Two-year-old Lucas lives with his family in the rural highlands of Guatemala. He loves to eat bananas and eggs and enjoys playing with his plastic toy horse. His mother works taking care of their family’s household, and his father works as a day laborer.
Lucas’s parents are very worried about him because he is not gaining weight. Underweight and small for his age, Lucas has malnutrition, a dangerous condition that results from consuming too few calories and nutrients. In the short term, malnutrition means Lucas has little energy to grow, and his immune system is weak. He may 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 coordinated by Watsi’s medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, will help Lucas recover. He will gain weight and grow taller to catch up with other children his age, and his immune system will grow stronger with the increased caloric intake. Community health workers will teach his mother to create a nutrient-rich diet, even with limited resources.
Lucas’s parents do not have the financial resources to pay for the malnutrition treatment that he needs. They will need help raising $782 to pay for his care, which is scheduled to begin on February 28.
“I am worried about my son’s health, but I am willing to do anything to see him get better,” shares Lucas’s mother. “I hope that with this treatment he will be healthier.”