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Lyndon, 15, suffers from kidney disease and has been home-bound since last year, when his body rejected a transplant. But now, a robot is helping him keep up with his fellow students -- and feel a little less lonely -- by attending classes for him at Knox City High School in Knox City, Texas. "It's the most wonderful thing that's happened to me since my transplant," he told NBC's "Today" show.
With the teen at the controls, the 4-foot tall robot, called the VGO, sits in on classes and brings a live feed of his teachers' lessons right onto the teen's computer screen at home. "It's like being there," he said. "I feel like I'm at school. I keep saying it's like being in two places at the same time."
Lyndon, who has polycystic kidney disease, had a kidney transplant at age 7 and was able to live a full life until 2010, when his body rejected the kidney. With his immune system severely compromised, going to school became impossible and his mother had to home-school him.
Lyndon said he appreciated his parents' company but wanted friends. "It was just kind of lonely," he told NBC. "You have to be actually in there in the classroom to get the full effect and understand what's going on."
One day, Lyndon will likely need another kidney transplant, but for now, the teen and his parents are focused on the positive. His mom, Sheri Baty, said the $6,000 robot has changed her son's life and gives him something to look forward to. "It's incredible," she told NBC. "It's really exciting to see as a mom, just to see him light up every day."
