Meet 20-month-old Sherlin from Guatemala. “Sherlin is a sweet little girl who loves to share. She imitates her mother’s singing with babbles as her mother does household chores and likes to watch her do dishes,” shares our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK). “Her mother works weaving textiles to sell and support her family. The family is very much a little unit – happy and extremely close.”
Sherlin has acute malnutrition and has been consistently ill for months. “She currently has diarrhea and a cough. Her mother has taken her baby to the doctor many times but was never given medication that was effective and could not always afford the medications prescribed,” reports WK.
“If intervention does not occur, Sherlin’s immune system will continue to weaken and her illness will worsen,” continues WK. “She is already at risk of pneumonia amongst other potential acute illnesses, and our team worries that if she does not get the medication and supplementation necessary, she will be at risk of dehydration and its potentially lethal effects.”
With $535, Sherlin can receive comprehensive treatment for malnutrition. This includes growth monitoring, micronutrient and food supplementation, and de-worming medication that will allow her to increase overall caloric intake, overcome diarrhea, and recoup her height and weight. Her parents will receive nutrition education, allowing them to better care for Sherlin as she grows. “Intervention now will prevent the future devastating effects of malnutrition and give Sherlin the chance to live a healthy, productive life,” says WK.
“Thank God you want to help us,” shares Sherlin’s mother. “May the lord bless you and your institution.”