Nine-year-old Arvid lives in Bergen with his family. Despite a serious spinal cord injury, his everyday life is filled with play, laughter, and victories, both big and small. With a strong support network around him, Arvid gets to explore the world on his own terms – with curiosity, courage, and a belief that anything is possible.
In this article, you can read about:
- Arvid and his family
- The cause of the spinal cord injury
- Small victories, great joys
- Focus on independence
- Innowalk – A life with movement
- An inclusive society
- Dreams without limits
Arvid and his family
Arvid is a social and active 9-year-old boy. He lives in Bergen with his parents and two brothers, who are 12 and 6 years old. Their house is just a short walk from the school where Arvid is in the 4th grade. Like any other 9-year-old, he enjoys spending time with his friends, and gaming is a favourite activity when they hang out in the basement lounge.
The whole family enjoys being outdoors, and their garden reflects their green fingers. They grow a variety of vegetables and berries, and Arvid has taken part by planting different types of lettuce, which are already sprouting under the early summer sun.
The area around the house is adapted so that Arvid can easily move around in his wheelchair. Inside, the house has been adapted to suit his needs, and Arvid has his own room with direct access to the rest of the house via a lift.
The cause of the spinal cord injury
Arvid is the second child of his parents, and his mother, Anna, describes an uncomplicated pregnancy. Unfortunately, the birth turned out to be anything else than uncomplicated. When Anna arrived at the hospital, labour had already progressed quickly. Arvid was in a breech position, and the umbilical cord was wrapped around his foot. Things escalated fast. The doctors decided on an emergency C-section – what they called a “crash C-section”, meaning Anna was put under general anaesthetic. They needed to get the baby out quickly.
However, complications arose during the procedure. There were difficulties delivering Arvid’s head, and looking back, too much force was used. That’s when the injury happened.
After birth, Arvid had trouble breathing and was not in good condition, so he was immediately transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit. He cried, but no sound came out. He had no active reflexes, was barely alert, and feeding him was a challenge. Eventually, the family was sent home under the impression that Arvid was healthy but simply needed time to recover from a difficult birth.
But something wasn’t right. Arvid continued to have breathing problems, leading to multiple emergency hospital admissions in the weeks following his birth. CT and MRI scans of his head showed no abnormalities, but a nighttime breathing registrations revealed significant respiratory issues. As a result, Arvid had to begin using BIPAP (a type of breathing support) along with several other medical equipment.
What is BIPAP?
Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BIPAP) is a form of respiratory support used for various types of respiratory failure or breathing difficulties. BIPAP functions as a simple ventilator, where the person wears a tight-fitting mask over the nose and mouth. It delivers higher air pressure when the person inhales and lower pressure when they exhale.
When Arvid caught his first cold, it became extremely serious. He became critically ill and had to be rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. They ended up staying there for several months. There were many critical moments, and at times it was uncertain whether Arvid would survive.
Eventually, doctors diagnosed Arvid with chronic respiratory failure. Later, an MRI scan of his entire spine revealed a high spinal cord injury (C4–C7). The damage to his spinal cord means he has no mobility or sensation from the chest down.
Anna, Arvid’s mother, says it’s hard to remember exactly when the spinal cord injury was officially confirmed—it was such a chaotic and emotional time—but she believes he was around six months old. It has since been confirmed that the injury occurred during the delivery, specifically when his head was being delivered in the traumatic birth.
Small victories, big joys
As time passed, life slowly began to settle for the family. Arvid’s immune system grew stronger, and the constant hospital visits became less frequent. Finally, they were able to be home together. Life had changed forever, but they had each other—and that meant everything. Early on, they made a promise: Arvid should not just survive—he should truly live.
That was the beginning of a new chapter.
“The challenges haven’t stopped,” Anna says with a soft smile. “If anything, they just keep lining up.” But she’s quick to add how important it is not to let the hard parts take over. “If all you see are the obstacles, you miss everything else.” Over time, we’ve become good at finding solutions—and even better at celebrating the little wins that others might not even notice.
Getting Arvid his first stroller felt like a milestone. And when he got his first wheelchair and could move around on his own—it was pure joy. That moment, watching him explore the world under his own power, was unforgettable.
The family have learned to treasure the small moments. They laugh a lot—sometimes because they need to, sometimes because they want to. Humour has become one of the most powerful tools. It helps them stay grounded, stay hopeful, and keep going, even when things feel overwhelming.
Focus on independence
Arvid lives with a spinal cord injury that left him without movement and sensation from the chest down. He can’t move or feel that part of his body, and at first, even his arms and hands had limited function. But thanks to a complex surgery that rerouted muscles and nerves, Arvid gained a kind of grip in both hands – something that’s made a world of difference. Now, he can hold and handle various objects, and most importantly, he can propel his own manual wheelchair. Anna shares how Arvid has strengthened his grip through focused and patient training.
