Yesterday after a garden tour with Cory and looking at the empty tents to brainstorm how they could be used by reducing the heat, I remained down at clinic.

The original purpose for the tents, housing cholera patients, does not work because of the heat. Last week someone fainted causing everyone to be moved into the waiting room area. This room now holds 17 cholera patents.

Imagine- men and women, boys and girls each on a cot with a bucket and IV hanging on a pole. Less than two feet separate them from the next cot. Yesterday, prior to my visit, one of their number died. Now add to the crowded room at least one family member to care for each patient and a couple staff members. Personal belongings either sit on the bed or outside under the eaves.

The benches that once sat in rows in the waiting room now sit outside or under the eaves. Personal belongings or family members fill these benches.

Most of the people currently being treated come from a few mile radius.  I ask each patient before praying for permission. All accepted prayer. Those who wished to read Creole tracts could request one.

I realize that this must sound very primitive to most of you who receive medical care in a high-tech advanced medical setting. But let me point out a couple of things. One the room full of very sick people remained calm and orderly. The floor regularly receives a mopping with bleach-the only smell in the air.

These patients, in my opinion, receive good care. Each patient received appropriate care and thankfully, [through hard work on the part of the staff] received life saving IV fluids.

Cholera can kill fast, in hours through rapid dehydration. With adequate hydration, oral or occasionally IV's most people can survived the infection. Thankfully most people with Cholera do not get severely sick.

Thankfully those who get severely sick, with appropriate, rapid treatment start to recover in a few days [folks hospitalized with Typhoid can take weeks of treatment and weeks longer before recovery]. Thankfully the treatment and care for Cholera patients is relatively simple compared to some treatments.

But still for a small hospital with 6 rooms with a normal in-patient population of 3-4 the hospital load of closer to 20 remains a huge burden. Keeping enough IV fluids, medications and supplies on hand can be hard and requires many miles and hours of travel to Cap Haitian not to mention money. Cleaning and keeping the germs from spreading to other people and the staff takes vigilance and hard work.  Vital signs, charting and keeping all those IV's running at the correct rate keeps the nursing staff busier than normal. Educating people about the disease and prevention remains an important job as well.

While the staff feel a bit overwhelmed they continue to do great. I reminded them that if they need my help to let me know.

Pray that the increased patient load results in an increased impact for the Kingdom.
Praise for the staff [medical, cleaning, purchasing, and office] saving lives and treating suffering.