Clinic Miller

Carlos is a one-month-old baby boy from Guatemala. He lives with his mother and four siblings. Carlos's mother is unable to produce breastmilk and has resorted to feeding him warm sugar water to fill him up. This limited diet is insufficient and has dangerous implications for Carlos'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 Carlos at risk for long-term damage. Our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, is asking for $1,162 to fund Carlos's treatment. By supplying Carlos with formula and his mother with health education, Carlos will receive the nutrients he needs to grow and thrive. One-on-one education with Carlos’s mother will teach her how to provide a nutritious, inexpensive diet for her son. His mother will also learn to check for signs of malnutrition and other illness. “Thank you for this support that will be given to my nephew. We wish to see our nephew grow so that he can go to school in order to have a better future and become a good person,” his aunt says.

Abner is a four-month-old baby boy from Guatemala's rural highlands. While his father works as a day laborer, his mother stays at home to take care of the family and sell hand-woven textiles. Abner is the fifth child in his family. Because Abner's mother cannot produce breastmilk, Abner is already malnourished. Underweight and small for his age, Abner often cries from hunger. His mother can only afford warm sugar water to soothe him, however this diet has dangerous implications for Abner’s health. Lactation failure can lead to starvation, dehydration, and electrolyte imbalances that can cause seizures and compromise brain development. To help his condition, Abner requires a formal nutrition plan, which he is scheduled to receive on June 9. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, is requesting $1,162 to fund formula, nutrient supplements, and health education for Abner's mother that will teach her how to provide a nutritious, inexpensive diet for her son and monitor Abner's health. With this treatment, Abner’s immune system will strengthen, and he will grow up to be a healthy, energetic baby.

Melany is a two-year-old girl from Guatemala. She previously received Watsi funding for malnutrition treatment. Although her growth has improved, she has been facing frequent asthma attacks for about two months, along with a recurrent cough. She does not like to play because she is scared she will have an asthma attack. Recently, she has been coughing so much that she is unable to sleep, making her tired and irritable during the day. Fortunately, Melany began asthma treatment on January 2. Melany lives with her family in a home made of tin and wood. She loves to run, play, and laugh with her two siblings. Her father works as a day laborer in a local plantation. He has difficulty buying basics, such as food and clothes for the family. He needs help to fund this $422 procedure. This treatment will provide Melany with continued medical care and six months of intense treatment for her acute asthma. It will allow her to run and play, sleep better, and live healthily. Melany's mother says, "I appreciate the help that you will give my daughter because it has been making me very worried. My hope is to see her grow into a young woman who studies and one day will become a teacher."

Andrés is an active and happy 13-month-old baby boy from Guatemala. He loves to play with his sisters and sing and clap. Andrés's mother takes care of the family's household, and his father works as a construction laborer. Andrés was recently diagnosed with malnutrition, a condition that results from consuming too little protein, calories, and nutrients. On June 12, Andrés will begin growth monitoring at Clinic Miller, our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, is asking for $492 to cover the cost of Andrés's micronutrients and food supplementation. Funds will also go towards an educational program that will teach Andrés's mother how to create nutrient-rich diets for him using limited resources. "Thank you for supporting my son," says Andrés's mother.

Bernaldo is a 17-month-old toddler from Guatemala. He is the first child in his family, and he loves to crawl and play with toy cars. His father works as a day laborer to support their family, and his mother takes care of the household. Bernaldo was recently diagnosed with malnutrition, a condition that occurs from consuming too little protein, calories, and nutrients. In the short term, malnutrition means Bernaldo has little energy to grow, and that his immune system is weak, leaving him vulnerable to illness that further compromises his growth. He may also face malnutrition’s long-term consequences, such as increased risk of chronic illness and a lowered IQ. Concerned for his well-being, his mother took Bernaldo to our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, for treatment. Beginning June 12, Bernaldo will receive micronutrients and food supplementation, as well as regular growth monitoring. Community health workers will also teach his mother how to create a nutrient rich diet for him using limited resources. The $492 requested will cover all expenses of his continued treatment, allowing him to gain weight, strengthen his immune system, and catch up with other children his age. "Thank you for this help that my son will receive," says Bernaldo's mother. "It is my desire to see him well so he can grow up to be big and go to school.”

