Erik is a 23-month-old boy from Guatemala. His parents have had trouble affording foods rich in calories, protein, and nutrients. For this reason, he is only the size of a healthy 13-month-old. Erik has been diagnosed with acute malnutrition. This means he has little energy to grow, and his immune system is weak and vulnerable to illness. He is also at risk of chronic disease and delayed development. Fortunately, he began malnutrition treatment on November 24, 2016.
Erik lives with his family in a one-room adobe house with a tin roof. His favorite foods are chicken broth, bananas, and oranges. He plays toy cars with his aunt while his mother cooks for the family and weaves traditional Mayan sashes. Erik’s father works as a day laborer on a bean plantation, but he cannot afford his son’s $512 treatment.
While malnutrition can have devastating effects, it is also very treatable. Growth monitoring, micronutrients, and food supplementation will help Erik recover. He will gain weight and grow taller to catch up with other children his age, and his immune system will grow stronger. Community health workers will teach his mother about creating a nutrient-rich diet from limited resources. Treatment will give Erik a chance to grow healthy and strong.
“I am so grateful that you want to help my son have an improvement in his height and weight,” says Erik’s mother.

