Quadruple Amputee Patient Receives Bionic Hands

From Ability: A retired teacher and caregiver who lost all four of her limbs is now the one receiving care thanks to a new prosthetics clinic in Maryland.

"When I tried to turn over the first time, my feet were too heavy to turn," said Sherron Couldren, retired Montgomery County elementary school teacher and patient of Ability Prosthetics & Orthotics, Inc. "I went to reach and my hands were black. It wasn't my hands."

About a year ago, Couldren developed a deadly blood infection called septicemia that nearly killed her. When she awoke in the hospital she was alive, but had lost all of her limbs and parts of her face and tongue. Having been a caregiver for much of her life, raising a son diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome and caring for her mother who had Alzheimer's disease, Couldren was now the one who was in need of care.

"You have to keep pushing forward with the abilities that you have," said Couldren. "You have to make a difference around you and for the ones that you love."

Couldren became a patient of Ability's new patient care center in Rockville, Maryland. The new location is now one of 10 that expand across Maryland, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and South Carolina. Each location is designed to provide care to meet the needs of those who require prosthetic or orthotic services. Thanks to Ability, Couldren is now receiving two bionic hands called i-digits from Touch Bionics in Dayton, Ohio.

Couldren has a long road ahead of her, but with the help of her new hands and her positive attitude she is quickly regaining her life and her independence.

"I'll actually be able to go back and find another job and do things again because I'll have hands just like I did," said Couldren, smiling and gesturing with her new bionic hand. "Which, is A-OK."

Images Courtesy of Ability