Cesar is 18 months old, but he is only the size of a healthy eight-month-old. Cesar lives with his family in Guatemala’s rural highlands. He is a happy child who loves to play with his sister and eat beans.
Cesar’s mother works taking care of the family’s household needs, and she weaves traditional Mayan textiles in her spare time. Cesar’s father works as a day laborer.
Cesar has malnutrition, a dangerous condition that results from consuming too little protein, calories, and nutrients. In the short term, malnutrition means Cesar has little energy to grow and that 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 will help Cesar 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 with limited resources.
Treatment will give him an opportunity to play, grow, and participate in his family’s lives supported by a healthy brain and body. Cesar is scheduled to start the program on March 30.
Cesar’s parents both wish for Cesar to grow well, but the family does not have enough resources to pay $492 for malnutrition treatment. They need help to raise the necessary funds.
Cesar’s mother says, “I am thankful to the organization and the donors for the support that my son will receive. For lack of knowledge I have not been able to take care of my son as I should, but now with this help, I hope my son can recover and grow.”