This week, a 32-year-old British woman named Claire Lomas crossed the finish line of the London Marathon. So did thousands of other people, but Lomas is special: She's paralyzed from the chest down. The former chiropractor was able to complete the grueling 26.2-mile journey with a little robotic aid in the form of the ReWalk system, a bionic exoskeleton that allowed her to walk again. Here, a brief guide to her extraordinary journey:
How was Lomas paralyzed?
In 2007, she was injured in a freak horseriding accident that left her with a broken neck, back, and ribs. "Of course I have bad days and difficult times," Lomas told ABC News. "But I just get through them, and gradually, things get better." Since the accident, Lomas "spent all her time in a wheelchair, at least until January," says Nick Schifrin at ABC News. "That's when she started walking again, thanks to a $75,000 bionic suit."
How does the suit work?
The exoskeleton consists of strap-on robotic limbs, a pair of crutches, button-bearing wrist straps, a computer, and sophisticated motion sensors that detect a user's shifts in balance and activate motors that power the robotic limbs forward, says Amar Toor at The Verge. The exoskeleton is juiced by a four-pound battery which the user carries in a backpack, and allowed Lomas to "stand, walk, and climb stairs." (Watch a video below.)
How long did it take her to finish?
Lomas' 26.2-mile race started on April 22, and she crossed the finish line 16 days and 55,000 steps later, on May 8, completing about a mile-and-a-half a day. "It was really emotional and I couldn't believe the support — I'm still in shock really," she told BBC News. "The last half a mile or so was pretty easy to walk because I had everyone pushing me forward."
Why did she do it?
The goal was to raise money for Spinal Research, a charity dedicated to medical research for the paralyzed. So far, Lomas has raised close to $130,000.
How is the world reacting?
With amazement, by and large. But the marathon itself didn't recognize Lomas' time — "marathon rules state that competitors must complete the race in the same day to receive one," says Anoosh Chakelian at TIME. Many incensed runners, however, were quick to offer Lomas their medals instead.
Sources: ABC News, BBC News, Discovery News, TIME, The Verge
