Success! Junior from Guatemala raised $535 to treat acute malnutrition.

100%

$535 raised, $0 to go

$535

raised

to go

Junior's story
Junior's update

November 23, 2015

Meet Junior! He’s almost two years old and lives with his family in Guatemala. Junior loves to play with his toy ball and car with his uncle Edgar.

Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK), tells us that due to acute malnutrition, “Junior is far below the average weight and the average height for his age and he frequently suffers at times from diarrhea and fever.” Junior is malnourished, and isn’t receiving the nutrients and calories he needs to grow.

WK adds that “his mother is feeding his a mostly liquid based diet and is unsure how to help him increase his weight.” His favorite foods are bananas, carrots, and other veggies, but his malnutrition has even suppressed his appetite. His mother works hard to support her family, but is unsure how to effectively treat her son’s condition.

Without intervention, WK adds, “his immune system will continue to weaken, his height and weight will continue to fall away from the curve, his physical and mental development will be permanently stunted, and he will be at risk for the long term affects of malnutrition.”

For $535, Junior will receive treatment that includes growth monitoring, micronutrient and food supplementation, and medication to treat his immediate and long term symptoms. This will all help increase his caloric intake, appetite, and ability to fight off infections. Junior’s mother will also enroll in a nutritional education program to build her confidence and ability in caring for her son. This multi-faceted treatment is expected to allow Junior to return to full health, and grow up without long-term consequences of malnutrition.

Meet Junior! He's almost two years old and lives with his family in Guatemala. Junior loves to play with his toy ball and car with his uncle...

Photo of Junior post-operation

March 4, 2016

Junior received successful treatment for acute malnutrition.

“In the past several weeks, Junior has not gotten diarrhea, meaning that his immune system is growing stronger with the food supplements, deworming medication, and social support that his parents are receiving,” shares our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK). “This has allowed his body to use the extra calories to gain weight and grow taller instead of fighting off constant sicknesses.”

“Not only has he gained weight since beginning treatment, but he has also managed to grow much taller, on track to reach a normal height for his age,” WK continues. “His mom has also noticed that his appetite has improved, and that he has had more energy to play and explore. With continued treatment, our medical team is confident that Junior will have normal mental and physical development, putting him on the path to be a successful student and escape the cycle of poverty and malnutrition.”

“I appreciate the treatment that my son is receiving,” Junior’s mom shares. “Nothing is stopping him from eating now.”

"In the past several weeks, Junior has not gotten diarrhea, meaning that his immune system is growing stronger with the food supplements, de...

November 23, 2015
PROFILE SUBMITTED
Junior was submitted by Katia Cnop, Watsi Account Volunteer at Wuqu’ Kawoq.
November 30, 2015
TREATMENT OCCURRED
Junior received treatment at Clinic Tecpán in Guatemala. Medical partners often provide care to patients accepted by Watsi before those patients are fully funded, operating under the guarantee that the cost of care will be paid for by donors.
December 8, 2015
PROFILE PUBLISHED
Junior's profile was published to start raising funds.
December 18, 2015
FULLY FUNDED
Junior's treatment was fully funded.
March 4, 2016
TREATMENT UPDATE
Junior's treatment was successful. Read the update.

Funded by 11 donors

Treatment

Acute Malnutrition

Diagnosis
Procedure

Symptoms
Impact on patient's life
Cultural or regional significance

What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

Children generally face stunted physical growth, delayed mental and motor development, low appetite, and frequent illness. Malnourished children have weakened immune systems that put them at risk of diarrhea, fevers, and respiratory illnesses. This treatment treats growth failure in small children usually under 2 years of age. The most common form of growth failure in children in Guatemala is called stunting. This is a form of malnutrition where weight is relatively normal but height is severely reduced.

What is the impact on patients’ lives of living with these conditions?

Stunting has major effects on the developing brain. Stunted children have low IQ and they don’t make major developmental milestones. These effects persist into adulthood, where they impact schooling and economic potential. Furthermore, stunting contributes to the development of serious adult illness like diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.

