Hrafnhildur and Auður

The story behind Isci

A Life-Changing Accident

In 1989, 16-year-old Hrafnhildur Thoroddsen and her friend Harpa Rut Sonjudóttir were involved in a serious car accident when their vehicle collided with a city bus. Harpa was thrown from the car, suffered a fatal neck fracture, and passed away instantly. Hrafnhildur was trapped between the car and a guardrail, suffering catastrophic injuries that nearly severed her body in half.

For the first six weeks after the accident, Hrafnhildur fought for her life. She was kept in an induced coma and faced multiple complications, including collapsed lungs, kidney failure, tissue necrosis in her lower limbs, and severe bleeding. The biggest shock came when she regained consciousness—she had lost control of her hands due to severe spasms, was deaf, mute, and paralyzed from the waist down due to a spinal cord injury.

A Relentless Search for a Cure

At a time before the internet and email, Auður relied on handwritten letters to seek help from medical professionals and spinal cord injury organizations worldwide. She wrote to renowned doctors and major medical institutions, hoping for guidance or new treatments. Most letters received no response or polite refusals.

Three years after her first letter, a reply arrived from Las Vegas. Dr. Michael Rask, an American orthopedic surgeon, invited Auður to a medical conference where he would be hosting Dr. Shaocheng Zhang, a Chinese spinal surgeon. Dr. Rask believed that Zhang might be able to help.

A Journey to Las Vegas

Determined to explore every possibility, Auður meticulously prepared for the trip. She removed the metal rods from Hrafnhildur’s spine (placed in Sweden) to ensure a clear medical scan, translated medical records into English, and in September 1994, she flew to Las Vegas with Hrafnhildur’s full medical history in hand.

When Auður arrived, she met Dr. Rask, who was in a wheelchair himself—explaining his deep empathy for her struggle. She also met Dr. Zhang, who initially said he could not help because too much time had passed since the accident.

Refusing to accept this, Auður pleaded with him, saying:
“But Dr. Zhang, she has nothing to lose.”

Recognizing the mother’s unwavering resolve, Zhang reconsidered and offered to examine Hrafnhildur in China. In February 1995, the family traveled to Shanghai, hoping for a surgical breakthrough.

Battling Bureaucracy to Bring Help to Iceland

Upon arriving at Dr. Zhang’s military hospital in Shanghai, he confirmed that surgery was technically possible but needed six more months of preparation before it could proceed. During their stay, Auður observed two successful spinal surgeries Zhang performed—further solidifying her trust in him.

However, due to travel restrictions on Chinese military doctors, it was impossible for Zhang to leave China without official government approval. Auður took the bold step of requesting the Icelandic government to issue an official invitation for Zhang to operate in Iceland.

Although Iceland approved the request, Chinese military authorities denied Zhang permission to travel. Determined, Auður sought diplomatic help from the Icelandic embassy in Beijing, which escalated the issue to China’s highest authorities. The breakthrough came when Iceland’s President, Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, personally appealed to Chinese President Jiang Zemin, requesting travel clearance for Zhang.

After nine months of political negotiations, Zhang was finally allowed to come to Iceland—but only under strict supervision. He arrived in December 1995, accompanied by a government escort who was responsible for ensuring Zhang returned to China after the operation.

A Successful Surgery and a Historic Victory

The arrival of a Chinese military doctor in Iceland to perform an experimental spinal surgery was a major media event. Even the Chinese embassy in Iceland monitored the situation closely. Zhang successfully performed two complex surgeries on Hrafnhildur, achieving better-than-expected results.

This was a monumental moment—not just for Hrafnhildur, but as a testament to a mother’s perseverance. Auður had successfully challenged a global superpower’s bureaucracy and won.

A year later, Zhang returned to Iceland for follow-up surgery, this time without any diplomatic obstacles.

Pushing the Boundaries of Treatment

After her surgeries, Hrafnhildur and Auður continued seeking additional therapies worldwide:

Russia – For electrotherapy

France – For laser acupuncture

United Kingdom – For alternative spinal rehabilitation

At every step, Auður made contingency plans with Icelandic embassies in each country, ensuring that if anything happened to her, Hrafnhildur would be safely brought home.

From Personal Struggle to Global Advocacy

Through her experience, Auður realized that spinal cord injury treatments had barely advanced in 50 years. She discovered that financial, scientific, and political barriers were slowing progress.

Determined to change this, she wrote to Gro Harlem Brundtland, then Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), urging WHO to collect and centralize spinal cord injury research. Within three weeks, WHO responded positively.

This led to:

• The creation of an international spinal cord injury research database (www.sci.is).
• Iceland hosting a global spinal cord injury conference in 2001, bringing together top scientists, medical professionals, and WHO representatives.

A Legacy of Advocacy

Despite early resistance from global organizations, Auður continued to raise awareness at the highest levels. In efforts to spread awareness, she personally reached out to:

• Nordic Queens to push for government support.
• Prince Charles
• Hillary Clinton
• Christopher Reeve
• Robin Williams

To further public engagement, she produced a documentary, "You Will Never Walk Again", funded by Icelandic businesses and private donors. It has since been broadcast internationally in multiple languages.

A Mother’s Determination



From the moment of the accident, Auður Guðjónsdóttir, Hrafnhildur’s mother and a surgical nurse, never left her daughter's side. She dedicated herself to ensuring her child would survive and live a full life. Auður refused to accept that Hrafnhildur would be institutionalized and forgotten—she was determined to fight for better treatment and a future outside of a care facility.

A Movement for Change

Through her relentless efforts, Auður transformed a deeply personal battle into a global movement. Thanks to her work:

• WHO and Iceland launched an international research database.
• Iceland became a leader in spinal cord injury advocacy.
• The conversation about spinal cord injury treatment shifted from rehabilitation to finding a cure.

Her message remains clear: Finding a cure for spinal cord injuries is not just a medical challenge—it is a humanitarian necessity.

This incredible journey is proof that one person’s determination can move governments, change policies, and bring hope to millions.