Jesica lives with her parents and older brother in rural Guatemala. She is an active, agreeable baby who likes to play with her little bear.
Jesica is ten months old and has malnutrition, a dangerous condition that results from consuming too little protein, calories, and nutrients.
Jesica’s mother takes care of the home, and her father works as an agricultural laborer. They want the best for their daughter, but treatment for malnutrition remains out of their economic reach without outside help.
In the short term, malnutrition means Jesica has little energy to grow and that her immune system is weak. She has already been getting sick frequently with cough, vomiting, and diarrhea. If Jesica does not receive treatment, she will also face malnutrition’s long-term consequences, such as increased risk of chronic diseases, low IQ, and higher likelihood of dropping out of school.
While malnutrition can have devastating effects, it is also very treatable. Growth monitoring, micronutrients, and food supplementation will help Jesica recover. She will gain weight and grow taller, and her immune system will grow stronger with the increased caloric intake. Community health workers will teach her mother about creating a nutrient-rich diet with limited resources. Treatment will give Jesica’s family tools to maintain nutritious diets, and it will give Jesica a chance to grow healthily. Jesica is scheduled to begin treatment on April 17.
Jesica’s family cannot afford this treatment, so they asking for help to raise $492.
