PRAYER REQUEST: Cholera in Ti-Rivier

Family and Friends,

This morning we got the call from Robinson that he had been dismissed from the Cholera Clinic and was ready to return home. What a relief. Patchouko and I got in the car and headed out. As we drove down the main street in Ti-Rivier we saw Robinson’s aunt who lives in the same home as Robinson. We stopped to let her know that he would be back soon. She told us, “Sergo (Robinson’s uncle) doesn’t feel good. Would you stop to see him?”

We cautiously entered the house and within seconds knew that Sergo had cholera as well. He was in denial, however. He wanted to stay in bed to see if he would get better. But we knew we had to get him to the hospital. With a little bit of questioning he admitted he had diarrhea, headache, stomachache, and we could plainly see the signature sign of Cholera, the sunken cheeks. Sergo is known to be a proud and bull-headed man, and we finally had to play the children card. We said, “Do you really want to stay here and risk getting your kids sick?” That convinced him.

We drove to Les Cayes and stopped at the main gate of General Hospital. We entered the ER and talked to a young doctor there who immediately sent him on to the Cholera unit, which now has a separate entrance at another gate. It was an easy diagnosis, just like we thought. Sergo reluctantly agreed to get checked in. Then we helped Robinson prepare to go home. Robinson’s mom, who is Sergo’s sister, was also there. I could tell she was very sad to see her brother get Cholera, too, especially since he had been helping Robinson while he was at the clinic. Maybe that is how he got it. Who knows.

We headed home and had a brief meeting with Adrien and Sue, who are the main two health professionals at the clinic. We all agreed to approach Robinson’s family with a request to be quarantined for a couple of weeks. They agreed, which was encouraging, and in fact they had already been contacted by an organization something like a Government Health Administration. Robinson’s cousin, who also lives in the same household, was the first to get Cholera, so this was now the third case there. Thankfully, all three people were strong, adult men. So if we can keep the bug within that household, we might be able to protect the whole village from getting it and passing it around, especially to the sick, the elderly, and the children.

Please pray for this whole situation. At this point we don’t know if this is chapter one or the whole story. Let’s pray for the latter. However, we are prepared to do everything we can to help the people here get through this difficult time. Please pray for protection, for good health, for wisdom, and for God to be known and glorified at all times and in every situation.

God Be With Us All!
-The Grimms