Even though Marlin is almost 6 months old, she is the size of an average three-month-old. This is because she is suffering from malnutrition, which prevents her from growing and developing normally. In addition to stunted growth, her immune system is weak from the lack of protein, calories, and nutrients in her diet, making a normal cold or cough much more dangerous for her than a healthy child. If left untreated, the effects of malnutrition could could stick with her for the rest of her life--such as increased risk of chronic diseases, low IQ, and a higher likelihood of dropping out of school. Marlin lives with her parents and two older siblings in a one-room house made of wood with a tin roof in Guatemala. Her mother works taking care of Marlin and her siblings, cooking, and cleaning. Her father works as a day laborer, only making a couple dollars per day. Although they want the best for her, they cannot afford to give her even one piece of fruit, vegetable, or egg per day--making it impossible for her to overcome her malnutrition without treatment. Growth monitoring, micronutrients and food supplementation will help Marlin recover from malnutrition. 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. 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 bouts of diarrhea. Her parents will receive the support they need to feel empowered to give Marlin the diet she needs to grow and develop healthily, even with their limited resources. Intervention now will prevent the future devastating effects of malnutrition, and give Marlin 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.

Jose, a nine-month-old baby boy from Guatemala, lives with his older brother and his parents in a one-room renal house made of wood and tin. He loves to dance when he listens to music. His mother works at home cooking, cleaning, and taking care of her children, while his father is a day laborer who harvests corn, beans, and squash. Jose's father makes only a couple of dollars per day when there's work. Although Jose's parents work hard, they do not have the resources to feed him the minimum that he needs to reach a healthy height and weight. Jose's mother has been worried since she has noticed that her son has not been growing well, has little appetite, and is getting sick often. He has been diagnosed with acute malnutrition as a result of a diet lacking in protein, calories, and nutrients. Malnutrition has weakened Jose's immune system, making him unable to fight off common illnesses. In the past two weeks he developed a gastrointestinal condition that is dangerous for a child suffering from malnutrition. If he does not receive treatment, Jose risks stunted development that could leave him with a lower IQ and difficulty focusing in school. He will also be at risk for developing chronic diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension, as an adult. All of these factors make it less likely that he will secure a well-paying job as an adult, meaning the cycle of poverty and malnutrition may continue if he decides to have children. In order to combat his malnutrition, Jose requires a $512 regimen of growth monitoring, micronutrient and food supplementation, and deworming medication. This will save his life now and put him on track to live a better life in the future. He will gain weight and grow taller to catch up with other children his age. His immune system will grow stronger with the increased caloric intake, which will further increase his appetite and help him use the extra calories to develop mentally rather than to fend off frequent illness. Jose's mother will receive support, empowering her to give Jose the diet he needs to grow and develop healthily, even with limited resources. Intervention now will prevent the future devastating effects of malnutrition and give Jose the chance to live a healthy and productive life. He will be able to finish school, get a good job, and escape the cycle of malnutrition and poverty that made him sick in the first place. "We dream that our son goes to university one day," says Jose's mother.

Meet six-year-old Lensley from Haiti. He is known to be quiet and shy but is very close to his mother and two sisters. "Lensley was born with a condition called patent ductus arteriosus, in which a hole within the heart that normally closes once a baby is born remains open," the Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA) tells us. "As a result, blood bypasses the lungs and travels back to the body without oxygen, leaving him weak and out of breath." A surgical procedure can rectify this, but it will need to be done in the United States. "Following surgery, Lensley's heart should be completely normal, and he should not experience any ongoing cardiac symptoms or have any need for further surgery," HCA writes. Open Hearts Haiti has provided $5000 to fund this treatment, but $1500 is still needed to cover the cost of Lensley's transport overseas. Let's come together and cover the remaining expense of getting Lensley the help he needs.