Michael Bowerman
Michael's Story

Michael joined Watsi on March 29th, 2013. 13 other people also joined Watsi on that day! Michael's most recent donation traveled 2,900 miles to support Sofia, a baby girl from Guatemala, to treat acute malnutrition.

Impact

Michael has funded healthcare for 7 patients in 6 countries.

Patients funded by Michael

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.”

$512raised
Fully funded