One weekend ago, a school teacher was fitted with futuristic bionic arm technology. She revealed that her entire life had changed after being struck by shock. Her two children were taken in to say good-bye.
Kath Tregenna (47), a teacher at The International School of London developed a fever during a class on Friday, November 2019. She left the classroom in the early hours of the morning ‘thinking she had the flu’.
The primary school teacher told Lorraine on Wednesday that when her symptoms didn’t improve over the weekend, she called NHS 111 for help and the call handler spotted signs of sepsis and immediatly called an ambulance.
Scroll down to view video
Kath Tregenna, a primary school teacher from London, was struck with flu-like symptoms in November 2019. She developed the illness while teaching in the classroom. Two days later, she was taken to hospital and diagnosed as having sudden septic shock. Doctors had to amputate her four limbs.
47 year old teacher said that her young children had experienced “the worst time” since her illness. Her two daughters were brought to the hospital for their final goodbyes to their mother, after she died from multiple organ failures.
The 3D bionic hands are expensive and unavailable on the NHS – but Tregenna said her pupils helped fundraise almost £30,000 to buy them from a Bristol-based company
Tregenna stated that Tregenna called 111 on Sunday to get an ambulance. This could have saved my life. I was rushed to hospital, and that same evening I had multiple cardiac arrests and multiple organ failure. It happened so quickly.
To stop further spread of the infection, the doctors amputated her both legs below the knee and both of her arms below the elbow.
When she contracted the disease, the mother of two was teaching elementary school students at London’s International School of London in the West. She has struggled to return to work ever since.
Lorraine was told by her: “It’s difficult to accept. It’s a mother, and I always wanted to be active as a mom. I also loved to teach and was eager to return to the classroom.
She was initally prescribed prosthetic arm hooks but later fundraised enough money – almost £30,000 – to help pay for a pay of Hero Arms from Bristol tech company, Open Bionics.
Lorraine was told by the teacher that she is a mother and wanted to be active. Lorraine also loved teaching, so it was clear to her that Lorraine would like to return to the classroom.
She said that she takes her arms off to hug her children, but they allow her to perform everyday tasks such as holding a cup or mug of tea.
Lorraine was told by her that it has been hard for her to recover. She said: “I was excited to have legs made but it’s difficult. It’s still ongoing.
According to her, the new arms are making their pupils ‘curious’ and asking them questions regarding whether they can ‘feel’ with her.
3D printing, scanners and 3D scanning were used to make the Hero Arms. The myoelectric sensors are used to detect movement in the limbs and transform them into hand movements.
According to the teacher, although it was difficult to learn how to use her hands and legs properly, she has been able to return to her job for just a few hours per week.
After walking once more, she stated that although it was exciting to have legs, “It’s difficult, it is really hard and ongoing.”
Lorraine was curious to know how Lorraine’s children dealt with the illness. She said that her kids had been through the worst and were finally able to leave her.
Tregenna sort books out for her students using sophisticated 3D robotic arms
Tregenna said she removed her arms in order to hug her children. But she claims that the sensation is too dull for her.
“Children are curious and it makes their mind wonder…they have asked if they will be able touch and feel something one day.”
She stated, “It’s all due to arms I’m able to continue teaching again.” Children are fascinated by the Hero Arms, and they ask me how I show them.
“From the minute I get to school, the arms are used for all kinds of tasks.”
According to the teacher, she is now teaching at the International School of London’s West.
To raise awareness about symptoms, the Daily Mail teamed up with the UK Sepsis Trust to launch the End the Sepsis Scandal initiative in 2016.
Her teacher shared her first diagnosis of sepsis. She said that although she believed she was suffering from a common disease, she did not realize the severity of her condition.
Mrs Tregenna declared that the 111 operator, who recognized some signs of sepsis in her and called an ambulance for me, saved my life.
Listen up! You can write on a board using a bionic arm!
Elle added, “Going out with the arms actually makes it feel very, very secure. These arms allow me to do many classroom activities.
Samantha Payne is co-founder and CEO of Open Bionics. Our entire team is in awe of Kath’s determination to get back to doing what she loves most – teaching.
“Seeing her use both her Hero Arms everyday really makes you realize how vital bionic technology is when it comes giving patients recovering from life-changing surgery the independence they need to reach their goals.