Margaret River-based wedding photographer Michelle Morrison has expressed her gratitude for local emergency services and hospital staff after a nasty accident saw her rushed to Bunbury for surgery.
"My friend and I were recently enjoying our morning walk with our dogs in the forest off Carters Road," Ms Morrison told the Mail.
"Fifteen minutes into the walk, my friend's big friendly 65 kilogram Mastiff x collided with my legs and broke my right one in two places!"
Luckily for Ms Morrison, her walking companion also happened to be a trained paramedic.
"She calmly called St John Ambulance, while she held my misaligned leg in place for 45 minutes until the ambulance located us in the middle of the forest. I was sent to Bunbury Regional Hospital for surgery before returning to Margaret River to recover."
In lots of pain and missing her family terribly, Ms Morrison said she was in low spirits when an opportunity to have her own dog come into the Margaret River Hospital and visit became a reality.
"The beautiful nurses allowed a special visitor to come in and cheer me up," she said of her dog Denver's visit.
"Apparently we have one of the very few hospitals that allows our dogs to visit us, with prior permission from the hospital of course. It was the best medicine I could have received, and lifted my spirits so much that day. Denver had run after the ambulance as it drove away with me, so he was so excited to know I was okay."
Ms Morrison said she didn't realise quite how unique the visit was until she posted the story on a Border Collie owners group.
"So many people around Australia commented how lucky we were, and it made me realise how unique Margaret River Hospital is," she said.
"I just really wanted to shout out how amazing our ambulance and nursing staff are at the hospital, especially Sarah, Anita, Katie, Shana and so many others."
The photographer said the hardest part of being injured was missing a couple of weddings.
"I had a beautiful wedding organised on a property for the day after I broke my leg, and have another this afternoon in the forest, neither of which I can attend," she said.
"Luckily we live in such a great community with a pool of talented people, and I've found someone amazing to step into my shoes until I'm back on my feet."
Nicky Lefebvre
I am a journalist, photographer and content creator based in the beautiful Margaret River wine region, covering all aspects of our community including local news, sport, entertainment and events, as well as providing a platform for our readers to share their voices direct from regional Australia.
I am a journalist, photographer and content creator based in the beautiful Margaret River wine region, covering all aspects of our community including local news, sport, entertainment and events, as well as providing a platform for our readers to share their voices direct from regional Australia.
