Luis is one and a half months old and lives with his mother, father, and three siblings on the rural coast of Guatemala. Luis is an active baby who spends his time observing the world and moving his little hands and feet.
Luis’s mother has tried to breastfeed him but each time she does he has vomited the milk back up. His mother brought him to a local health center where he was diagnosed with a breast milk allergy, and prescribed formula. Unfortunately, Luis’s family does not have the resources to purchase the formula, so Luis has been subsisting on warm water with sugar to fill him up. Luis is not receiving the nutrition he needs for healthy growth. Lactation allergies can lead to starvation, dehydration, and electrolyte imbalances that cause seizures.
Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, is requesting $1,162 to fund formula for Luis and nutritional education for his mother, which is scheduled to begin on May 23. One-on-one education with Luis’s mother will teach her how to provide a nutritious, inexpensive diet for her son. She will also learn to check for signs of malnutrition and other illness.
Luis’s mother says, “My husband and I are worried because our son was prescribed formula, but we don’t have the resources to buy it. Every time my son breastfeeds he vomits and I don’t want him to be underweight and sick. Thank you all for the help that my son will receive. May God bless you. I wish to see my son grow up to study and in the future become a professional.”