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Emma Sventelius

@esventan

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Professional operasinger and hobby baker from Sweden. Mother to Evald, a superhero with hemiplegic cerebral palsy.

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Today October 6 is World Cerebral Palsy Day!! Living with a disability means a lot of hard work and tough days, both for the disabled person and the community closest to them, but today we celebrate the joy which comes from living outside the norm. A joy which is unlocked by letting go of expectations, celebrating things others take for granted and stop comparing in a world of endless comparisons.
Every year on this day I’m trying to spread a little bit more knowledge and awareness to widen the safe space for Evald to grow up in. Last year I wrote some general facts about CP but this year I’m taking the opportunity to write about the spectrum of the diagnosis.
There are 5 ”levels” of cerebral palsy, based on the GMFCS-scale. As with all scales, it’s more of a spectrum than solid steps, but the levels are there to help guide the need of support for the disabled person. All levels have different criteria and ”your” level is diagnosed between the age of 4 and 6, although it can vary throughout your life. In now way is this scale or where you end up on it an indicator for quality of life. Quality of life is never measured in motor skills or intellectual capacity, in spite of what most people without disabilities believe. In my opinion quality of life is measured in connection, interaction and time spent with people you love and I dare to say that most kids with disabilities grow up with a lot more of all of that than most kids without impairments. The reason I’m sharing this video is to explain how an ordinary thing such as a 3-year-old walking up a set of stairs, for us will be something we will remember for the rest of our lives. The difference between level 2 and 1 on the GMFCS-scale is the criteria to be able to walk unassisted, without holding on to anything, in a set of stairs. This day this summer was the first day Evald managed to do that. As i said earlier; this does in no way measure Evalds quality of life, but it’s a welcome receipt for a lot (A LOT) of hard work and training. #worldcerebralpalsyday by @esventan

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8 hours ago

Nine years and counting ❤️ Nine years since we gathered our family and friends on the Vadstena plains by lake Vättern, the place where we went to school, worked, went skinny dipping and fell in love, and the place where we promised to love in sickness and in health. Marriage isn’t always easy, but as long as you can find the time to stare at each other in awe from time to time and see that you have your best friend by your side (even when there’s suddenly another little person between you who likes to steal most of the attention) I think you’ll manage! @hannexet thank you for laughing with me, crying with me and kicking my butt in the right direction in life ❤️ by @esventan

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a month ago

#cerebralpalsyawareness A day with dad at the gym 💚 We are very consciously trying to create a positive mind set in regards to training. When you’re born with cerebral palsy, you have a life ahead of you of constant training. Training your mind and training your muscles. Not to get fit, loose weight or get in shape but to help the body to keep functioning and to not be in pain. ”Training” is a word Evald uses himself a lot when he’s playing. It’s a positive word because it means you’re on your way to learn something new. We’ve been very clear with him from the start that everyone needs to practice a lot when learning a new thing. Everyone needs to train on different things. It takes time, effort and training to learn a new skill, and different skills takes different time for different people. Not everyone is able to learn everything, but there’s always a way forward. At this point the gym is obviously not Evald’s place to train, we’re not pushing him to lift weights or working out like an adult. The training a three-year-old with cerebral palsy needs is more play-based and focused on neurological development. But letting him get excited and curious, and build a foundation of positive bodily awareness feels just as important 💚 What are you guys doing with your three-year-olds on a Saturday? ☺️ #cerebralpalsy #hemiplegia #cerebralpares #hemiplegi by @esventan

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a month ago

Post audition sushi. Friday night audition is not my favourite friday night activity, but everything gets better if you just have some sushi afterwards 🤓 #audition #operaalife #lifeofanoperasinger #mezzosoprano by @esventan

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a month ago

A little peek at the concert last weekend at @artipelag with @christiankarlsen_conductor and @kammarensemblen_stockholm ❤️ Zemlinsky’s beautiful ”Sechs Gesänge” surrounded by art by Alfrons Mucha ❤️ #zemlinsky #alfonsmucha @rolin_artists taken in Artipelag by @esventan

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2 months ago

Artsy fartsy jacket for artsy fartsy concert! Thank you @christiankarlsen_conductor and @kammarensemblen_stockholm for inviting me to take part in the beautiful immersive art experience at @artipelag art museum in the archipelago of Stockholm ❤️ Zemlinsky’s Sechs Gesänge with orchestra! @rolin_artists taken in Artipelag by @esventan

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2 months ago

And suddenly time stood still ❤️🇸🇪 #holiday #värmland taken in Gjutaregården, Värmlands Län, Sweden by @esventan

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3 months ago

Through sickness and health, through tantrums and belly laughs, through fantasy fueled games, frustration and thoughtful conversations, our little Evald never cease to amaze us. Us and all the other people around him; family, friends and the ever growing team of health care providers ❤️ We walk our own path with you, dance to the beat of your drum. At first we were reluctant and scared of the road you took us on but today, on your third birthday, I just feel gratitude and wouldn’t want our path to look any different. Congratulations to you and congratulations to us! Thank God that WE got to be your parents ❤️#funkisföräldrar #hemiplegia #cerebralpalsykids by @esventan

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3 months ago

A throwback to Stavanger in February this year when I got to sing Carmen with wonderful tenor @joelprieto.ig and fantastic conductor @andrispogaofficial ❤️ Here’s a teeny tiny snippet from the dress rehearsal. Let’s see if Instagram lets me keep the sound on my video this time 😅 @rolin_artists by @esventan

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4 months ago

Introducing Swedish mezzo-soprano Emma Sventelius to ROLIN ARTISTS.

With her compelling dramatic instinct, warm timbre and versatility across opera, concert and contemporary repertoire, Emma Sventelius has established herself as a distinctive artistic voice on the Scandinavian and European opera scene.

We are delighted to begin this collaboration and look forward to the seasons ahead. Welcome, Emma✨ by @esventan

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4 months ago

Production photos for our upcoming production at @malmoopera at @studio73a_malmo What a fun day at work with @elinorfryklund, @ninnochikhelidze and @gaytenor! 🤩🥰 For more information about our tour dates, go to Malmö opera! (And thanks to @ninnochikhelidze for the amazing video ❤️) taken in Malmö, Sweden by @esventan

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6 months ago

With mom at work ❤️ I think you can see the mutual pride of belonging together. We had our last performance of our beautiful little opera ”Färden till Arareko” this weekend. It’s been an absolute pleasure which was crowned by getting to play for Evald. In his world his mom is a singing lizard and he couldn’t ask for anything more 🥰 by @esventan

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7 months ago