“Arvid has this incredible determination. He’s spent hours building with tiny LEGO bricks, and I truly believe it’s paid off. His grip is now much stronger than anyone initially expected,” she says.
At school, Arvid uses a manual wheelchair indoors and switches to an electric one when he’s outside. He also has access to an Exoquad – a rugged, all-terrain mobility device that lets him actively participate and explore nature with his family, who love spending time outdoors.
Arvid requires extensive daily assistance, which is provided by a well-coordinated and dedicated team. He has been granted User-Controlled Personal Assistance, along with overnight care and support during school hours. Together, his assistants and support network make sure Arvid has everything he needs to live a full, active, and independent life — just like any other child.
Innowalk – a life in motion
When Arvid was two years old, he was admitted for a rehabilitation stay at Sunnaas Hospital (Rehabilitation hospital in Norway). During the stay he was introduced to the Innowalk for the first time – a device that would help him stand and move, even though his body couldn’t do it on its own. The trial was made possible through strong collaboration between his local physiotherapist and the team at Sunnaas. The movement, the new perspective, the sense of participation—it all made a difference. The results were so promising that an application was sent to the national insurance system, and Arvid was granted his own device.
At nursery, the Innowalk became a bridge between Arvid and the other children. It allowed him to stand alongside them, take part in group activities, and feel included in a way that sitting in a wheelchair couldn’t quite offer. That sense of belonging has remained just as important now that he’s in school.
Arvid’s teacher has made it possible for him to use the Innowalk in the classroom as part of his learning. With a tray in front of him, he can work while standing and moving, combining physical activity and engagement.
Every day at school, Arvid spends time in the Innowalk - often up to 45 minutes at a time. It’s become a vital part of his routine, not just for his physical health, but for his overall well-being.
“When Arvid uses the Innowalk, we see that it helps open up his chest, which is really beneficial for his breathing,” says Anna. “It also allows him to put weight on his legs while standing, and the movement has a positive effect on his digestion as well.”
In February, Arvid spent three weeks at a winter camp in Beitostølen (a rehabilitation centre with a focus on sports activities), where he didn’t have access to the Innowalk.
“That’s when we truly realised how essential it has become,” Anna explains. “His legs became very stiff, he experienced more spasms, and his digestion became more problematic.”
For Arvid’s family, giving him the chance to stretch his legs and move—now and in the future—isn’t just important; it’s essential. It helps him maintain better posture, supports his mobility, and gives him a sense of freedom and control over his own body.
The Innowalk has been, and still is, important for Arvid – we simply can’t do without it.
— Anna, Arvid’s mother.
An inclusive society
Anna shares how both nursery and school have made great efforts to ensure that Arvid can participate in all activities. Still, it hasn’t always been easy. There have been moments when a lack of resources left Arvid on the sidelines—something that felt painful and unfair. Right now, things are going very well at school, largely thanks to a few key people who choose to focus on solutions instead of limitations. People who see what’s possible.
Anna reflects on the broader picture - on how society handles inclusion.
“There’s still a long way to go,” she says. “It’s not always inclusive as we’d like to believe. We’ve had so many eye-opening experiences—things you don’t really notice until you’re the one facing them.”
They’ve encountered attitudes like, “Well, he’s in a wheelchair, so of course he can’t do that—you have to understand.” Comments like these highlight just how important it is to shift perspectives. Anna hopes more people will start thinking differently—that most things can be solved, as long as there’s a willingness to be flexible and make small adjustments. It’s about the will to include—and recognising the value of making sure everyone gets to take part.
Dreams without limits
Arvid is only nine years old, and like most children his age, the future is still a wide-open landscape. What he’ll become when he grows up is anyone’s guess—but right now, he thinks being an actor sounds exciting.
For his mother, Anna, it’s not about which path he chooses, but that he gets the chance to choose for himself. What matters most to her is that Arvid can live an independent life—a life he truly wants, with the same opportunities as other children.
“I hope people meet Arvid with the understanding that he has the same dreams, thoughts, and feelings as everyone else. That they look beyond his disability and give him equal opportunities—and simply treat him for who he is: a perfectly ordinary boy with an extraordinary amount of courage,” she says.
We at Made for Movement would like to thank Arvid and Anna for sharing their story with us.
You inspire us greatly to continue our work in developing assistive devices, promoting physical activity for everyone, and—most importantly—ensuring inclusion for all in society.
We wish Arvid all the very best for the future.
