How to map an API response from DynamoDB?

Hello community! I'm in the middle of something, trying to figure out something really simple. Hope you can help.

I'm creating a PutItem REST API on API Gateway. My goal is to allow the client to add a record in Dynamo directly, no LAMBDA, no middleware. Jusn from gateway to DynamoDB

The integration request works just fine, my records are being added to the table. However, my problem is that I want the API to respond something like this:

{
 "Status": "Record Added",
  "Data": [
    {
      "customerId": "Test123",
      "first_name": "Lukein",
      "added_date": "16/04/1990"
    }
  ]
}

I've tried several workarounds to map the recently added record to the table into the response but I've failed.

The closer I've been is by using this VTL:

#set($response = {
    "Status": "Record Added",
    "Data": [
        {
            "customerId": "$input.path('$.customerId')",
            "first_name": "$input.path('$.first_name')",
             "added_date": "$input.path('$.added_date')"
        }
    ]
})

$response

However, my response returns empty values:

"Status": "Record Added",
    "Data": [
        {
            "customerId": "",
            "first_name": "",
             "added_date": ""
        }

I appreciate your help with this

Thank you