neighbours and co-workers trust their car repairs to him.

    These kids are happiest when doing repairs. They joke and laugh and are living in their own relaxed world. And their minds are bright despite their dirty hands and clothes.

    I have learned a lot from my motorhead: publishers need printers, engineers need mechanics, and architects need builders. Most important, I have learned that fathers don't need clones in footsteps or anywhere else.

My son may never make the school honor roll. But he made mine.

    One evening, author Neil's son was angry. Neil had said one of those things that parents say, like “isn't it time you were in bed.” His son looked up at him, angry and said, “I wish I didn't have a dad! I wish I had … a goldfish!” That conversation gave birth to Neil's book, “The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish”. The book is a funny adventure of a son searching for the dad he swapped.

    Whether they realize it or not, fathers play an important role in their children's development. Roland Warren, Director of the National Fatherhood Initiative, says that, “The shape of their dads has a role in the kids' soul.” I agree. We live in the best of times and the worst of times for fatherhood. We live in the best of times because fathers who are engaged in their child's life spend more time than fathers of any previous generation. We live in the worst of times because there are still millions of children who continue to miss the regular presence of Dad.

    What difference does a dad make? Are they really that important? For the most part, studies have proved clearly that fathers, whether they live with their children or not, matter in the lives of their children. When fathers are present, they provide economic support for their children and caregiving responsibilities. Well-fathered children are shown to be more emotionally intelligent and socially successful as adults. When fathers are absent, their absence may negatively influence children's academic achievement, general behavioural adjustment and anger management, especially in males.

    Yet just being physically present isn't enough to be a great father. It is important that a dad be warm and emotionally available to his child. Author and researcher, John Gottman, describes this kind of father as an “emotion coaching father”. Emotion coaches are parents who listen to their children's feelings, see the sharing of feelings as an opportunity for intimacy（亲密）. It is not just the mere presence of fathers that matters, but how they are present. Most children long for and need a loving, devoted and responsible father.

    When a child says their first word, it's an event to remember. But when a girl with nonverbal autism (自闭症) does it, it's a reason to ugly cry in a parking lot. And that's exactly what happened to Briana Blankenship from Athens, Alabama. Doctors said her daughter, Taylor, might never speak. But just days ago, the 5-year-old girl challenged it and proved them wrong.

    “I had basically accepted that I would never hear her voice,” Briana said.

“We communicate with limited sign language and gestures,” Briana said, “We also have an iPad that is locked so that the only program she can access is a communication program called LAMP. LAMP is what she uses to complete work in school and because of this, she is excellent at spelling especially for a 5-year-old.” Taylor is also in the “inclusion” Kindergarten class where she receives occupational therapy (治疗) to help with her fine motor skills. “Her dad and I also pay for her to go to gymnastics every week and it has helped her stop her tiptoe walking”.

    However, when Briana was taking her daughter to a gymnastics class, the impossible happened. “We were on our way there- running late- so I had to go through the closest drive-thru to grab her something that she would actually eat We rarely eat fast food so she recognized that she was about to get her favorite food, French fries, and started getting excited and giggling (咯咯笑) in the back seat. That's when I heard her say it. I whipped my head around and asked “Did you just say Momma?” and she looked at me and said it again.

    I broke down into tears. “I parked my car after getting our food and immediately called my husband and then my mother. I didn't have time to call anyone else before class started so I quickly posted the video to my Facebook page.” Instantly, people flooded Briana's inbox. “We have had so many messages from people that we are giving them light for their loved ones, or that we are making them feel less alone in the daily battles of parenting a nonverbal child.

    Teen Tour Camps at SummerCamps.com

    Rock-N-Water Christian Camps

    Lotus, California, United States      Duration: 4 weeks

    Founded in 1989, Rock-N-Water is a group of highly trained Christians who want to impact young people with the joy of God's Living Word. We focus our program on biblical principles, and we use the help of nature, friendship, and challenge to develop character and have ridiculous amounts of fun.

    Odyssey Expeditions: Caribbean

    Road Town, Tortola        Duration: 3 weeks

    Odyssey Expeditions offers tropical sailing and scuba diving adventures for teenagers, with marine biology, water sports, and scuba certifications at exciting Caribbean locations. Established in 1995, Odyssey is the best opportunity to safely explore the Caribbean aboard a beautiful sailing catamaran. No experience necessary. Reserve your spot before availability. Small groups of 9-12 allow you to have the most fun!

    The G2 Academy Golf Camp

    Bluffton, South Carolina       Duration: variable

    The summer program at G2 is designed specifically for girls empowering them for their future success. Students can join weekly sessions or stay the entire summer! While participating in the G2 Academy Summer Program, students receive G2 Proprietary Training in golf, mental toughness, physical fitness, nutrition, and empowerment.

    Berklee's Aspire: Music Performance Intensive

    Boston, Massachusetts, United States         Duration: 5 weeks

    Berklee's Aspire will give you a taste of Berklee, the preeminent institute of contemporary music and the performing arts. Whether you are in middle school, high school, or beyond, there is a Berklee summer program in music, theater, and/or dance for you. You'll enjoy access to Berklee's state-of-the-art facilities as you learn from faculty who are the very best at what they do, joined by students from all over the world.

72 hours in Beijing

    Traveling to China is no longer a luxury for many foreign passport holders. The Chinese government has permitted a 72-hour visa-free policy that offers access to visitors from 53 countries including the US, France and Austria. Let's start with the capital of China, Beijing Here's a pick of the best in Beijing!

    Mutianyu Great Wall

    Your trip to Beijing isn't really complete without seeing one of the "New Seven Wonders of the World", the Great Wall of China. The Mutianyu section of the Great Wall is by far the most well-preserved of all. Taking a one hour bus ride, Mutianyu would be your ideal location for a half-day of hiking away from the large crowds in the city. Also, the authorities have allowed tourists to paint graffiti on a specific section of the Great Wall since 2014. The Great Wall was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987.

    798 Art Zone

    This would be on the top of my list! Named after the 798 factory that was built in the 1950s, the art zone is home to various galleries, design studios, art exhibition spaces, fashionable shops and bars. You could easily spend half your day wandering around the complex, feeling the contrast of the present and the past.

    Summer Palace

    Located in northwestern Beijing, the Summer Palace is by far the city's most well-preserved royal park. With its huge lake and hilltop views, the palace offers you a pastoral escape into the landscape of traditional Chinese paintings. The Summer Palace was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998.

    Sichuan Provincial Restaurant

    While in Beijing, apart from trying the city's best-known Peking duck, the Sichuan provincial restaurant is one of places where you can enjoy regional delicious food. It offers one of China's eight great cuisines, Sichuan, which ranges from Mapo tofu to spicy chicken.