“Luis is a happy child. He likes to sing even when no-one is listening and the words are not correct,” reports our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK).
Luis is a one-year-old boy from Guatemala. Luis, his four older siblings, and his parents live together in a small one-room adobe house. His mother is the breadwinner in the family and works hard weaving blouses, but with five children it is difficult to provide for everybody.
“Luis is suffering from malnutrition, and has had regular diarrhea and fevers,” WK shares. “His mother took him to the health center, where they notified her that he was not growing well. However, since then there have been little changes to Luis’ diet, as his mother has not had the resources to supply him with more food and the health center did not counsel her on nutrition or small changes she could make for his health.”
Acute malnutrition can have devastating consequences for a child’s development. Without proper nutrition, Luis’ mental and physical development will lag behind other children of his age. His immune system will weaken, making Luis susceptible to chronic illnesses like fever, cough, diarrhea, and infections. He will struggle with school and have difficulty reaching his economic potential.
“His mother wants him to become a preacher when he grows up,” WK tells us. To achieve this goal, Luis needs nutritional intervention to get his health back on track.
For $535, Luis will receive the nutritional support he needs, and his mother will receive education to provide for her children’s long-term health. “This treatment will give Luis and his family the support they need to help Luis recover from malnutrition,” explains WK.
After treatment, WK says, “He will recoup some height and weight he has lost and start to catch up developmentally to his healthy peers. His immune system will improve and he will maintain his energy levels to learn and attend school. His mom will receive intensive nutrition education and the skills she needs to feel confident in caring for her five children.”
Luis’ mother is looking forward to being able to provide for her children’s health. “You are going to help me a lot. I know I will receive the help I need to help Luis keep growing normally. I want to learn what I need to do, and how to feed him properly,” she says.
