Karyn Dayana is nine months old. She and her twin sister, also named Karyn, are only the size of healthy two-month-olds. Their mother cannot produce breast milk to feed her twins, so they are small and malnourished. Karyn Dayana lives on a limited diet, which is insufficient and has dangerous implications for her 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, so she is at risk of long-term damage. Karyn Dayana’s father works as a day laborer, and her mother works at home. Her family cannot afford to pay for her treatment. Our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq (WK), is requesting $1,107 to fund this treatment. To stabilize her condition, Karyn Dayana was given a preliminary supply of formula, which will last until WK's nutritionist can create a nutritional plan and formally begin treatment on February 3. By supplying Karyn Dayana with formula and her mother with health education, Karyn Dayana will receive the calories she needs to grow and thrive. One-on-one education with Karyn Dayana’s mother will teach her how to provide a nutritious, inexpensive diet for her daughter. She will also learn to check for signs of malnutrition and other illness. Karyn Dayana’s immune system will strengthen, and she will grow up to be a healthy, energetic baby. Karyn’s mother says, “We are worried about our daughter’s health since she is so small and keeps getting sick. Before this, we had not thought to look for help since we live so far away from the community. We hope our twin daughters can get better and grow well so that they can someday have dignified jobs.”

Efrien is a 13-month-old boy from Guatemala, but he is only the size of a healthy nine-month-old. He is behind in his motor and cognitive development. He has been diagnosed with acute malnutrition. This means he has little energy to grow, and his immune system is weak and vulnerable to illness. He is also at risk of chronic disease and delayed development. Fortunately, Efrien began malnutrition treatment on November 24, 2016. Efrien loves to play with his toy car. His favorite food is chicken. He lives with his mother and older sister, Tomasa, in a one-room adobe house with a tin roof. His father works as a day laborer on a local plantation, and he has difficulty providing for all of the family's needs. He cannot afford this $512 treatment. While malnutrition can have devastating effects, it is also very treatable. Growth monitoring, micronutrients, and food supplementation will help Efrien recover. He will gain weight and grow taller to catch up with other children his age, and his immune system will grow stronger. Community health workers will teach his mother about creating a nutrient-rich diet from limited resources. Treatment will give Efrien a chance to grow healthy and strong.

Heidy is a 13-month-old baby girl who lives in rural Guatemala with her mother, father, and three older sisters. She likes to play with stuffed animals and to dance when she hears music. Her mother works in the home and supports the family making artisanal handicrafts, while her father is a gardener. Her parents work hard to provide for Heidy and her sisters, but they do not earn enough money to give Heidy even one piece of fruit, vegetable, or egg per day--making it impossible for Heidy to overcome her malnutrition without outside support. Heidy is unwell and small for her age. This is because she is suffering from malnutrition, a dangerous condition which results from consuming too little protein, calories, and nutrients. Heidy’s mother had noticed that her daughter was eating little and only wanted to breastfeed, but she did not know that Heidy was malnourished until a recent trip to a local health center. Heidy was diagnosed with malnutrition and referred to Watsi medical partner Wuqu’ Kawoq for treatment. If she does not receive treatment, Heidy could face long-term consequences such as increased risk of chronic diseases, low IQ, and higher likelihood of dropping out of school. Growth monitoring, micronutrients, and food supplementation will help Heidy 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. Her parents will receive the support they need to help Heidy grow and develop healthily, even with their limited resources. Intervention now will prevent the future devastating effects of malnutrition and give Heidy the chance to live a healthy and productive life.

Meet Ivelia! At two years old, Ivelia is the second born in her family of five in Guatemala. She enjoys playing with her siblings and often takes care of her youngest brother. Her mother cares for the home and the children while her father works as a day laborer. Recently, Ivelia has begun to become unresponsive to sounds. “She is having issues forming words, and her mother worries that if it continues without some intervention she will not learn how to speak,” our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK), tells us. “She needs testing and speech therapy now to prevent permanent damage to her ability to communicate with others.” The speech therapy that Ivelia needs costs $386, more than the family can afford while meeting their basic needs. Ivelia will be provided with a case manager to provide her speech therapy, transportation to and from the centre, and the medication to go along with the therapy. “This therapy will provide Ivelia tools to communicate with her family and siblings, as well as the necessary testing to determine if she is having difficulties due to hearing loss, brain damage, or another complication that may be preventing her from developing her speech,” explains WK. “If hearing loss is detected, it will allow us to take the next steps in providing her with additional care.” Ivelia’s mother is dedicated to ensuring her daughter develops to her potential, but does not have the financial means to do so. “Help me help my child,” she shares.

“I like playing with mud; building mud houses and dolls,” Namayani tells us. Namayani is a three-year-old girl from Tanzania who often plays with her twin sister. Namayani and her twin sister both have bilateral genu valgus, also called “knock-knee.” This makes Namayani walk and run slowly and fall down easily. If untreated, Namayani will be at high risk of developing early osteoarthritis of the knees. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), tells us that “Namayani’s parents are small scale farmers. They have six other children to look after so coming up with extra cash to pay the medical treatment for their two children has been difficult.” With $940, Namayani can receive genu valgum surgery. With this treatment she will have straight lower limbs, be able to walk and run fast, and continue to have normal growth. Her chances of developing early osteoarthritis will also decrease. “My hope is for my daughter’s legs to be straightened so that she does not become completely disabled and dependent on other people,” said Namayani’s father. Let’s work together to let Namayani grow up healthy!