Luis is a six-month-old baby living in Guatemala with his grandparents and mother in a cinderblock house with a tin roof. His favorite thing to do is to play with a small rubber toy dragon. When she isn’t caring for Luis or helping Luis’s grandparents around the house, Luis’s mother is a tailor. She is a single mother, and is unable to afford more food for Luis than corn tortillas.
Luis has been diagnosed with severe chronic malnutrition. He is almost three standard deviations below a normal height for his age. He has not been receiving the calories and protein he needs, stunting his growth and weakening his immune system. He frequently gets diarrhea, fevers, and coughs, all of which contribute to lethargy and decreased appetite. Without treatment, Luis could face long-term consequences such as low IQ, increased risk of chronic diseases, and lower earning potential as an adult.
For $512, Luis can receive the treatment he needs to resolve his malnutrition. His treatment cost covers growth monitoring visits, food supplements, and medication to help him gain weight and develop properly.
Luis’s mother is eager for financial assistance to afford Luis’s treatment. “I hope my son recovers soon from malnutrition,” she says. Luis’s treatment will strengthen his immune system, increase his overall caloric intake, and make it so he has more energy to play and learn. His mother will also receive nutritional education to help her optimize the diet he needs.