yoocan - Siv Jorunn Fossum - My Ride To A Normal Life After Spinal Cord Injury
SPORTS, FITNESS & DANCE

My Ride To A Normal Life After Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)

Siv Jorunn Fossum

Spinal Cord Injury Caused By Motorcycle Accident

I am a Norwegian woman with an incomplete Spinal Cord Injury after a motorcycle accident in 2003. Since then I have tried to find my way to a normal daily life. It has been a long road, both of difficulties and hard work, but also a lot of fun.

I have educated myself to find an interesting job as a biological engineer and today I work in a hospital laboratory. I have had a motorcycle built so I can ride, even without functioning legs. I have found martial arts as a way of keeping my body in shape. I started with self defense for wheelchair users in 2012, and now I lead a Norwegian project to help others to do the same.

Martial Arts

I'm trained in Trondheim Karateklubb, and I’m fully included as any abled member. We are doing Makotokai karate, and I have a year in Italy where I work on some projects together with my Italian friends in the martial arts family.
For me martial arts is my way of keeping my body in shape. I have always struggled to find motivation for training, maybe you can say I am a bit lazy, but martial arts is the first thing I am thinking of because it is a fun activity!

I have trouble with my body as many other people with a disability do, but I feel lucky everyday that I have all these opportunities. Today my training is mostly QiGong - breathing and strengthening my body from inside. I have struggled for years with inflammation in arms and shoulders. That is one of the reasons I have chosen (and luckily had the opportunity) to spend a year in Italy where I will take care of my body and focus on getting stronger both mentally and physically.

Makotokai Wheelchair Karate

I became a black belt in Makotokai wheelchair karate in 2017, and I hope I can get back to karate when my body is well again. I also hope to be an instructor for other wheelchair users doing Makotokai Karate, and in time maybe we will have people competing also. I have just started, but I am sure this is my way to a normal and good life.

Tags: , , ,

EMPOWER OTHERS!

Share this story to help change someone's life

WELCOME TO YOOCAN

THE GLOBAL COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY FOR SHARING EXPERIENCES AND KNOWLEDGE BY AND FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, SO NO ONE FEELS ALONE.

BY CREATING AN ACCOUNT YOU AGREE TO THE TERMS OF SERVICE ANDPRIVACY POLICY.