Day 12: Trauma in more ways than one

Got up bright and early for my hour long drive to Echuca. Echuca is one of the border towns that sits on the Campaspe River which separates the state of Victoria from New South Wales.  My drive was beautiful through rural farmland.  Still haven't seen a kangaroo, but I have hope. 

 

I landed at the hospital in their Education center.  Each rural teaching site has one of these beautiful buildings which serve as the education hub for the rural students.

I helped out with Trauma Day (arguably not my specialty) but it was really fun.  We put chest tubes into dummy boxes and talked about a trauma scenario regarding a motorcycle accident and a pneumothorax.  The day was really fun.

Unfortunately, I got some terrible family news at the end of the day.  This news cut my Australia trip short and I headed back to Chicago the next day (Day 13).  Said my goodbyes to the computer lab, my POD and my room and hopped the 14 hour flight to LAX. 

I didn't have any time for personal goodbyes to all the many wonderful people I've met along the way.  I will miss Australia dearly as I just felt like I was getting into the swing of things, but there is hope for a return trip in the future.






One positive for the final day - I finally saw my first kangaroo.  They were in the fields off to the side of the road on the way to Melbourne.  I couldn't believe it - I was treated to two packs of wild kangaroos.  Going too fast for a photo, but really splendid animals! 

Thanks for reading.  I do hope that you all enjoyed my blog.  Don't worry - Steve and I made a promise to ourselves to head back to the outback for a true sight-seeing trip - perhaps we'll hit up Australia AND New Zealand.