Deyvin is a 22-month-old boy from Guatemala. His parents have had trouble affording foods rich in calories, protein, and nutrients. 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, Deyvin began malnutrition treatment on November 24, 2016.
Deyvin's favorite foods are eggs, black beans, and rice. He loves to play hide-and-seek with his cousin, Brenda. He lives with his family in a one-room adobe house with a tin roof. His father works as a day laborer on a bean plantation, but 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 Deyvin 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 Deyvin a chance to grow healthy and strong.
"I am appreciative of the support that you will give my son," says Deyvin's mother, "and I hope to learn many things about how to feed my son what he needs to grow."