Today was an exciting day. We woke up this morning and headed off to another hospital, this one different than the one in Gorliz. This was a private hospital, which gave it capabilities different from those of Gorliz, particularly in research. The technology in the hospital today was so impressive. They showcased an exoskeleton suit that enables assisted walking for stroke patients and those with partial paralysis. It was a fantastic experience, and I was so lucky to try on the suit. I was extremely impressed and hope to see this technology used for patients all around the world struggling to relearn to walk. After the hospital was finished, we headed over to the main campus of the University of the Basque Country. We met a physical therapy professor who gave us a tour of the university and told us an inspiring story about an accident she had while running and her rehabilitation in Hospital Gorliz. We finished the tour there and went back to the Engineering school for Dr. Professor’s lecture.
Dr. Professor’s lecture was fantastic. He did a great job helping those who didn’t understand women’s anatomy and introducing the topic to me. My respect for him also went way up when he was talking about how he focused on his passion instead of following the money. His innovation based on mesh to help the female prolapse disorders was so interesting, and I am very glad I was able to learn more about his research interests. Then, we had a delicious lunch. After lunch, we met up with Mangel and took the bus through the Spanish countryside to San Juan Gaztelugatxe. This was one of the most beautiful places I have been in my life. It, however, was not an easy hike. We made it up the 241 steps to the church, okay, the problem was getting back. We enjoyed our time at the top and rang the bell. Then, we decided it was time to walk back. The walk back to the top of the mountain was brutal, felt like a mile long at a 60-degree angle. I have a feeling my calves will be sore for a few days.
After we finally made it back to the bus, Nora decided that we should stop at the beach to decompress after the torture we had just gone through. We stopped at this gorgeous cove, where, although the water was cold, we were able to dip our feet in and even ended up climbing up nearby rock formations. To top it all off, we stopped on the boardwalk to get gelato before the bus ride home. Overall, it was one of the best days yet, and I am so excited for tomorrow!