Bionic Miss... teacher who lost limbs to sepsis is back
A PRIMARY school teacher who lost all of her limbs to sepsis has returned to teaching after being fitted with bionic arms.
Kath Tregenna’s life changed in the run-up to Christmas two years ago when she came down with a fever.
It turned out to be septic shock and resulted in the mum of two needing to have both hands and legs amputated. She lost her legs below the knees, to stop the life-threatening blood infection from spreading.
Kath was also believed to have suffered up to 11 cardiac arrests and her family was told to say their goodbyes.
Vague
She said: “I owe my life to the 111 operator who noticed the symptoms of sepsis and called an ambulance.”
The teacher said her husband Keith and children, now aged seven and 11, spent the Christmas with her but added: “I don’t remember any of it.”
Kath was in intensive care for a month and began 2020 rediscovering the world around her... but without any limbs.
She thought she just had a cold when she went home early from the International School of London in
Chiswick. Sepsis symptoms can be vague, like those of flu or a chest infection, and it occurs when the immune system overreacts and starts to damage body tissue and organs.
But one thing drove Kath, 47, on as she faced the challenges of recovery.
She said: “I really knew in my heart that I wanted to get back into the classroom and get back to teaching.”
Kath was prescribed prosthetic arms and legs but found the arm hooks uncomfortable and heavy.
However family, friends and her workplace combined to fund an amazing alternative.The International School helped to pay for two “Hero Arm” prosthetics from UK tech firm Open Bionics.
Now back in class part-time, Kath says students are fascinated by her aids. She said: “Children are obsessed with the Hero Arms and always ask me to show how they work.
“They enable me to carry out range of classroom activities wouldn’t otherwise be able to do.”
Open Bionics co-founder Samantha Payne MBE said: “Kath is incredible. Our entire team is in awe of her determination.”