Meet Sofia, a 17-month-old girl from Guatemala. Sofia is cared for primarily by her grandmother while her mother works cleaning houses to earn money to support her daughter. Sofia’s father abandoned them right after Sofia was born, and her grandfather passed away some years ago. Her mother is dedicated to building the best life possible for her child but says that they simply don’t have enough money to even afford 1 egg per day for her. As a result, Sofia lives with acute malnutrition. "Sofia has struggled with stomach infections and malnutrition since she was little," says our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq (WK). "She was born in the hospital and ever since she started to eat solid food she has experienced pain afterwards. This has made her not want to eat and as a result she is losing weight. She has a diarrhea and a cough. Her grandmother and mother are extremely worried because they cannot afford food other than tortillas and squash. Her immune system is weak and as a result she has lost weight and is not growing well. Without intervention she will face the long-term effects of malnutrition and be at risk for other acute illnesses." For $512, WK will provide comprehensive malnutrition treatment for Sofia. "This treatment will supply Sofia with the growth monitoring, micronutrient and food supplementation, and medication for her to recoup some of the weight and height she has lost, and treat the gastrointestinal infection causing her diarrhea and frequents coughs. Her mother and grandmother will receive intensive nutrition education thus building their ability to care for Sofia and her siblings throughout her childhood. Intervention now will prevent the future devastating effects of malnutrition, and give Sofia the chance to live a healthy productive life." “She is the light of my life," her mother says. "I want to do everything I can.”

“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.”