A primary school teacher who lost all four of her limbs has returned to the classroom after being provided with electronic arms. Cath Tregeyna, 47, a mother of two, suffered from a blood infection two years ago. She left school one day feeling slightly unwell and contacted health services over the weekend. The teacher did not realize she was suffering from sepsis. According to the Daily Mail, Tregeyna, who teaches at the London International School, experienced seven to eleven heart stoppages, and at one point, her family was asked to say their goodbyes. Doctors amputated her legs below the knee and her arms below the elbow to save her life. She spent a month in intensive care. The teacher stated, "My family came to visit me at Christmas, but I don't remember any of them."
After 18 months of recovery, Tregeyna was eager to return to work, but her prosthetics were uncomfortable and heavy. She remarked, "I have always dreamed of being able to return to teaching," adding, "I knew I couldn't do it with these heavy limbs." Her school organized a fundraising campaign and raised enough money to purchase a prosthetic arm from the renowned company "Bionics," based in Bristol. The company uses 3D printing and scanning to create prosthetic limbs.
This allowed Tregeyna to become more independent, and months later, a second prosthetic arm was fitted for her. Her new arms use electrical muscle sensors that detect muscle movements and translate them into intuitive hand gestures. Thanks to her new prosthetics, the teacher returned to the classroom and said, "From writing on the blackboard to carrying books, the kids are fascinated by my prosthetic arms and always ask me to explain how they work."
