Clinic Panajachel

Meet Ronaldo, a two-month-old infant from rural Guatemala. Ronaldo’s mother lives and works as a single mom, taking care of her son and younger brothers. Ronaldo's mother is unable to produce breastmilk to feed her baby, so Ronaldo is malnourished and small for his age. Ronaldo's mother supplements her baby's diet with warm rice water, which could create long-term health problems if Ronaldo is not fed necessary nutrients. Ronaldo's mother visited the local health center where she was referred to the nutrition program of our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq. Ronaldo was given formula, and a nutritionist is creating a nutrition plan to begin treating Ronaldo. Ronaldo's mother is unable to continue purchasing formula to help her son grow and develop, so she is very thankful for any support. Our medical partner requests $1,162 to supply Ronaldo with necessary treatment and to teach Ronaldo's mother how to provide a nutritious and inexpensive treatment for her son. He will begin treatment on June 15. Ronaldo’s mother says, “I dream for my son to grow well so that in the future he can study and become a teacher.”

Virginia is a five-month-old baby girl living in rural Guatemala. She was born to a single mother who stays home to care for her. Unfortunately, Virginia's mother cannot produce breast milk, which has made it difficult for Virginia to receive the nourishment that she needs in her early months of life. Because of this, Virginia was recently diagnosed with malnutrition, a condition that occurs from consuming too little protein, calories, and nutrients. In the short term, malnutrition means Virginia has little energy to grow, and that her immune system is weak, leaving her vulnerable to diseases that could further compromise her growth. If left untreated, she may also face the long-term consequences of malnutrition, such as increased risk of chronic illness and a lowered IQ. Concerned for her well-being, her mother took Virginia to our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, for treatment. Beginning June 13, Virginia will receive micronutrients, formula, and food supplementation, as well as regular growth monitoring. Community health workers will also teach her mother how to create a nutrient rich diet using limited resources. The $1,162 requested will cover all expenses of her continued treatment, allowing her to gain weight, strengthen her immune system, and catch up with other children her age. Virginia’s mother says, “I am scared because I do not have breast milk to give my daughter, and we are of scarce resources so I cannot afford to buy her much. I dream to see my daughter grow up well so that she can study and in the future become a teacher.”

Erick is a one-month-old from rural Guatemala. His father works at a construction site and his mother cares for the family at home. Due to his mother's inability to produce breastmilk, Erick is already suffering from malnourishment. Underweight and small for his age, Erick often cries from hunger. His mother can only afford warm sugar water to soothe him, however this diet has dangerous implications for Erick’s health. Lactation failure can lead to starvation, dehydration, and seizures caused by electrolyte imbalances. Brain development is compromised, and the baby is at risk of long-term damage. In order to help stabilize Erick's condition, our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, is requesting $1,162 to fund Erick's formal nutrition treatment. Scheduled to be administered by our medical partner's care center, Clinic Panajachel, on June 9, this treatment entails the distribution of formula, provision of micronutrient supplements, and health education for Erick's mother that will teach her to provide a nutritious, inexpensive diet for her son and monitor his health. Erick's mother says, “I am worried about my son because I do not have maternal milk." With formula and nutritional supplements, Erick's immune system will strengthen, and he will grow up to be a healthy, energetic baby.

María is a 52-year-old weaver from Guatemala who suffers from asthma. She has eight children and makes a living by weaving and selling the traditional Mayan textiles of her village. Ten years ago, María began to notice the onset of asthmatic symptoms. She experienced increased difficulty while breathing, had daily coughing fits, and tired easily from walking. Due to the treatment's expenses, María has never been able to see a doctor for her asthma. On June 9, María will receive treatment for acute asthma. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, is requesting $422 to fund this treatment, which includes consultation and medications. This treatment will relieve María of her fatigue and coughing fits, thereby helping her work comfortably and take care of her family. María says, “I wish to be well and live for many more years so that I can see my grandchildren grow up and graduate from school.”

Carmen is an active 13-month-old baby girl from Guatemala. She is the ninth child in her family, and loves to play with her toy doll. Carmen's father works as a day laborer and her mother stays at home to take care of the household. Carmen was recently diagnosed with malnutrition, a condition that occurs from consuming too little protein, calories, and nutrients. In the short term, malnutrition means Carmen has little energy to grow, and that her immune system is weak, leaving her vulnerable to diseases that could further compromise her growth. If left untreated, she may also face the long-term consequences of malnutrition, such as increased risk of chronic illness and a lowered IQ. Concerned for her well-being, her mother took Carmen to our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, for treatment. Beginning June 16, Carmen will receive micronutrients and food supplementation, as well as regular growth monitoring. Community health workers will also teach her mother how to create a nutrient rich diet using limited resources. The $492 requested will cover all expenses of her continued treatment, allowing her to gain weight, strengthen her immune system, and catch up with other children her age. Carmen’s mother says, “I did not know that my daughter wasn’t growing well. I only knew that she was getting sick every once and a while, but now I don’t know what to do because we are of scarce resources.”

