Albany, Australia (NO PHOTOS)

 Jen writes: Because of my fall yesterday, Jerry and I had a taxi ride to the ER at 8:30 am, as soon as the
ship docked, while everyone else had a “normal” cruise day. In my hand was clutched an important
envelope from the cruise ship medical center that needed a doctor’s signature that would allow me to
re-board the ship. (Yup, this means that if the doctor determined my injury too severe, Jerry would pack
our bags for us and we’d get sent home.)

Trying not to panic, we pumped the taxi driver for information about the city as that’s all we’d get for
the day for this blog. Turns out that in the past 10 years, the population of this Western Australian town
has doubled mostly due to climate. Along the coast, this city maintains a nearly year-round temperature
of about 78 degrees. Mmmm. Tempting. We were also informed of an area of psychology called
climate psych which has determined that the best temperature for humans is right around this
temperature.

My first experience with Australian medical care was a good one. Jerry and I sat in the triage area in line with others of all ages. Typical ER. A nurse trundled a cart with blood pressure sleeve and oxygen
reader for each of us as we waited. When it was my turn at “the window” with the triage nurse, I
presented my passport for ID. The nurse was quick and consoling about my timeline (ship was leaving at 6:00 so I couldn’t wait all day) and helpful in directing me to the next station to wait before being called into the ER unit itself. One helpful piece of advice she gave me: “We should have you out of here well before 6:00, but go ahead and tell each person you see…”

Australian ERs base your payment level on your assigned triage level. I was a Level 4 and paid that fee
about $400 which would cover whatever we needed. Jerry and I were assigned to a curtained room. A
nurse practitioner looked at my left elbow which was in a half-cast and a sling thanks to the medical
center on the cruise ship. “We will take x-rays and see where we are.” Jerry waited while I was walked
to another section of the area for x-rays. Another chair to wait in. They didn’t remove the cast or wraps
for the x-rays. Then I was walked back to the curtained room to wait for the doctor to read them. The
jovial doctor arrived with good news. “We need to check with a specialist, but we’ll probably send you
back with a sling and support, but you won’t need the cast.” Huh. I was now 5 pounds lighter and felt a
bit vulnerable. He asked for another x-ray, this time of my left wrist since this type of fall can affect
both parts of the forearm. More walking. More waiting. Each person saying, “Oh, there shouldn’t be
any problem getting you back to the ship on time.”

Nurse practitioner came back again, pronounced that I had an elbow fracture, was surprised when I gave her the ship permission form, found a doctor to sign and write my hall pass back, then called for a taxi to return us to the ship. “Home” by about 1:30. Both of us exhausted. Found a taped note to our suite door from a friend offering to help in any way, especially when it’s time to pack in a few days when the cruise ends.

You all already know this, but I’ll say it again: I am married to a man who loves me enough to drop
everything and concentrate only on me. He’s a gem. God’s best blessing. My heart.