Kefri is a 6-month-old boy from Guatemala. His mother is very worried about her son because he is not growing, has little appetite, and is getting sick often. This is because his diet lacks protein, calories and nutrients. Kefri 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, he began malnutrition treatment on November 24, 2016. Kefri is a sweet baby who loves to snuggle and play with stuffed animals. He lives with his parents and five older siblings in a one-room adobe house. His father works as a day laborer on a local plantation. His mother works in the house, cooking, cleaning, and weaving traditional Mayan textiles. Although both his parents work hard, they cannot afford this $512 treatment. While malnutrition can have devastating effects, it is also very treatable. Growth monitoring, micronutrients, and food supplementation will help Kefri 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 Kefri a chance to grow healthy and strong.

Loun is an 81-year-old rice and crop farmer with three sons, one daughter, and 21 grandchildren. She likes to listen to monks pray on the radio and to go to the pagoda. About two years ago, Loun developed a cataract in each eye, causing her blurred vision, tearing, cloudy lenses, and extreme sensitivity to light. She has trouble doing work, recognizing faces, and going outside. Loun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), and traveled one hour with her daughter in hopes of receiving care. On October 27, she underwent cataract surgery. For $292, we can pay for this vision-restoring surgery. Loun says, "I hope that my eyes can see clearly, so that I can continue my work on the farm and go anywhere by myself."