Cholera.
Maybe the only thing I've thought about in the last 24 hours. That and death.
I don't know what life will look like in St. Marc but I imagine it will be horrendous. I imagine some of the streets will be lined with people too sick to make it to the hospital or others on the verge of death. I've read accounts of people dead on the side of the road and others begging for clean water. I can't imagine that's true but I also can't imagine it not to be true.
When I think of Cholera, all I can think of is the movie The Painted Veil. Which.... I'm not sure how accurate that is. I don't really think any movie will prepare me for what's to come though. So here goes nothing.
Right now I can count on one hand how many dead bodies I've seen in my life. After these three days, I'm pretty sure I won't even be able to count.
Here's some quick facts as of 10 am on Oct 25.
253 dead.
3,015 cases reported.
New patients are coming in almost every 10 minutes to a clinic in St Marc.
Just learned that (and it's kinda obvious) those with a weakened immune system are more prone as are those who are malnourished. By the way, that describes almost every Haitian I've ever met.
They say there's enough supplies in the country to treat people but there's not enough medical personal. That's why I have to go. Three days of crazy intense. So pray. I'll be home soon enough and hopefully without Cholera in my system.
You can go here to read a bunch of different articles on what's going on with the Cholera in Haiti. I probably wont be able to update until I get back home.
http://www.pih.org/news/entry/cholera-in-haiti-in-the-media/
