Dmitry Sabanin
Dmitry's Story

Dmitry joined Watsi on July 23rd, 2014. 14 other people also joined Watsi on that day! Dmitry's most recent donation traveled 8,200 miles to support Ellen, a one-year-old girl from Philippines, to fund malnutrition treatment.

Impact

Dmitry has funded healthcare for 28 patients in 9 countries.

Patients funded by Dmitry

“I want him to grow well and learn all I can for him and for my next child,” says the mother of Carlos, an 18-month-old baby from Guatemala. According to our medical partner Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK), “Carlos is the first child in his family. He likes to accompany his mother to sell things in the street and also likes to play at home…his mother says that she thinks he will be happy when his little sister or brother is born so that he will have a playmate.” Carlos is currently suffering from acute malnutrition, and his mother is five months pregnant with another child. According to WK, “This is an important detail, because once his little sister/brother is born his mother’s attention will be diverted away from Carlos and focused on the infant.” Fortunately, WK adds that “(Carlos’s) mother is really receptive to learning all she can to improve her son’s diet and she was excited to hear that she could actually impact his health in this way.” If Carlos does not receive intervention his health will continue to decline and he will be at risk for the long-term effects of malnutrition – he will face physical and mental stunting that will limit his ability to succeed in school and the workforce, as well as hinder his immune system to combat illnesses. For $512, Carlos can receive treatment for his acute malnourishment. Children enrolled in WK’s recuperative nutrition program receive several months of intensive intervention, which includes an evaluation for infections and weekly monitoring visits to the home by doctors. Carlos will also receive food supplements to reintroduce essential micronutrients into his diet. In addition, WK says that, “His mother will receive intensive nutrition education thus building her confidence and ability to care for Carlos and perhaps even preventing malnutrition from developing in her next child. Intervention now will prevent the future devastating effects of malnutrition, and give Carlos the chance to live a healthy productive life.”

$512raised
Fully funded

Meet Jonas, a 21-month-old baby from Guatemala. According to our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, “Jonas is the second child born into his family. He loves to play with toy cars and a little ball given to him by his brother.” Jonas currently lives with acute malnutrition. He suffers from regular diarrhea and is not growing as well as the other children in his neighborhood. Wuqu’ Kawoq explains, “Jonas is far below both the average weight and height for his age. If intervention does not occur, his immune system will crash and he will be unable to ward off infections and illnesses. His mother is already stretched for money, and so if Jonas’s health continues to decline there is no doubt that she will have to make some extremely hard sacrifices to try and afford advanced healthcare or hospitalizations.” For $512, Jonas can receive treatment for his malnourishment. Children enrolled in Wuqu’ Kawoq’s recuperative nutrition program receive about 1-4 months of intensive intervention, which includes an evaluation for thyroid disease, anemia, and intestinal infections, treatment of acute infections with antibiotics and weekly monitoring visits to the home by a nutritionist and case manager. An assessment of food insecurity, food to help bolster acute recovery and micronutrient supplementation are also provided. According to Wuqu’ Kawoq, “Intervention now will prevent the future devastating effects of malnutrition, and give Jonas the chance to live a healthy productive life…His mother will receive intensive nutrition education thus building her confidence and ability to care for Jonas and his brother throughout their childhood.” Jonas’s mother says, “I want my son, Jonas, to grow well and eventually go to school with his brother, Antony, and that they will love each other and care for each other.”

$512raised
Fully funded