Tonje Forbord

1.    Where were you employed before you were injured? What were your interests?

Before I was injured I was studying the second year of electrical engineering. I was also working part-time at H&M, which I enjoyed because I love fashion!

2.    How were you injured? What was your initial prognosis?

I was injured in a car accident in September of 2005 and suffered a C5-6 spinal cord injury. My boyfriend, a friend, and I were driving back home (Buvika, Norway) from an auto show. We had been driving all night for about seven hours. We were only five minutes away from my house when the tire of our vehicle exploded and we hit the car that was driving in the opposite direction. I was asleep during the accident, but from what I have been told, my friend was driving so fast that when we impacted the oncoming car, I flew out of our vehicle and was launched about 70 meters from the back seat. My boyfriend flew out of the window and he died instantly.

Doctors told me I would never walk again. They also said I would be lucky if I could sit in a manual wheelchair. They always thought I would only be able to use an electric wheelchair. I only used an electric wheelchair the first month I was in the hospital, but after that I was determined to use a manual wheelchair, which I have been using ever since!

3.    How did you hear about Project Walk?

My older sister was researching for alternative rehabilitation for spinal cord injuries on the internet. We could not find any facility in Norway that was suited for me and my injury. I wanted to work out because I felt that I had to do more than what I was receiving at home with two hours of physical therapy per week. My sister found Project Walk on the CareCure Forum. I was the first Norwegian to visit Project Walk. The transition was kind of scary because I didn’t have the opportunity to speak with anyone about their training and experience, but as soon I came through the doors and saw everyone working out my fears and nerves went away. I instantly knew that this was the place to be!

4.    What makes Project Walk so special and how has Project Walk changed your life?

When you get to Project Walk you know you are in the right place.All the people here are what make Project Walk so special – from the trainers to the other clients. I believe that if I hadn’t found Project Walk six years ago, I wouldn’t be alive. After all that happened from the accident I felt that I lost everything including the life I knew. I lost my hobbies, my career, and my boyfriend all at the same time. It has been too tough and all I wanted to do was exercise. Project Walk has given me a new sense of life. This place means a lot to me! My mom and my sister are my biggest support systems. It means the world to me that they have been coming with me for the past six years. I am very fortunate to have my family’s encouragement each step of the way!

DEDICATION: Tonje is working on hanging leg raises, focusing on her lower abs & hip flexion while lengthening her back & scapular retractions!

5.    What are your goals?

My goal is to become more independent. Physically, I want to of course walk again. Mentally, I want to get back a normal life. I want to get to the point where I can return to school because I still want to be an engineer. I also want to get a new hold on life and Project Walk is helping me do that!

6.    What advice would you give to prospective clients?

Never give up! Even if you feel hopeless back home, know that there are places out there to help you. If you have a spinal cord injury, you need to come to Project Walk!

7. Tonje Forbord’s progress since coming to Project Walk in October 2006:

Tonje’s team of Specialists: Mica Gaila, Nelly Geronimo, & Rodney Marquez.

Tonje has shown tremendous progress in her sensory and motor function since she has been here for the last six months. In fact, this happens to be her 8th visit from Norway and will be staying here for a year. The difference at this point in time of her recovery is that she is beginning to coordinate functional movements from her ankles to her upper extremities instead of relying on a highly reactive nervous system. Normally a change in hip position or slight touch to her feet or legs would sometimes set off violent spasms that would pull her body into awkward positions and also cause pain. In a sitting or standing position, she struggled to keep her upper trunk from flexing forward when her hip flexor spasms kicked in, which led to several setbacks. Between Tonje’s perseverance and her team of specialists, we have learned how to account for these situations.

Through regaining some sensory and more motor control of her body, Tonje has increased proprioception. This translates well into her current ability to detect violent spasms before its onset and how to respond to it. Just within the past four months she has continually regained smoother contractions when executing leg extensions, ankle dorsiflexion, and ankle plantar flexion.
For the first time since coming to Project Walk, Tonje can now feel her glutes. With this new development she is able to perform dynamic movements, such as squatting and walking more efficiently. Her endurance and gait pattern have significantly improved, as she is now able to walk three laps around the facility compared to half a lap in the past. Along with improving her coordination with her lower body, she is starting to stabilize her upper body and trunk better through working on her posture. She can now enjoy a glass of red wine in an upright sitting position, instead of being excessively flexed in her shoulders and thoracic spine. In fact, in a standing position she is one and a half inches taller!

Most notably, with all the function that Tonje has regained she notices that her everyday life is becoming much easier. Even as simple as doing a standing transfer to and from the car has become an easier task. Her core strength has greatly increased, so much so that she can get up in bed from a supine to upright position independently. Through all the hardships she has faced, her dedication speaks loudly towards her recovery and nothing will stop her from achieving her goals. She has increased her confidence, which is attributed to her significant gains in function. Currently, her goals are to continue to improve her gait and to one day do independent sit to stands. She puts a great deal of trust in her trainers to challenge her and push her to reach to the next level. We are honored to work with her and accept that challenge!

KNOWLEDGE. DETERMINATION. RESULTS