My Story Till Now
The darkest nights produce the brightest stars.
The darkest nights produce the brightest stars.
I'm really lost for words to describe what I feel. But again I'll try. First, I would like to say a big thank you to the Sunnaas Foundation, the leaders, the mentors, the health personnel, the students and others who volunteer and make these Camps possible.
September 2025
Now I have been on two camps with the Sunnaas Foundation, Camp MTB adapt and Brain Camp Autumn 2025.
This time I'm really lost for words to describe what I feel1. But again I'll try. First, I would like to say a big thank you to the Sunnaas Foundation, the leaders, the mentors, the health personnel, the students and others who volunteer and make these Camps possible. They are patient, caring, humble and incredibly helpful, they are the stars that light up, guide us through these camps, so that we, the participants, are lifted up and forward so we gain a sense of mastery, grow and become stronger than we were before we came to the Camp.
When I arrived at Sunnaas Hospital in late November 2024 to begin my rehabilitation journey, I said it was groundbreaking for me, and it really was, and still is, for the camps. I will say it again, it was groundbreaking for me. When I returned home after my stay at Sunnaas Hospital, I was a truly changed person. I felt like life was starting to make sense again. I was ready to fly again, use the tools and knowledge I had brought home with me. And then I join the Camps.
At Brain Camp, people with acquired brain injury have the opportunity to challenge themselves, experience coping and share experiences, experiences and coping strategies with each other. The goal is for participants to increase their independence and acquire more knowledge and tools to find their new normal – and live a good and active life based on their own circumstances. After having suffered a brain injury, many people feel unsure of their own skills – and find it challenging to try out different activities again. At Brain Camp, however, participants will have the opportunity to try out different activities in the mountains – in a safe environment. Doing this together with role models and mentors who themselves live with a brain injury provides security and can create good coping experiences.
The text is borrowed from Sunnaas Foundation web page
The second camp I joined, was Brain Camp Autumn 2025, I said the 
first was a game changer, so I don't really know what to say this time, I think I'd say that this camp was a life changer, I went up to Beitostølen as one person and came home as a new and I hope better version, yes my life was changed at Beitostølen..., in an incredible way, I'm left with so much warmth, love and positive feelings that I never thought I would feel again, my faith in people is restored, yes there are still people out there with care, love, warmth, understanding and humility. After my accident in 2023 I lost faith in this, I experienced a lot of people around me disappeared, I was met with little understanding and care, and a lot of criticism and prejudice, yes I changed after the accident, not because I wanted it, but because I didn't understand, was frustrated, was unsure of who I was, felt embarrassed because I couldn't do what I could before, because I felt I was different and useless. With these bad thoughts in my head, it was difficult to keep in contact with people around me, so most of them disappeared, and I sat alone trying to understand my self, losing my faith in people, accepting that this fight I need to fight on my own.
My journey to Brain Camp started several weeks in advance, again packing, preparing, getting everything under control is a huge challenge for me, a bit strange considering all the traveling I've done in my life, before I could pack a few hours before I was going to leave, without thinking I just did it as a reflex, today this has become a hugely demanding task that scares me every time, what should I bring, how will I fit in, do I have the right things..., lots of worries and a bit of fear, the fear of standing there and not being ready for what's coming is hugh.
Finally the day came when I went to Beitostølen for Brain Camp, excited and terrified again, but I feel a little more prepared for what lies ahead of me the next week due to that I was at Camp MTB a few weeks ago.
I arrived at the hotel in Beitostølen and was welcomed in a way I never, ever could have dreamed of, from the moment I uncertainly walked through the door of the hotel and until the end of the week I was suddenly the star who was looked after and helped in a way I have no words to describe, more love, care and humanity has been a long, long time since I have felt and experienced.
And the most impressive thing, that warm my heart, was that this was how all of us participants were treated, we were lifted up, a community was created, a team where everyone helped everyone, where everyone was included, no one was left behind, If you don't want to, yes that's right, there was room for us to say no, and retreat for a while, if that's what we needed.🥰🥰🥰
Throughout the week, I was tested to my limits and beyond, I was challenged to try different things both some I had not tried before, but also things I had not dared to try after the accident, everything from climbing parks to sleeping in a tent in the mountains, long and amazing hikes in the mountains, and even a trip on a tricycle. But the most fantastics experience was all the other people I meet, leaders, mentors, students, healthcare professionals and last, but definitely not least, all the other amazing participants❤️❤️❤️, who were there, the good conversations, the exchange of experiences, listening to other people's stories. Seeing other people's emotions, being able to show my own emotions without strange looks and strange comments. Just understanding and care, safety and warmth🥰. A Camp is so much more than just knowledge, it is about rebuilding mastery, community, socializing, new relationships that made me return home a completely different person to the one I was when I arrived.
The darkest nights produce the brightest stars❤️.
I bring home knowledge, understanding, insight and experiences that make me stronger to continue my journey towards a new and more meaningful life with brain injury. I have become part of a community with others who are in a similar situation where we can share and help each other in a safe and understanding way with respect for each other. I arrive as one person, but got home as change person, I know now that I'm not alone. And I'm really starting to understand who the new me is, and not least accepting that there is a new version of me, and that version is actually not so bad at all, that the old version of me is becoming more and more blurry in the rearview mirror, and it helps me keep my eyes focused on a better future ahead.
My wing is still broken, but I am learning to fly (again).
Thanks to all you amazing people I meet on the camp, you all rock🤘Love you all ❤️
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