Vienna, Austria.

Yes, you read that right. I am writing you from Vienna, Austria this morning. See, you really do have to question where in the world is Kate - it's no joke! Now, some of you may be quite confused as 1) you know that this country is not on the scheduled itinerary and 2) you know that it's a land-locked country and difficult (if not impossible) to get to by ship. So you're probably wondering why the heck I'm hanging out in Austria at the moment eh? It's good to be back here, I love this city, but not under these circumstances.

First let me start by saying Mom and Dad - I'M OKAY! Don't worry. Here's the situation. We've been in Dubrovnik for the past 5 days and, for whatever reason, many of our students decided that it was a good idea to go cliff diving off of these rocks just outside the walls to the old city. The place of choice was about a 50-60 foot drop into the Adriatic. I saw some of them doing this on the first day as I was walking around the city walls (which were even more beautiful than I remember from before). I was talking to another staff member when we noticed these students and was quite worried that someone was going to get seriously injured or killed.

Luckily, the latter did not happen; however, on our second to last day there one of my students jumped in and apparently hit the water badly. She has been diagnosed with a compression fracture in her lower spine. Ah. Bad news. She was taken to the Dubrovnik hospital for a night, had a CT and it was determined that the hospital there would not be able to give her the care she needed - they didn't even have strong pain medications there so she was in a lot of pain that first night. MedEx (our emergency health care provider) determined that the nearest/best hospital was going to be here in Vienna. There is some good news for her though - she has feeling in both legs, can move her toes and almost point and flex her feet! She knows that she is a lucky, lucky lady.

This is a student with whom I've gotten quite close this semester. When I went to go visit her in the Croatian hospital she said that she asked if I could go with her wherever it was that she was sent. I told her I'd go, but it wasn't a decision I could make - that it would have to be something that ISE/Bob V. asked me to do. I headed back to the ship and asked the physician (Dr. Bob) if he thought someone would accompany her. He said it was unlikely that anyone would be able to go, but said that I could ride with him back to the hospital later that evening. I went about my business for the remainder of the afternoon and then met him to go to the hospital. Well, we also met Bob V. (the exec dean) and the Captain (who is from Dubrovnik) and the good Captain drove us to the hospital in his car. =)

During this ride (about 1.5 hours before on-ship time) Bob V. turned around from the front seat and asked if I'd go with her to Austria so that she wouldn't have to be alone before her parents arrived. Naturally I said I would, and then found out that the ambulance fight was going to leave in less than 2 hours.

All of us went to her room when we got there (even the Captain took the time out to stop up and visit the student and drive me back to the ship to pack) before stopping to see his family one last time. Seriously, this guy is wonderful!

I got back to the ship and had about 20 minutes to pack and get things squared away as I won't be back to the ship until after the Spain visit. This normally wouldn't be a problem, but the annual students of service auction is during this four day stretch and this is one of my responsibilities. I had to pass on all of the info and wish my students luck. I feel really bad for having to leave them right before their major event, but know that they will continue the amazing job that they have done thus far and be perfectly fine.

I found Danelle, one of the other RD's, and bless her heart, she came and absorbed everything I had to get out - just a random fire of info. She then promised everything would be taken care of and I was off very quickly, I didn't have time to say good-bye to anyone but her and Rick, my supervisor.

I hopped a cab back to the hospital and met the student, Bob V. and Dr. Bob. Dr. Bob and I climbed into the ambulance with her and we headed off for the Dubrovnik airport. MedEx had a flight waiting there for us and, rather quickly, we were off for Vienna. It was such a relief to get into the plane as they had good pain medication for her and instantly she felt some relief - enough that she slept for most of the flight!!! YAY! (To the ISE staff that reads this blog - the MedEx folks that came were AMAZING! The care she received was beyond excellent and I was more than impressed.)

We arrived in Vienna at about 8:45 p.m. and took an ambulance to the hospital where we were met by some of the nicest people. It was such a relief for the student, as the care and attention was a tad lacking in Croatia. We had a long night of another CT scan and a barrage of questions and tests. By 2 a.m. we were both falling asleep and shortly thereafter were able to go to bed. The hospital was gracious enough to allow me to sleep here last night. They even made up an examination table with a sheet, blanket and pillow and I had a flat place to stretch out for a few hours. Not quite a bed, but good enough for a few hours sleep! I need to find a hotel room today, as they said it was a one night deal - they weren't even supposed to let me stay one night. I'm so grateful they allowed me to stay. I think it was because of the hour it was, the early tests that were scheduled and my limited knowledge of the German language!

I'm currently sitting in the waiting room as they do an MRI to see what kind of surgery she will need to have. I brought by computer and plug so I anticipate that I will be able to catch up on my blogging in the coming hours/days here at the hospital. I'm glad that I've already been to Vienna, as if it was somewhere new I'd be very antzy to get out and explore it. =) Here though, I'm content to kick back and hang out with this student, at least for now!

7 hours later....
Ok... now I'm not in the waiting room anymore, rather in my pension (nicer than a hostel, not as nice (or as expensive) as an actual hotel). It is just a few blocks from the hospital and in a good part of town. There's a money changing place next door (yay) and the retired woman that runs this place (Margaret) couldn't be nicer. We got the results from the MRI and the student will be having surgery tomorrow morning. She's (rightfully) pretty nervous. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. Both of her parents should be here by the time she wakes up, if not before she goes in for surgery. The situation she's in is pretty scary, much less to be doing it in an unfamiliar place. Also pray for peace of mind with her family as they travel overseas (for the first time).