Victor Setsaas Skage, now 20 years old, lives a life that defies the severity of a catastrophic accident from his teenage years. Despite the loss of his left arm and right leg, he maintains a rigorous level of independence, living alone in Jessheim, preparing his own meals, and working as an energy fitter apprentice.
The Moment Everything Changed
The trajectory of Victor’s life shifted on the night of April 11, 2023, during a motorcycle trip on the E6. While he remembers nothing of the event, the prevailing theory is that he swerved to avoid a wild animal, possibly an elk, leading to a high-speed crash.
A female passerby discovered him lying beneath a center median and immediately contacted emergency services. In a harrowing detail of the impact, his right leg was found several meters away from his body.
A Grueling Path to Recovery
Following the accident, Victor was transported by air ambulance to Ullevål Hospital, where he remained in a coma for eight days. The medical battle that followed was extensive, including nearly two years of attempts to save his injured arm through nerve grafts taken from his leg.
When those operations failed to restore function, Victor eventually chose to have the arm amputated. He later spent five months in intensive training at Sunnaas Hospital to regain his autonomy.
Defining a New Normal
Victor’s approach to his new reality is marked by a refusal to accept special treatment. He has declined additional assistive devices for his kitchen, stating a desire to be treated and to live like everyone else.
To maintain his mobility, he drives a car modified with a steering knob and a rail that allows him to operate the gas and brake with his left foot. He attributes his progress to an inherent patience and a total acceptance of his situation.
Overcoming the Mental Battle
The challenges of limb loss extend beyond the visible. Elin Håkonsen, a team coordinator at Sunnaas Hospital, explains that patients often face “phantom pains,” where the brain continues to send signals to nerves that have been severed.
Rehabilitation also requires the physical hardening of the “stump,” as skin not designed for weight-bearing must suddenly support the entire body through a prosthesis. This process is often described as both painful and demanding.
Giving Back to the Community
Though no longer a patient, Victor remains active at Sunnaas Hospital as a member of the youth council. He uses his personal experiences to advocate for and support younger patients facing similar traumas.
He handles public attention with composure, often using humor to diffuse the curiosity of others. This includes a tattoo on his arm that reads “Nr. 91 stomperud,” a reference to a nickname given by a friend during his hospital stay.
Future Outlook
Given his current trajectory, Victor may continue to serve as a pivotal voice for young trauma survivors. His success in returning to a professional apprenticeship suggests that other patients in similar situations could potentially achieve high levels of vocational independence through similar multidisciplinary rehabilitation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused Victor’s accident?
While Victor does not remember the event, the theory is that he crashed his light motorcycle on the E6 after swerving to avoid a wild animal, possibly an elk.
How does Victor manage to drive a car?
He uses a steering knob and a specialized rail that enables him to leverage his left leg to operate the accelerator and brake.
What is “phantom pain” as described in the article?
Phantom pain occurs when the brain sends signals to nerves that have been cut, causing a person to feel sensations—such as itching or pain—in a limb that is no longer there.
How does a mindset of “acceptance” change the outcome of long-term medical rehabilitation?
