Birds chipped. Cars beeped. And both served as natural alarms that prompted my awakening. An exciting day of school and hospital tours awaited me after a quick but tasty breakfast. The scenic bus ride to the Hospital Quiron Salud was filled with views of the distant Bilbao valley, hills, and, of course, much fun amongst ourselves in the bus.
       At the hospital, we were greeted by kind staff who took us upstairs to a special room where we enjoyed demonstrations of numerous rehabilitation devices. Known as the “Skeleton” and manufactured by the Gogoa company, a body brace meant to aid the walking of patients who may have experienced strokes and other problems. For what was a large mechanism, it is surprisingly light and can support up to 100 kg. Conner and Alyssa both volunteered to test out the Skeleton, reporting that it was fun, but it was quite weird to get used to the pacing of the machine programmed by our hosts. After this entertaining demonstration, we heard about a small electrical device that improves the neuroplasticity of its users by conducting a small current through electrodes attached to the ear. With neurons more likely to fire, allowing new mental connections to be made more quickly. My only experience prior to this was E-stim treatment back when I did physical therapy for my shoulder. Finally, our hosts brought out small reaction devices, which the rest of the class and I got to compete in time-based challenges. For instance, everyone got competitive and enjoyed the game in which we had to tap a certain color cone before our opponent. Whoever tapped their’s faster won. I greatly appreciated the tour and hospitality of the facility.
      Only a few minutes’ bus ride away from Hospital Quiron Salud, the University of the Basque Country Medical and Nursing facilities rested nestled on top of the hill. When we arrived, kind staff members greeted us, and we began our tour of the school’s labs and nursing training areas. We witnessed firsthand the beds on which nurses practice patient care and the routine tools nurses use. Additionally, we had the chance to view the studio in which the school collects 3d data from human motion. A similar setup to how stunts/CGI are prepared, there was a room with a completely blue wall and an empty space filled with cameras to capture the motion of a person with tags and a black suit on. This allows for biomechanical data to be recorded and used in clinical research (like the projects we have talked about in the past few days). Afterward, we heard a personal testimony from one of the lead nursing professors who was a patient in the Hospital Gorliz herself! She explained that on a run with her friend on treacherous terrain. While they were running, suddenly they arrived at a dead-end, but scaling a rocky wall might offer another route. As the professor climbed, she fell ~ 10 meters, shattering her ankle and heel. Although her recovery was painful and long, she appreciated the hospitality of Gorliz and ended up recovering miraculously well, resuming her active lifestyle ahead of schedule.
      In the hours that followed, I witnessed what was arguably one of the most heavenly scenes of my life: San Juan de Gaztelugatxe. An old nun convent surrounded by water and accompanied by the powerfully peaceful sound of waves crashing, rested just below the mountain. Creation is beautiful! Photos of birds in their preferred habitats, butterflies on the prettiest flowers, and the epic San Juan now fill my camera roll. I could have quadrupled the time I spent there, but a short trip to the beach fulfilled this wish. What a wonderful day of learning and enjoying God’s creation.