This is a re-post from my college friend Keziah who has been in Haiti for several years. Please keep her and Haiti in your prayers.

Cholera
An outbreak of cholera has started in and around St Marc, a small city about 2 hours north of Port-au-Prince, along the coastal route to Gonaives. My collegue, Dr Joey Prosper, a Haitian physician, has been there for the past 2 days, helping to treat the 1000+ affected. He said that over a hundred people have died in 48 hours.

Don't panic.

Cholera is a disease that causes excessive diarrhea and sometimes vomiting as well. It is spread from feces to water and food, and thereby can affect large numbers of people very quickly, especially by contaminating a town's water source. Cholera's greatest danger is severe dehydration due to loss of fluids.

Don't panic.

The treatment is quite simple: rehydrate. Lots of fluids, rehydration salts, IV fluids in the more severe cases. Some drugs such as cipro, azithromycin, bactrim and erythromycin can help shorten the disease duration, but the most important actions are preventative: lots of hand washing, cleaning food, boiling or using treated water for drinking and cooking, careful disposal of human waste, and keeping healthy people away from those affected. In other words, we need to do a series of simple things that are going to be virtually impossible to do in the tent cities of Port-au-Prince.

Don't panic. But do pray. Please pray that the outbreak is contained before it ever reaches the capital. Because if it reaches the capital...

Don't panic.

It seems my life is a constant series of uncertainties.  I've not quite reconciled myself to it, but I am almost comfortable with it.  The last few weeks have been a whirlwind.  In short: Weds-Saturday a.m. was devoted to all things wedding.  Last minute pre-wedding girliness with Lauren, getting groomsmen settled into my parent's house, decorating the church, choosing flowers for the homemade bouquets (which were beautiful), wedding rehearsal and dinner, final single girls slumber party at a hotel where we feasted on fruit salad, "magic juice," the darkest chocolate known to man and cookies all while watching "Just Friends."  Friday was absolute insanity.  I was up early, over to the church, back to the hotel, back to my house where all the girls were getting ready, over to the church (where, because I'm a dolt, I basically melted everyone by not having the AC enough) and then bam! wedding time.  I can honestly say it was the most beautiful ceremony I've witnessed.  It was a joy and a privilege to stand beside my best friend as she said those most sacred vows to a wonderful, loving, lovely man.  And to hear him say those same vows to her... beautiful.  And then they were married!  And we partied.  It was easily the best reception I've been to.  I only cried once and it was just a little bit during my toast.  Love tears are OK, right?  And then - after all the celebrating was completed and Lauren and Jed were well on their way to honeymoonness everyone who remained pitched in and we got the entire church put back together again.  It was amazing and I was SO thankful for everyone's help!  The entire weekend was sooo positive!  It was such a love-fest I can't even say.  I had a great time and am so so so happy for my friend(s)!

  (Photo by David Phelps)

Post-Wedding:  Took Andy and Joe to the airport (safely ). Drove to Jersey where I stayed with Mal for a few days, came back to PA and house/dog sat for a few days, went back to Jersey where I had more fun times with Mal and got some good encouragement from her mom about my cover letter and resume. Took a train back to PA Sunday a.m., hopped in the car and drove to Va Beach where I got to go to the reception thrown by Jed's church family.  It was lovely and so sweet and I was privileged to be a part of it.  Monday night I headed back home. Worked Tuesday then drove down to DC to see my sister and worked Wednesday, skyped with an international friend, had a great chat with a home friend and a super-exciting phone call that I'm hopeful you'll hear about more, and today I worked at 2 jobs. 

I'm exhausted.  And excited.

Uncertainty.  It's not so bad.