Laxmi is a 12-year-old student from Nepal. She lives with her parents and studies in grade six. One day, Laxmi was walking down a steep hill when she slipped and injured her left wrist. Her elbow was dislocated, and her hand swelled considerably. She has been missing school and needs help with basic tasks, such as eating and bathing. Laxmi took a one-day jeep ride with her uncle to reach our medical partner's hospital, Bayalpata Hospital. On November 8, her fracture was fitted with a cast. Laxmi's family members farm and sell firewood, but their income is unstable. They need help to fund this $195 procedure. After recovery, Laxmi should be able to to return to school without pain.

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.

Julio is the only child in his family, and "the light of his parents’ life," shares his medical team. He lives with his family a one-room cinderblock house in Guatemala. His father works as a day laborer in a plantation near their village, and his mother works at home taking care of him, as well as cooking and cleaning. Although his parents want nothing but the best for their son, with only a couple dollars per day to live on, they cannot afford to give him even one egg, fruit, or vegetable per day—the minimum he needs to gain weight and grow taller like he should. Julio is suffering from malnutrition. This is because his mother cannot produce adequate breastmilk to keep her son healthy. She has tried taking herbs and other natural medicines to help increase her milk production, but it has not been working. Lactation failure can lead to the child becoming starving, dehydrated, and provoke electrolyte imbalances that can cause seizures. Brain development occurring during this delicate time is compromised and the baby is at risk of long term deficiencies. Lactation failure, while dangerous, is easy to treat. By supplying the baby with formula and the mother with health education, Julio will receive the calories he needs to grow and thrive. One-on-one education with Julio’s mother will prepare her for when he needs to start eating solid food, as well as help her watch for further signs of malnutrition and other illness. Julio’s immune system will strengthen and he will grow up to be a healthy energetic baby. “I would like to see my son be an engineer when he is big," Julio's mother shares.

Meet Kun, an 88-year-old woman living in Cambodia. She loves to listen to the radio and hear the monks pray. About one year ago, Kun began to lose her vision. She is now partially blind due to mature cataracts in both eyes. Not only is she unable to go anywhere alone, but she relies on her sister to care for her. For $150, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can treat Kun's cataracts to help restore her vision and prevent future blindness. Let's help Kun get her vision back, and return to her normal routine!