Sixteen-month-old Susana is the eighth child in her family. She lives near Lake Atitlán in rural Guatemala, and she likes to play with dolls and with her older brothers. Susana’s father is a day laborer, and both her parents spend evenings collecting firewood in the mountains near their home. Susana’s parents wish for their daughter to grow up to be a teacher one day.
Susana has been diagnosed with malnutrition. In the short term, malnutrition means Susana has little energy to grow and that her immune system is weak, leaving her vulnerable to illnesses that can further compromise her growth. She 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.
Malnutrition is very treatable. On February 2, our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, will begin Susana’s treatment of growth monitoring, micronutrients, and food supplementation. She will gain weight and grow taller to catch up with other children her age. 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.
“More than anything right now,” says Susana’s mother, “we want to fight for our daughter’s health so that she can recover.”
Susana’s treatment will cost $437.