Sarah Almagro Vallejo
In 2018, Sarah’s life was changed forever following the contraction of meningococcal meningitis, a life-threatening infection. Spending a total of five months in the hospital, Sarah proceeded to undergo 27 surgeries, one of them being the amputation of both her hands and feet due to the necrosis.
This is her journey with the COVVI Hand.
Until I was 18, my life felt perfect: I had great friends, I was active in sports, and I was focused on my studies. That same year, I completed the national university entrance exam with a high score, which allowed me to pursue the law degree I had always wanted. My future felt clear and full of promise.
But on July 23, 2018, everything changed abruptly. I became seriously ill and had to be hospitalised. I had contracted meningococcal meningitis, placing me in a coma for ten days. The following months were extremely difficult. In total, I spent five months in the hospital and underwent 27 surgeries. One of them was the amputation of my hands and feet due to the necrosis caused by the infection. A year later, I underwent a kidney transplant, which was possible thanks to my father.
Recovering my health took time, strength, and determination. In January 2020, I began the prosthetic process, and a month later I returned home equipped with four prosthetics—bionic hands and prosthetic feet. It was the beginning of a long journey toward independence and rebuilding my life.
I started off very enthusiastic about using my previous prosthetic hands. However, I gradually became disappointed and frustrated because the bionic hands kept breaking down. As a result, I started using them less and less. I had been promised that my previous prosthetic hands would help me achieve that independence, so the disappointment I felt was profound.
After everything I had gone through, I was determined to regain my independence. So, I began researching different bionic hands on the market and carefully studied the pros and cons of each option. While searching online, I came across COVVI and sent them a message requesting information about their hand. They contacted me immediately, and a meeting was arranged with an orthopaedic clinic so I could try them. After trialling them and experiencing the exceptional service and genuine care shown by the COVVI team, I felt the COVVI Hand best suited my needs.
My COVVI Hands are far more reliable than my first bionic prosthetics, and the after-sales service is incredible. Since being fitted, COVVI have worked with my clinicians and been very open to suggestions and potential modifications to the hand—something my previous provider was not.
The COVVI Hand is fulfilling its commitment to bilateral amputees: these hands are making my day-to-day life considerably easier. I leave the house with confidence and peace of mind, without the fear that they might fail me and leave me defenceless. With them, I can open doors, get dressed, eat, and even cook. I travel all over the world with them, and if any issues arise, I contact the technical team, who help me find a solution as quickly as possible.
My favourite features of the COVVI Hand are the protective glove, which allows them to be protected against wet splashes, as well as the automatic thumb movement, something my previous hand couldn’t do. COVVI also offers a wide variety of finger positions (my favourite gestures are the shaka and the middle-finger signs). I also love the way COVVI looks; it’s just very cool.
Looking back, I can proudly say that I have achieved more than I ever imagined in those first, difficult months. I am a two-time and European and World Para Surfing champion, I have successfully completed my law degree, and I now give motivational talks and conferences at juvenile detention centres, universities, and companies.
COVVI has given me the independence I was seeking.
