LET Bjarndís FLY AGAIN!

Help Me Fight Paralysis and Regain Freedom

I am seeking your kind-hearted support!

Please be the support I need to fund an Omeo Segway and essential treatment, so I can rebuild my life and feel free like a bird again!

Your pure hearts will go towards funding: 

• Omeo Segway (Wheelchair) - Roughly $40.000

https://myomeo.com/

• A 10-week Vital treatment in America to help me walk 

again and regain my body's strength - Roughly $40.000 

Life Took a Turn—Here’s What Happened

Six months ago, my life took an unimaginable turn. What began as a frightening health crisis—paralysis starting in my right leg and gradually spreading to my other limbs, face, and eyes—left me hospitalized for over a week, grappling with uncertainty and countless tests. Eventually, I was diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), completely turning my world upside down.

But before we unravel that horrifying event, let’s back up a little Shall we??

       Get to Know Me: The Story Behind the Smile!

• Originally from Iceland (middle of nowhere), where awareness of this debilitating condition is minimal, I’ve had to fight to the nail for recognition and seek help, as it’s often dismissed as an illegitimate paralysis disorder. (True story: A physiotherapist looked me right in the eyes and said, "You are not paralyzed, and this is not paralysis," as I stood on a treadmill, desperately trying to "just miraculously walk again."). So I am left with no other hope but to post this, hoping to stumble upon some great hearts
• I recently celebrated my 29th birthday.
• Former National Team Swimmer
• Completed a bachelor's degree followed by a specialized master's degree in Investigative Forensic Psychology – not a clinical psychologist, but the exciting kind, focusing on investigation, crime, victims, and corrections.
• Born biracial with a cleft lip and a mild form of cerebral palsy affecting the right side, a physical disability that, from my perspective, had minimal impact on my life and experiences (living life almost one-handed with a slightly limping walk that was barely noticeable! well, it definitely sucked, but I somehow wasn't phased by it - I DID EVERYTHING I WANTED IN LIFE!

One hand? Slight limp? No problem! I packed my bags, crossed borders, chased my education, and showed the world that nothing could slow me down. I DID IT ALL – and looked awesome doing it!

Now, everything has changed – I feel like a prisoner in my own body, and no matter how hard I try, there’s no escaping it.

           FND Uncovered: What’s This All About?

Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) is a medical condition characterized by neurological symptoms that cannot be explained by structural or organic damage to the nervous system. Instead, it results from a disruption in how the brain and nervous system send and receive signals. These symptoms can range from tremors and weakness to more severe manifestations like seizures or full-blown paralysis

A significant contributing factor to FND can be extreme childhood trauma, with subsequent traumatic experiences or prolonged stress later in life further exacerbating the onset of the condition. When the mental and emotional burden becomes too overwhelming, the body’s coping mechanisms fail, leaving it to convert this immense psychological pressure into a physical state of dysfunction, often without the individual’s conscious control". When the mental and emotional burden becomes too overwhelming, the body’s coping mechanisms fail, leaving it to convert this immense psychological pressure into a physical state of dysfunction, without the individual’s conscious control".

           Peek Into a Day in My Life!

• I often experience muscle weakness or even full-blown paralysis, making it hard to move or do simple tasks.
• Tremors and uncontrollable shaking in my hands or legs happen throughout the day.
• Walking can be difficult because of balance issues or an unsteady gait.
• Numbness, tingling, or unexplained paralysis pain show up in different parts of my body, including my face and eyes (the pain, especially in my eyes, is unbearable - like someone is cutting through them with a knife and turning it.
• I sometimes struggle to speak clearly and have difficulty following conversations, especially when there are many contributors or when people speak too fast, which can be frustrating.
• My mind often feels clouded or foggy, making it hard to concentrate or remember things - I have almost completely wiped out all my childhood memories, and memories of life in general, due to having Complex PTSD.
• I feel tired all the time!, no matter how much rest I get— (14 hours a night, true!) it’s a constant exhaustion. I NEED TO PRESERVE EVERY OUNCE OF MY ENERGY AT ALL COSTS! If I decide to do anything during the day (no matter what it is), it’s almost guaranteed that I’ll need to rest afterward, often ending up napping and not waking up until the next day.

To say the past few months have been difficult would hardly capture the reality. I feel like a prisoner trapped in my own body. I wake up every day feeling like I’ve been brutally attacked—there’s just no other way to describe it.

I rely entirely on others for every aspect of my daily life - and this is the same girl who conquered life and moved countries!

       FND and Me: Why Is It Part of My Story?

It ultimately comes down to the fact that I couldn’t protect this delicate, butterfly-girl from unbearable and unending suffering.

Prolonged Domestic life conditions

• Her life has been marked by relentless adversity from the very beginning. Prolonged and difficult domestic conditions shaped her early years.

Endless Medical Journey

• Her medical struggles began as early as 8 weeks old—doctors' visits, assessments, physiotherapy, over 150 operations for her cleft lip, and countless dental and jaw procedures. 

Prolonged, extremely brutal bullying

• She endured prolonged and brutal bullying, a cruelty inflicted simply because of how she entered the world—born biracial, with a cleft lip and a mild form of cerebral palsy. The harshness was unrelenting! 

Severe Car Accident 

• A severe car accident left her battling prolonged physical sickness, requiring surgery, though the pain and illness persisted even after.

       Sadly, the challenges don't end here....

So, dear pure hearts, I am still here, and although I have not passed away, I am living with the consequences of FND and paralysis. With my background in psychology, I have a deep understanding and insight into my circumstances, my behaviors, and the complexities of life. I can wholeheartedly affirm that life has been unimaginably tough—a condition that no girl, or anyone for that matter, should ever have to endure. Yet, I recognize that many in my position might not have been as “lucky” as I am—to still be here, fighting, and holding on to hope for a chance at reclaiming my life. The truth is, even with my knowledge of psychology, I cannot be my own psychologist, and I need interdisciplinary therapy to have a real chance at living fully again. The ten-week treatment program I hope to pursue involves 10 sessions per week with FND specialists, including a physiotherapist, an occupational therapist, and a psychologist. 

 This is my chance to fight for my life back!

My dream is to enter the workforce, use my master’s degree to contribute meaningfully to law enforcement, have a family, and hopefully enjoy the rest of the life I have yet to live.

Please help me out—no matter the amount you can donate, every little bit will make a difference! 🙏🏼