Well, I fell in the kitchen.  Apparently Sophie Kat decided to cross my path at exactly the wrong moment.  (I will forever be superstitious about gray and white long-haired cats!) I tried to stop myself and ended up doing a bit of a dance going forward, causing a much harder fall from the momentum.  Geez!
     First thing I did was try to move my hip - scared I broke it.  The hip was sore, but I could lift it up and move my leg.  Then I realized my arm was pointing crookedly out to my side and would not move.  I had dislocated my shoulder and literally could not get up.
What happens next is a three and one-half hour nightmare! 
     We don't have ambulance service out here in the campo; our neighbor called the police.  The police came, but the only option was to get me on a stretcher and put me in the truck bed of their pickup.  It didn't seem an ideal option, as the roads are very bumpy and I was in extreme pain.  There was lots of conversation and it was decided to call the Camionera (like state troopers in the U.S.).  They came, but would have to put me in the back of their pickup, as well. 
     Next, my Canadian friend in the nearby village was called.  She and her husband came over and made some phone calls, somehow getting a rogue ambulance to come out and get me. 
     All in all, I was on the floor for 3 & 1/2 hours in pain.  One of the policeman sat on the floor by my side, holding my hand the entire time, trying to keep me calm.  I later learned it was his FIRST day as a policeman and that his name was Ángel (of course it was)! 
     The ambulance came with just a driver, no attendants.  My friend rode with me holding my arm stable, as best she could as we sped over bumpy roads for a 35 minute ride to the hospital ER.  My husband followed us; I can't imagine what he was feeling.
     I ended up having surgery the following morning and received excellent care during my 3 day stay at the hospital.  It was a learning curve, as hospital stays in Uruguay are a bit different.  First of all, you need to bring your own soap, washcloth, towel, Kleenex, and nightclothes.   
     Second, the cultural belief (It makes sense!) in Uruguay seems to be that if given the opportunity, you would rather a family member or friend take care of you.  It's customary for a family member or friend to stay overnight with you and during the day to take care of your needs, if possible.  
     Here’s my story with that.  A close friend was visiting me at the hospital after my surgery.  Nature called and I was not allowed to get out of bed yet, so I rang for the nurse to assist me with a bedpan.  One arm was immobilized and the other hand was hooked to an IV.  When the time came to dry off, the nurse handed the toilet paper to my friend.  Both of our eyes grew as big as saucers, but my friend just carried on and wiped.  Now that’s a friend!  Yes, it does make sense you would rather a friend than a stranger take care of your needs; it’s just a different take on things!  The moral of this story, if you visit a friend in hospital, be prepared to be a very “close” friend!  Thank you, my CLOSE friend!
     Also, no mere words can express my thanks to my Canadian friend, who stayed by my side for hours, arranged for an ambulance (and rode with me), and translated even while I screamed as they tried to put my shoulder back in place.