Hi everyone,
A lot has happened since my last post.
I’ve now “officially” stepped away from work. This time, I’m facing a new battle – with NAV, the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration, which handles disability benefits, employment services, and social support here in Norway. There’s always something.
I applied for disability support after realizing I simply can’t keep working. The first decision came back as a no. I appealed, and the next round said: “Yes, he should receive disability,” but they still wanted to try me in a work training program. All this while being in and out of the hospital?
Luckily, I now have a GP – a kind and experienced doctor who has worked with severely chronic patient. He’s been a key support in this phase of my life.
My partner and I made a big decision: to move back “home.” We now live in a lovely, quiet neighborhood with friendly landlords and a cozy apartment. He’s starting a new job and supports me in every way he can. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without him.
My doctor, has been a rock, and so has my family here at home. I am surrounded by people who care deeply, and for that, I’m very grateful.
Haukeland and the Long Waits
I’ve been admitted to Haukeland University Hospital several times lately. The staff at the orthopedic department – nurses, assistants, support staff – are nothing short of amazing. They greet me with a smile even though I’ve become somewhat of a regular there.
Our current National Health System has exploded with now a current national debt of 13% and a national pension fund with a value of 1,441 billion British pounds
We have empty operating rooms and no one to operate them. Nurses are running as mad dogs and our government is sitting on their hands while people are suffering in queues.
If you’re from Øygarden and you ever have to call an ambulance, let them decide what’s best for your health. I can’t go into too much detail due to an ongoing case, but those who know the situation between Øygarden and Bergen Emergency Services understand. Don’t let the ambulance leave you behind if you’re clearly unwell.
Family, Loss, and Holding On
Right now, I’m writing this from a hospital bed, waiting for another treatment. My muscle deterioration has worsened, and I’ve had several admissions recently. I wish I could’ve been closer to a family member who is gravely ill – someone I’ve had my ups and downs with, but who has always been there when I needed a ride, a talk, or support.
Thankfully, life has also brought moments of beauty. Here are a few that helped me breathe.
Greece 🇬🇷
My mother-in-law and her partner took us to Greece – to sunshine, warm evenings, and calm seas. I can still feel that Mediterranean air when I close my eyes.
Evenings like this brought light during hard times.
England 🏴
We also spent time in the English countryside. Cool fog, majestic buildings, and peaceful walks far from the noise of the city. It grounded me. Mother in law and her partner.
The English mist wrapping around historic stone – peaceful, timeless.
Lanzarote – Canary Islands 🇮🇨
And then there was Lanzarote. That trip might have saved me emotionally. My father-in-law and stepmother-in-law offered us sun, silence, and black volcanic beaches that softened the pain and lifted me from a deep depressive fog.
Sunlight, lava rocks, and the sound of the sea. I will always be thankful for that.
A Final Note
I’m about to be discharged – by a doctor I’ve never met before – because the orthopedic infection ward has room, and the regular one doesn’t. And yes, she said “botex” instead of “botox” multiple times. No, I don’t have an infection. Just overcrowded hospitals.
Thank you for reading. The pain grows alongside the wait in our healthcare system. But I’m still here, still trying, still breathing.
Until next time – take care of yourselves.
Picture for today 14/05/2025
Martin’s Liv 