Diego is a six-month-old baby boy from Guatemala. He is his parents' second child. Diego's mother takes care of the family's household, and his father works as a tailor. Diego was recently diagnosed with malnutrition, a condition that results from consuming too little protein, calories, and nutrients. On June 9, Diego will begin growth monitoring at Clinic Panajachel, our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, is asking for $492 to cover the cost of Diego's micronutrients and food supplementation. Funds will also go towards an educational program that will teach Diego's mother how to create nutrient-rich diets for him using limited resources. Diego's parents are very grateful for all the donors' support!

Sayda is a spirited six-month-old baby girl from Guatemala. She is the third child in her family and loves to play with her rattle. Sayda was recently diagnosed with malnutrition, a condition that results from consuming too little protein, calories, and nutrients. On June 9, Sayda will begin growth monitoring at Clinic Panajachel, our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, is asking for $492 to cover the cost of Sayda's micronutrients and food supplementation. Funds will also go towards an educational program that will teach Sayda's mother how to create nutrient-rich diets for her using limited resources. Sayda's mother is grateful for all the donors' support!

Nicolas is a lively 11-month-old baby boy from Guatemala. He loves to play with his toy ball. Nicolas's mother takes care of the family's household, and his father works as a construction laborer. Nicolas was recently diagnosed with malnutrition, a condition that results from consuming too little protein, calories, and nutrients. On June 9, Nicolas will begin growth monitoring at Clinic Panajachel, our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, is asking for $492 to cover the cost of Nicolas's micronutrients and food supplementation. Funds will also go towards an educational program that will teach Nicolas's mother how to create nutrient-rich diets for him using limited resources. Nicolas's parents are very grateful for all the donors' support!

Karyn is an eight-month-old baby girl from Guatemala. She is the fourth child in her family. Karyn's father works as a day laborer to support their family, and her mother stays at home to take care of the household. Karyn was recently diagnosed with malnutrition, a condition that occurs from consuming too little protein, calories, and nutrients. In the short term, malnutrition means Karyn has little energy to grow, and that her immune system is weak, leaving her vulnerable to diseases that could further compromise her growth. If left untreated, she may also face the long-term consequences of malnutrition, such as increased risk of chronic illness and a lowered IQ. Concerned for her well-being, her mother took Karyn to our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, for treatment. Beginning June 16, Karyn will receive micronutrients and food supplementation, as well as regular growth monitoring. Community health workers will also teach her mother how to create a nutrient rich diet using limited resources. The $492 requested will cover all expenses of her continued treatment, allowing her to gain weight, strengthen her immune system, and catch up with other children her age.

Ana is four months old and lives with her family in rural Gautemala. Ana is the fourth child in her family. Ana's mother has been unable to produce enough breast milk for her, and has resorted to feeding her warm sugar water to fill Ana up. This limited diet is insufficient and has dangerous implications for Ana's health. Lactation failure can lead to starvation, dehydration, and electrolyte imbalances that cause seizures. Brain development during this period is particularly sensitive and continued malnourishment could put Ana at risk for long-term damage. Our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, is requesting $1,162 to fund Ana's treatment, which will begin on May 29. Ana will receive formula, micronutrients, and food supplementation, as well as regular growth monitoring. Community health workers will also teach her mother how to create a nutrient rich diet using limited resources. Hopefully Ana's continued treatment will allow her to gain weight and develop normally. Ana’s mother says, “I am very worried about my daughter. I hope that she grows well and in the future becomes a nurse.”

Emily is a ten-month-old baby girl from Guatemala. She is an active child, and she loves to play with her toy ball. She is the eighth child in her family. Her father works as a day laborer, while her mother takes care of the family. Emily has malnutrition. It's a dangerous condition, resulting from consuming too little protein, calories, and nutrients. In the short term, malnutrition means Emily has little energy to grow. As a result, her immune system is weak. This leaves her vulnerable to illness that further compromises her growth. While malnutrition can have devastating effects, it’s also very treatable. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, is requesting $492 to provide Emily with the nutritional supplements she needs. She will gain weight and grow taller to catch up with other children her age. Her immune system will grow stronger with the increased caloric intake. Community health workers will teach her mother about creating a nutrient-rich diet with limited resources. Emily’s mother says, “Because we are of scarce resources, it is often difficult to provide our daughter with enough food. I hope my daughter grows well, and in the future can study, so that she can have a better life.”

Maria is a 17-month-old baby girl from rural Guatemala. Her father works as a day laborer, and her mother takes care of household chores. Both parents are committed to keeping their children healthy. Maria is experiencing symptoms of malnutrition—a condition that arises from consuming too little protein, calories, and nutrients. She has little energy, and she gets sick more often than other children. Maria is at an increased risk for stunted growth, low IQ, and chronic diseases. Maria is currently the size of a four-month-old baby. While malnutrition can have devastating effects, it is also highly treatable. On May 26, Maria will begin treatment for her condition. She will undergo growth monitoring and nutrient supplementation. Community health workers will also teach Maria’s mother about nutrient-rich diets. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, is asking for $492 to fund this treatment. Treatment will give Maria the opportunity to play, grow, and participate in her family’s lives supported by a healthy brain and body. Maria's parents are optimistic about their daughter's future. Her mother says, "I will do everything in my power to help her grow well so that in the future she can study and become a secretary.”