Nature as Strength: A Personal Journey in the Fight Against Cancer

Our resourceful CFO, Carina, has experienced cancer up close. Her mother passed away from colon cancer when Carina was only 23 years old. Twelve years later, Carina herself was diagnosed with breast cancer. Several friends and acquaintances within her close circle have also received cancer diagnoses, with varying outcomes. Sadly, her best friend, Karin, lost her battle with the disease. Despite these trials, Carina has never allowed cancer’s dark cloud to hold her back.

- When I got cancer, I had surgery, and as a result, my right arm became very weak. I could no longer do something as simple as opening a door. The physiotherapist asked me what I used to do in my spare time. ‘Horseback riding,’ I replied, which I’d been doing for ten years. ‘You’ll probably have to give that up, unfortunately,’ she told me. ‘Bloody woman,’ I thought. ‘We’ll see about that.’

- So, I started taking long walks in the forest, doing arm exercises as I went. I moved my arms back and forth, sideways, and in rotating motions, all while cursing the physiotherapist. Her negativity became something positive for me, as it triggered me to regain my strength. Today, I have full mobility in my arms. Carina has always been very active and spent a lot of time outdoors running and exercising. Growing up, she and her mother would go out together to pick berries and mushrooms. The forest was a great part of her upbringing, so it was only natural for her to turn to it during her cancer journey. The walks became rehabilitation for both body and mind. To have company on her walks, she got a Border Collie, who became both a loyal friend and an elite obedience dog.

- We competed a bit. People warned me not to get such an active dog as a Border Collie. ‘Why buy a race car when you can get by with a regular car?’ they said. But I didn’t want an ordinary car; I wanted a race car.

Cancer made Carina change her outlook on life. It became essential to her to make time for everything she wanted to do. She had dreamed of living in the countryside since childhood. In 2005, the opportunity arose to buy a farm outside Värnamo. The rest of the family wasn’t as enthusiastic, but Carina was determined to fulfil her lifelong dream. Today, one of Carina’s sons and his family live in the main house, while Carina and her husband moved into the smaller house on the farm. The other son bought a small farm nearby and lives there with his family. Apart from their daughter, who lives in Gothenburg with her family but visits frequently, the family is all gathered.

- Originally, I dreamed of a house in the countryside, but it became a farm, and I’ve never regretted it. The farm has brought happiness to our family. My decision to buy it has shaped the whole family. It brought my two sons and their families back home. Being able to spend time with family means so much to me. We live very close to a lake with a small beach and a barbecue area. We gather there all year round. We enjoy being outside and being together.

- The farm also comes with a natural commitment that keeps me regularly active in the woods and fields. There’s always brush to clear, forest roads to maintain, or sometimes, dealing with bark beetle infestations. My sister lives just a kilometre away on a small farm that she and her husband bought a year before us. Eager to learn more about nature, we took a hunting course together. The instructor introduced us to all types of hunting; we studied the book on our own. A few years ago, I studied ‘Sustainable Forestry’ at the Linnaeus University in Växjö together with my sons. Curiosity brings new perspectives.

- Nature has meant a great deal to me throughout my life. When we’re in the forest, my husband and I are always ‘in sync.’ There’s only happiness when you’re outside, feeling the wind brush your face. Nature offers so much beauty and tranquility.