Helen is 13 months old and has malnutrition, a dangerous condition that results from consuming too little protein, calories, and nutrients. In the short term, malnutrition means Helen has little energy to grow and that her immune system is weak. If Helen does not receive treatment, she will also face long-term consequences.
Helen lives with her parents, older brother, and grandparents in rural Guatemala. She is a sweet toddler who is trying to learn to walk. Helen likes eating pasta and playing with dolls. While Helen’s parents work hard and want the best for their daughter, they cannot afford treatment for malnutrition.
Fortunately, with the help of our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, Helen is scheduled to begin treatment on February 6. Helen’s treatment will include growth monitoring, micronutrients, and food supplementation. She will gain weight and grow taller to catch up with other children her age, and her immune system will grow stronger with the increased caloric intake.
Community health workers will also teach her mother about creating a nutrient-rich diet with limited resources. Treatment will give Helen’s family tools to maintain nutritious diets, and it will give Helen a chance to grow healthily.
Her parents say, “Our hope now is that our daughter grows well, and in the future she decides what profession she wants.”