The Story of Magnús Máni – Faith, Resilience and Perseverance

In July 2023, the life of one family changed in a single day.

Magnús Máni was thirteen years old at the time, a boy who lived for sport, his friends and everything that comes with being a teenager full of energy and momentum. Following a short illness involving a high fever, sore throat and cough, Magnús suddenly lost all strength below his chest. In a single moment, the future he had imagined disappeared, and nobody knew exactly what would come next.

The first few weeks were extremely difficult and filled with uncertainty. Magnús Máni spent time in intensive care and was later transferred to the Children’s Hospital, where exceptional healthcare professionals helped him through the acute stage of his illness. When that battle ended, another, much longer one began: rehabilitation.

From the very first day, Magnús Máni refused to give up. Despite the uncertainty, the disappointments and, at times, the limited belief of others in what he might be able to achieve, he kept going.

Day after day.
Week after week.
Month after month.

Remarkable progress

Today, three years later, Magnús has achieved results that many believed were impossible.

Seven days after this happened, a doctor told Magnús and his family that he would remain in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Why would anyone say such a thing to a thirteen-year-old boy who had an enormous amount of work ahead of him?

The family decided not to listen to that doctor. Instead, they sought out more intensive and advanced rehabilitation than was available through the Icelandic public healthcare system. Today, Magnús can walk using a walker.

He has also returned fully to his studies and has been accepted into the Commercial College of Iceland, despite missing the entirety of eighth grade and part of ninth grade. He still uses a wheelchair for longer distances and still has a great deal of work ahead of him, but his situation today is entirely different from what it was in the summer of 2023.

What has been most remarkable is not only his physical recovery, but also his mindset, resilience, perseverance, belief and ability to continue moving forward without giving up.

To achieve this progress, the family has had to take an unconventional path.

Magnús Máni has undergone extremely demanding rehabilitation, both in Iceland and abroad. After spending the first weeks in rehabilitation within the public system, the family realised that the modern equipment, motivation, intensive daily training time and supportive environment required to achieve meaningful recovery were simply not available.

The rehabilitation therefore moved in a different direction when the family came into contact with an Indian rehabilitation specialist, Rahul Bharti, who convinced them that Magnús Máni could make a full recovery through an extraordinary amount of work.

One of Rahul’s associates, Peter from Poland, came to Magnús’s home for three hours every day for an entire year, and together they achieved remarkable results. Magnús Máni later continued working with another Polish specialist, Maciej.

Since 2023, Magnús has also received rehabilitation at Sjúkraþjálfunin in Sporthúsið, where he has worked with two exceptional professionals, Hildur Kristín and Bjarki, with very positive results.

Magnús has also spent a total of 26 weeks undergoing rehabilitation in Madrid, where he has had access to modern, highly specialised and technologically advanced rehabilitation that has significantly supported his recovery. This type of rehabilitation is not available in Iceland.

Magnús and Maciej have also attended Sjúkraþjálfun Reykjavíkur, where Rúnar, a physiotherapist, has allowed them to use an anti-gravity treadmill, which reduces the amount of body weight Magnús has to support while walking.

In addition to all of the above, Magnús Máni has met many other wonderful people who have supported him in a wide variety of ways.

His recovery and progress have continued steadily throughout the entire process.

At the beginning, he had neither strength nor sensation below his chest. He then set himself the goal of being able to stand and place the star on top of the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve in 2023—and he achieved it.

From there, he progressed to walking with a high walker and extensive support, and later to walking with a lower walker and less support. By tenth grade, he was using only the walker while at school.

Magnús Máni, his family and his rehabilitation team see no reason why his recovery and progress should not continue. That is why they keep moving forward with determination.

Significant costs, with very limited state support

This journey has involved enormous financial costs.

The total cost of rehabilitation, specialist care, assistive equipment, travel and everything else required has now reached approximately ISK 40 million.

The Icelandic state has covered only a very small proportion of these costs, despite its obligation to provide this type of rehabilitation, including under Article 24 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.[1]

A substantial proportion of the cost has therefore fallen on the family itself, even though the treatment and rehabilitation have delivered clear and measurable results.

Over the past year, Magnús’s parents have met with the CEO of the National University Hospital of Iceland, the Minister of Health, and both current and former political leaders.

They have all agreed that the Icelandic healthcare system should support Magnús Máni and his family and fully cover the cost of his rehabilitation.

Everyone agrees with this in principle, yet for some reason, “the system” does not work that way.

As a result, the family has had to fight this battle largely on its own.

The family appealed the matter to the Welfare Appeals Committee, but this did not change the outcome. They also sent a letter to the Ombudsman for Children, who was unable to intervene, and they have now submitted a complaint to the Parliamentary Ombudsman, where the case currently remains.

Considering everything that has happened so far, it may be unlikely that this will bring about any change. Nevertheless, this is perhaps the final avenue available to the family in this fight.

They must therefore continue to believe that someone within “the system” will take up the cause of Magnús Máni and his family in what they consider to be a matter of justice.

Family and friends are running to raise funds for his rehabilitation

But this story is not only about money.

It is about a boy who decided not to let fate define him.

It is about holding on to hope and belief when it would be easier to lose them.

It is about showing up every single day and giving everything to the task, no matter how difficult it may be.

Last year, the family experienced one of the most powerful moments of their lives when Magnús Máni walked the final 200 metres to the finish line of the Reykjavík Marathon, surrounded by family, friends and people who had chosen to stand beside him.

It was a moment they will never forget.

Now, they are preparing to do it again.

His family and friends are not running only to raise funds for his continued rehabilitation. They are running to celebrate everything he has achieved, to show Magnús Máni that he is not alone, and to remind all of us of what can be accomplished when belief, determination, resilience and support come together.

Last year, more than ISK 17 million was raised. However, as explained above, the cost of his rehabilitation has far exceeded that amount.

This fundraising campaign is therefore enormously important to the family, and those of us close to them want to aim high this year so that Magnús can continue receiving the rehabilitation that is so important to his progress.

If Magnús Máni’s story touches you, there are many ways you can help.

You can run for him.
You can sponsor him.
You can share his story.
Or you can simply send him warm thoughts and words of encouragement.

Every step matters.

And if there is one thing Magnús Máni has taught us over the past few years, it is that even the longest journey begins with a single step.

Our heartfelt thanks for all the support that Magnús and his family have received.

We would never have come this far without you. ❤️

Keep going Magnús Máni!

Those who want to support directly:

Kennitala: 630525-1870

Bank account: 0133-15-011384