Luis is eleven months old and has been diagnosed with malnutrition. He was born two months premature and often gets sick. 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.
Luis lives with his family in rural Guatemala. He has an older sister and brother. He likes to practice saying “water” and “mama.” His father is a day laborer, and his mother takes care of their household and the children. His family wants the best for Luis, but they have few economic resources and cannot afford malnutrition treatment. Fortunately, our medical partner is requesting $437 to fund Luis’s treatment, beginning on February 20.
While malnutrition can have devastating effects, it is also very treatable. Growth monitoring, micronutrients, and food supplementation will help Luis 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 Luis a chance to grow healthy and strong.
Luis’s mother says, “I want to see my son healthy so that he grows well. When he is big, he can study and be a mechanic.”