For Kathinka "Muttern" Gyllenhammar, guiding people through polar regions is part of the job. But nothing could prepare her for the journey her daughter Emma "Mini" was going through; from hip injury and surgery, to rehabilitation and preparations for one of the world's toughest expeditions.
Emma was 17 years old, an active soccer player and hiking girl with dreams of following her mother's ski tracks to the South Pole. But the injury to the hip put everything on hold.
Read Emma's story here: From the operating table to the South Pole in 14 months
- It was terrible to see her like this. It is hard to see such an active young person have limitations. We tried everything, but when she came home from the US, she was pretty broken. It was the first time we realized how serious it was, says Kathinka.
Previously, Emma had undergone surgery without the desired result, quite the opposite. The pain got worse, and everyday life increasingly limited.
When her sports career was in ruins, Emma was advised to see orthopedic surgeon Kristian Warholm at CMedical, an experienced specialist in hip operations, also for athletes. It was decided that Emma would have to be operated on again, and Kathinka felt both fear and relief.
- I was afraid that she would again get false hopes, that things would not go well. At the same time, I was relieved that someone actually saw her, and thought she could get better. It meant everything, she says.
She herself was on an expedition to Greenland when Emma was operated on, and followed the process closely from a distance.
- When I got home, both Emma and her father were incredibly happy. They felt safe and well looked after. The follow-up from both Kristian and CMedical has been fantastic afterwards, she says.
After the operation, it went quickly. Just months later, Emma was back in full training, and the following spring she crossed the Northwest Passage with her mother, a full 400 kilometers over ice and snow.
- It means everything to see her get her life back. She has always been an active girl, and now she is back where she thrives, with her body working. It is absolutely fantastic, says Kathinka.
Mother and expedition leader
Mini and Muttern traveled in November 2025 and will become the world's first mother-daughter duo to reach the South Pole. For Kathinka, this means a double role, both as mother and expedition partner.
- There is a big difference between those roles, but perhaps not that big after all. I want to be the one with the most experience out there, but Emma has a lot of knowledge, too. I know what she can do and what to expect. The biggest difference is perhaps that we as a family know which buttons to push, she says with a smile and concludes:
- 75 days in a small tent will be both challenging and wonderful. We only have each other out there and have to take care of each other. Thanks to CMedical for this opportunity. I'm really looking forward to it, she says.
Read more about how they have prepared here: This is how she prepares for the South Pole