Teacher fractured skull and tore spleen after being mowed down on dream holiday
Lauren Kay, 29, was in Thailand when her holiday turned into a nightmare when she was knocked down by the biker and left with horrific injuries including a ruptured spleen and torn liver
A deputy head teacher was forced to learn to walk again after being mown down by a motorbike on a dream holiday
Lauren Kay, 29, was in Thailand when her holiday turned into a nightmare when she was knocked down by the biker just three weeks into the five month solo trip.
She was left with horrific injuries, including was a fractured skull, eye socket and kneecap, broken shoulder, three broken ribs, a ruptured spleen and lacerated liver.
Lauren needed a life-saving six-hour operation and additional plastic surgery to save her from being permanently disfigured from the accident in November.
But miraculously, the teacher, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, took her first steps in a hospital in Phuket just two weeks later, despite doctors’ fears she might be unable to walk again.
She flew back to the UK another fortnight later before returning to work just two months after the accident in January this year, and after hitting the gym and diving back into work, is almost back to normal health.
And since the coronavirus pandemic forced the UK into lockdown last month, determined Lauren, who surprisingly, doesn’t have any lasting health problems, has still been turning up for work every day to teach the children of key workers on the front line of the Covid-19 battle.
Lauren said: “I had to get on with my life and take back control so I went back to work and got my fitness up again.
“That was something I could take control of.
“I was doing anything and anything I could to get my leg moving.
“When I came back, I’d had everything taken away from me and going back to work and my health and fitness was something I could take control of.
“It’s shown me that your body can withstand anything, it’s your mind you need to convince.
“Your mind is your strongest muscle in your body and your worst enemy.
“My friends keep saying the timing of me coming back to work to help in the lockdown is fate, and I think everything happens for a reason.”
Lauren previously worked at Propps Hall Primary in a different role before taking the solo trip, which would have seen her carry onto Cambodia, Nepal, Bali and New Zealand.
After returning to her old school in a deputy head position, now wants to show others how a positive attitude can help with a speedy recovery.
But tenacious Lauren admitted at points, her injuries were so painful she wished her life would end.
She said: “I was just crossing the road at an actual crossing and I was knocked straight out, which was a blessing.
“I don’t remember getting to the hospital but they said I’d arrived in the back of a taxi, so someone must have put me in one.
“The pain was horrendous. If someone had offered me something to end it all then I would have taken it.
“I woke up in hospital and my jaw wasn’t attached, I was in a lot of pain.
“I was only on paracetamol for three days because they couldn’t treat me until my insurance had been validated.
“Somehow, my body managed to cope but I just wanted to die, especially on the third day.”
After the horror smash, Lauren had a six hour operation to rebuild her nose and ear and reattach her jaw.
The whole of the right side of her face is metal, to replace her shattered cheekbone.
Lauren said: “If it’s cold out, I can really tell that it’s metal but I know I’m just lucky and grateful to be alive. I’m more about being positive.
“The trip was something I wanted to do on my own.
“It gave me some of my confidence back, I was growing and really enjoying my time out there and meeting new people.
“It was the chance of a lifetime and I hope I’ll be able to travel again but not alone – I’ve got the rest of my life to travel.”