Felix is just one month old and is already malnourished. Felix’s mother cannot produce breastmilk, so Felix is underweight and small for his age. He often cries from hunger, and his mother feeds him boiled water because it is the only substance she can afford to soothe him and fill him up. This limited diet is insufficient and has dangerous implications for Felix’s health. Lactation failure can lead to starvation and dehydration. It can also provoke electrolyte imbalances that cause seizures. Brain development occurring during this delicate time is compromised, and the baby is at risk of long-term damage. Felix lives with his parents and grandmother in Guatemala’s rural coastal area. When Felix’s mother realized she could not produce breastmilk, she went to the local health post, where they recommended that she feed Felix formula. Felix’s father was able to buy one canister of formula before he was laid off from his job as a day laborer. Lactation failure, while dangerous, is easy to treat. By supplying Felix with formula and his mother with health education, Felix will receive the calories he needs to grow and thrive. One-on-one education with Felix’s mother will teach her how to provide a nutritious, inexpensive diet for her son. She will also learn to check for signs of malnutrition and other illness. Felix’s immune system will strengthen, and he will grow up to be a healthy, energetic baby. The treatment will cost $1,162 and will be provided by our medical partner's hospital, Clinic Miller, starting May 30.

Beky is a ten-month-old baby girl from Guatemala. She is an active child who is smiley and loves to babble. Beky's father works as a construction worker to support their family. About three months ago, Beky fell sick, losing weight rapidly. She was taken to the doctor and diagnosed with malnutrition, a condition that results from consuming too little protein, calories, and nutrients. On May 29, Beky will begin growth monitoring and nutritional supplementation at Clinic Miller, our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, is asking for $492 to cover the cost of Beky's food supplementation, as well as an educational program that will teach her mother how to create a nutrient-rich diet for Beky using limited resources. "Thank you for helping Beky," says Beky's mother. "I hope to see my daughter grow well so that she can go to school."

Meet Clemencia, a young girl about to turn two years old. Clemencia lives with her parents and three older siblings in rural Guatemala. She loves to play with her siblings and toy doll. Clemenica is underweight and small for her age due to malnutrition. Clemencia's immune system is very weak ,and her body is not growing properly because she is not consuming enough calories and necessary nutrients. If left untreated, Clemencia could face increased chances of chronic disease and a higher risk of dropping out of school. Clemencia's parents work very hard to provide for their family, but they do not have the resources to pay for Clemencia's malnutrition treatment. They are very concerned for Clemencia's health and future growth. Our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, requests $492 to assist Clemencia's growth with monitoring and supplements. Additionally, community health workers will teach Clemencia's mother how to create a nutrient-rich diet with limited resources. Treatment will give Clemencia a chance to grow and nurture a healthy brain and body. “Thank you for the help that my daughter will receive. She is often very sick and often for a lack of resources we cannot give her the treatment she needs. I hope that my daughter grows up well and can become a teacher one day, but I also know that she will have her own dreams and I will support her in everything she does," says Clemencia's mother.

Luis is one and a half months old and lives with his mother, father, and three siblings on the rural coast of Guatemala. Luis is an active baby who spends his time observing the world and moving his little hands and feet. Luis's mother has tried to breastfeed him but each time she does he has vomited the milk back up. His mother brought him to a local health center where he was diagnosed with a breast milk allergy, and prescribed formula. Unfortunately, Luis's family does not have the resources to purchase the formula, so Luis has been subsisting on warm water with sugar to fill him up. Luis is not receiving the nutrition he needs for healthy growth. Lactation allergies can lead to starvation, dehydration, and electrolyte imbalances that cause seizures. Our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, is requesting $1,162 to fund formula for Luis and nutritional education for his mother, which is scheduled to begin on May 23. One-on-one education with Luis’s mother will teach her how to provide a nutritious, inexpensive diet for her son. She will also learn to check for signs of malnutrition and other illness. Luis’s mother says, “My husband and I are worried because our son was prescribed formula, but we don’t have the resources to buy it. Every time my son breastfeeds he vomits and I don’t want him to be underweight and sick. Thank you all for the help that my son will receive. May God bless you. I wish to see my son grow up to study and in the future become a professional.”