What cultural or regional factors affect the treatment of these conditions?

Indigenous Guatemalans are one of the most marginalized and vulnerable populations in the world. They live in rural areas and suffer from high rates of food insecurity. The poorest indigenous Guatemalan villages have the highest rates of stunting in the world.

Process
Impact on patient's life
Risks and side-effects
Accessibility
Alternatives

What does the treatment process look like?

Children enrolled in our recuperative nutrition program receive about 1-4 months of intensive intervention, depending on the severity of the case. All of this care is delivered in the home in a personalized fashion. Most require a basic laboratory evaluation to look for thyroid disease, anemia, and intestinal infections. Acute infections are rapidly treated with antibiotics. Then a specialized case manager and nutritionist make weekly or every other week educational and health monitoring visits to the home. An assessment of food insecurity is conducted using standardized instruments and food is often provided to help bolster acute recovery. Micronutrient supplementation is provided.

What is the impact of this treatment on the patient’s life?

This treatment saves brains. Appetite and growth and developmental milestones recover, and height begins to rise once again. The immediate outcome is improved overall child health, including reduced vulnerability to severe infections. The long term outlook is improved cognitive potential, school completion, and economic prospects. Nearly 100% of children will experience improve appetite, energy, and development. At least 75% of children will have noticeable improvement in growth parameters. The effects of the intervention extend to other children in the home; since the approach is highly educational, parents learn how to care for other children and prevent this from occurring subsequently.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

This condition is treatable, and no risks for treatment exists.

How accessible is treatment in the area? What is the typical journey like for a patient to receive care?

Treatment for malnutrition is incredibly inaccessible in Guatemala. Populations are rural and don’t have access to intensive nutritional intervention and education. Public sector approaches are too low intensity to make a difference for these children.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

There are no real alternatives to our program. Many organizations and governmental entities provide basic preventative care, but once a child is already malnourished these approaches are no longer effective. Most children fail prevention and therefore need our help.

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Miriam is a sociable four-year-old girl from Arusha Tanzania, the first born child in a family of two children. Miriam's father works casual day jobs to earn a living, while the mother is a homemaker. Despite financial challenges due to limited income, the parents work diligently to ensure their family's well-being. Miriam was brought to our medical partner's care center, Kafika House, by her mother following a burn incident she experienced in May 2023. A pot of boiling beans tipped off and the hot water spilled on Miriam, causing burn injuries. She was first taken to a nearby healthcare center for wound care, and it took a month for her wounds to heal. During the healing process, her skin developed a burn contracture on her elbow, which was left untreated as the health center did not have the capacity to handle such cases, and the family did not have the financial resources to seek treatment in a larger institution. Sometime later, Miriam's mother met one of Kafika House's staff members who advised her to go to the facility for an assessment, with hope for treatment, as the condition was already limiting Miriam's ability to perform her daily activities. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Miriam receive treatment at their care center Kafika House. On April 2nd, surgeons will perform a burn contracture release surgery to restore the functionality of her hand. Now, she needs help to fund this $874 procedure. Miriam’s mother says: “Please help my daughter get this treatment. I hope she will grow up with her arm fully functional.”

Sarem is a 34-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. He lives with his wife, his parents, and two sons in Kampong Thom province. Sarem and his wife work long hours in the rice paddies to support the family. After he is done working, he enjoys teaching his boys how to play soccer. In September 2023, Sarem got into a motorcycle accident and fractured his left tibia. Because Sarem could not afford treatment, he has been using a crutch to help him walk. He is in pain and unable to work. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), can help. On April 26th, Sarem will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will cost $483. The procedure will allow his fractured bone to heal properly, enabling him to walk again without pain. Sarem shared, "I hope the doctors can fix my leg so I can support my family and walk without the crutches."

Junior's Timeline

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Funded by 11 donors

Treatment

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