Helber is a six-month-old baby boy from Guatemala. He is the sixth child in his family. He loves to play with his toy rattle, and eat his favorite food, eggs. Helber's father supports their family by working as a day laborer, while his mother looks after the household. Helber was recently diagnosed with malnutrition, a condition that occurs from consuming too little protein, calories, and nutrients. In the short term, malnutrition means Helber 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 Helber to our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, for treatment. Beginning June 8, Helber 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 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. Helber's parents are grateful for all of the donors' support!

Atuhaire is a 30-years-old single man from Uganda. He has a sense of humor, and enjoys socializing with friends. Two years ago, Atuhaire developed a swelling and pain in his inguinal area. When he is in pain, he cannot lift any heavy items, he is unable to do any work, and walking is difficult. Atuhaire reported his condition to a health center and was referred to a hospital, where he was diagnosed with a hernia. He was advised to have surgery, but he could not afford to pay for the treatment. Until now, Atuhaire has been unable to receive quality treatment to repair his hernia. For $249. Atuhaire will undergo hernia repair surgery. After surgery, he hopes to work hard producing food for sale and plan for his future. “I am in much need of help," shared Atuhaire.

"I dream that my little girl will one day be a great teacher," shares the mother of 11-month-old Maritza. Maritza is currently living with malnutrition. She is dangerously underweight because her parents cannot afford to give her the protein, calories, and nutrients that she needs to be healthy. She gets sick often because her immune system does not have the fuel it needs to fight off germs, making her body use all her energy on getting over sicknesses rather than growing and developing. If she does not receive treatment now, Maritza could face long-term consequences including mental deficiencies, chronic diseases, and lower earning potential as an adult. Maritza is the only child to two loving parents. She lives with them in a cinderblock house with a tin roof in a rural mountainous community in Guatemala. Her father works in a small store, selling snacks, and her mother works at home taking care of Maritza, cooking, and cleaning. Although they both work hard and want the best for their daughter, they cannot afford to give the diet she needs to overcome malnutrition. $512 of growth monitoring, micronutrient and food supplementation, and deworming medication will help Maritza recover from malnutrition. The support provided from the doctors at our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, will save her life and put her on track to live a better life in the future. She will gain weight and grow taller to catch up with other children her age. Her immune system will grow stronger with increased caloric intake, preventing her from having any more life-threatening situations with diarrhea, fevers, and coughs. This will further increase her appetite and help her use the extra calories to develop mentally instead of those calories being wasted on getting over frequent illnesses. Her parents will receive the support they need to feel empowered to give Maritza the diet she needs to grow and develop healthily. Intervention now will prevent the future devastating effects of malnutrition, and give Maritza the chance to live a healthy and productive life, finish school, get a good job, and escape the cycle of malnutrition and poverty that made her sick in the first place.