Melany is a one-month-old baby girl who lives with her family in Guatemala. Melany's mother is unable to produce breastmilk and has resorted to feeding her warm sugar water to fill her up. This limited diet is insufficient and has dangerous implications for Melany'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 Melany at risk for long-term damage. Our medical partner Wuqu' Kawoq is asking for $1,162 to fund Melany's treatment. By supplying Melany with formula and her mother with health education, Melany will receive the nutrients she needs to grow and thrive. One-on-one education with Melany’s mother will teach her how to provide a nutritious, inexpensive diet for her daughter. Her mother will also learn to check for signs of malnutrition and other illness. Melany’s mother says, “We don’t have money to buy my daughter formula because we are already a family of scarce resources. For this reason I searched for help for my daughter because she is not receiving enough nutrition and I am worried that she will get sick and not grow well. I want to thank you with my whole heart for the help that my little one will receive. I wish to see her grow up to graduate from school and in the future become a nurse.”

Wilmer is less than one-month-old and lives with his parents, grandparents, and siblings in Guatemala’s rural coastal region. His mother cannot produce breast milk, so Wilmer is underweight and small for his age. Wilmer was recently diagnosed with malnutrition, a condition that occurs from consuming too little protein, calories, and nutrients. In the short term, malnutrition means Wilmer has little energy to grow, and that his immune system is weak, leaving him vulnerable to diseases that could further compromise his growth. If left untreated, he may also face the long-term consequences of malnutrition, such as increased risk of chronic illness and a lowered IQ. Concerned for his well-being, his mother took Wilmer to our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, for treatment. Beginning May 16, Wilmer will receive formula, micronutrients and food supplementation, as well as regular growth monitoring. Community health workers will also teach his mother how to create a nutrient rich diet using limited resources. The $1,162 requested will cover all expenses of his continued treatment, allowing him to gain weight, strengthen his immune system, and catch up with other children his age. Wilmer’s mother says, “I am worried because my son always cries after I try to breastfeed him. I worry that I cannot feed him well and that he will get sick. We do not have the resources to buy him milk because my husband’s earnings are barely enough to feed our family. Thank you for the help that my son will receive—may God bless you all.”

Ruth is less than a month old. She is the first child in her family and lives with her grandparents and parents in Guatemala’s rural coastal region. Ruth’s mother cannot produce breastmilk, so Ruth is small and malnourished. She often cries from hunger, and her mother uses the only substance she can afford—warm sugar water—to soothe her. This limited diet is insufficient and has dangerous implications for Ruth’s health. When Ruth’s mother took her daughter to the local health center for a checkup, she found out that Ruth weighed less than when she was born. She was also told that Ruth was at risk of malnutrition. Lactation failure can lead to starvation and dehydration. It can also provoke electrolyte imbalances that cause seizures. Brain development occurring during this delicate time is compromised, and Ruth is at risk of long-term damage. To stabilize her condition, she was given a preliminary supply of formula. This will last until our medical partner's nutritionist can create a nutrition plan and begin treatment. Lactation failure, while dangerous, is easy to treat. By supplying Ruth with formula, she will receive the calories she needs to grow and thrive. Ruth’s mother will be taught how to provide a nutritious, inexpensive diet for her daughter. She will also learn to check for signs of malnutrition and other illness. Ruth’s immune system will strengthen, and she will grow up to be a healthy, energetic baby. Unfortunately Ruth’s family does not have the resources to purchase the expensive formula that Ruth needs. Her father’s job as an agricultural day laborer is the family’s only source of income. They need help to fund this intervention. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, is requesting $1,162 to fund Ruth’s treatment. Ruth’s mother says, “I am worried because my daughter is losing weight and she could get sick. I want to thank you for the help that you are giving to my daughter. I wish to see her grow well, so that when she is older she can become a nurse.”