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Nina Muhonen, a C1-2 vent-dependent quadriplegic from Sweden, may be the most active vent-quadriplegics you’ll ever meet. She wears so many hats – cognitive therapist, author, mental trainer – that her determination to not let her injury sway her has earned her the respect of millions of Swedes, and millions more, around the globe.
Why She’s fearless
In 1996, Nina was on vacation in England when she dove into an artificial lake, breaking her neck and nearly drowning. She spent a year in the hospital. In the hospital, Nina was determined to not let one day dictate the rest of her life. She still wanted to graduate and live her life fully. Before her injury, Nina wanted to be a lawyer, but after her accident, she became more interested in psychology. Nina went to university and received a degree in psychology. After graduation, she became a behavioral and cognitive therapist.
Being in need of a caregiver full-time, Nina started a caregiver company, Nina’s Team, where she has the task of running a caregiver agency and needing it’s services. She also started her own speaking company called, Life Spark, where she gives training lectures on mental health training.
Nina is also the author of two books. Her first book, If Only I Go Home, published in 2010, is her autobiography spanning her life before and after her injury, and she gives crisis management advice. And in 2020, she published her second book, The Noble Art of Balancing Life. This book gives advice on how to cope with everyday life and make life work despite any difficulties. She shares the techniques she uses in her own life to manage her caregivers and everything else that is involved with living on a respirator 24 hours a day (we hope one day she offers digital English-versions of her books).
What’s Next?
Nina’s determination and strength post-injury is inspiring to all, but especially to those who use respirators. Paralyzed over 25 years and counting, she shows life with an injury like hers can be an organized, purposeful beautiful existence, and you can maintain great health and a career you love along the way.
— Nina’s professional site: Livsgnistan
ideas@spinalpedia.com
