Amy Pohl, 26, worked at Rugby Primary Free School in Rugby, Warwickshire, for two years when it opened its doors five years ago
A dozen children have braved a military mud run to raise funds for their first teacher who is battling a condition nicknamed ‘suicide disease’.
Amy Pohl, 26, worked at Rugby Primary Free School in Rugby, Warwickshire, for two years when it opened its doors five years ago.
But Miss Pohl’s life was turned upside down last January after she was struck down with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).
Now she can no longer walk, is bedridden and has to be fed through a tube after she lost almost 56lbs (25kg) because eating was so painful.
Miss Pohl attempted to take her own life last year due to the pain, which is described as being as intense as childbirth but for 24 hours a day.
Twelve of her former pupils, alongside their parents, completed a three kilometre mini Tough Mudder earlier this month to raise funds for her rehabilitation.
The pupils, who still remember her as their first primary school teacher, managed to raise £2,000 towards Miss Pohl’s fundraising campaign.
She is trying to raise £40,000 for the rehab, which she hopes will bring her back to the classroom.
Her father David, from Birmingham, said: ‘Amy has been in a private rehabilitation centre since April this year.
Twelve of her former pupils, alongside their parents (pictured are some of them), completed a three kilometre mini Tough Mudder earlier this month to raise funds for her rehabilitation
The pupils, who still remember her as their first primary school teacher, managed to raise £2,000 towards Miss Pohl’s fundraising campaign
Miss Pohl attempted to take her own life last year due to the pain, which is described as being as intense as childbirth but for 24 hours a day
She is trying to raise £40,000 for the rehab, which she hopes will bring her back to the classroom (pictured, one of her former pupils jumping over an obstacle)
‘But [she] is still employed by her school and they continue to fundraise for her. To date the school has raised £3,000 – and the military fun run alone raised £2,000.
‘On the day the children made it through the wet ground and over obstacles, they were a real credit to themselves.’
The 48-year-old deputy headteacher added: ‘It was just brilliant – there is no doubt it is Amy who made them this resilient.
‘This is really about kids supporting their teacher, she was the first teacher a lot of these kids ever had.
‘Parents are so appreciative of her input into their children’s’ lives. They all want her back and she will get back in time.
‘Amy has left a lasting impression in everybody she has come across, that is parents and children, they say where is Miss Pohl when is she coming back?’
As well as the mud run, the school – which teaches 300 children – has raised funds through a recent summer fair and tombola.
As well as the mud run, the school – which teaches 300 children – has raised funds through a recent summer fair and tombola (pictured, two parents of some of Miss Pohl’s former pupils)
Miss Pohl’s father said she is desperate to get back to the job and school she loves but it could be sometime before she is fit to work again (pictured, two of Miss Pohl’s former pupils taking part in the fun run)
Miss Pohl’s mother, Jo, is pictured holding a sign saying ‘Good luck’ at the fun run
Mr Pohl said his daughter is desperate to get back to the job and school she loves but it could be sometime before she is fit to work again.
The 26-year-old is currently undergoing rehabilitation at the private Neurological Rehabilitation Centre, STEPS, in Sheffield.
She is currently undergoing seven days a week of treatment with the aim of getting her to be able to walk again.
Mr Pohl said: ‘Amy’s “hardware” is working but the “software” is not, the signals from her brain are not doing what they should.
‘Most people who have been away from work for two years would have been forgotten about but not Amy.
‘But Amy is measuring her recovery purely based on when she will be able to get back to the school.
CRPS’ exact prevalence is unclear, however, a study claimed up to one in 3,800 people in the UK develop the condition each year (Miss Pohl is pictured in hospital)
Doctors are unsure what caused the condition. Her family claim she developed it following an infection in her hand from a failed cannula insertion (pictured after the cannula insertion)
‘She was the first teacher to be appointed at Rugby Free Primary School, she got a first class degree in teaching. She would give anything for this not to have happened.
‘I think there is no doubt she could even have been an assistant headteacher if her career had not been interrupted by this debilitating condition.’
Doctors are unsure what caused the condition, though Miss Pohl’s family claim she developed the condition in her left arm following an infection in her hand.
She began to feel run down in November 2017 and was diagnosed with adult croup – an infection that affects the windpipe, airways and voice box.
After antibiotics failed to clear the infection up, Miss Pohl was admitted to hospital in December for more tests.
She later suffered a near-fatal reaction to her medication and was rushed to intensive care.
Around a week later, Miss Pohl developed an infection after a failed cannula insertion, which caused her hand and wrist to swell up.
CRPS’ exact prevalence is unclear, however, a study claimed up to one in 3,800 people in the UK develop the condition each year.
And in the US, between 5.5 and 26.2 people suffer from CRPS per 100,000 every year.
To donate: go to www.help-amy.co.uk
Anyone seeking help can call Samaritans 24/7 for free on 116 123 or visit Samaritans.org