Ronaldo lives with his family in Guatemala’s rural highlands. He loves to play with his older sister and eat his favorite foods, which are rice and potatoes. Ronaldo’s father works as a day laborer, and his mother takes care of the household and weaves traditional Mayan textiles to help support the family’s income.
Ronaldo is only ten months old but already has malnutrition, a dangerous condition that results from consuming too little protein, calories, and nutrients. In the short term, malnutrition means Ronaldo 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 Ronaldo recover. Treatment will give him an opportunity to play, grow, and participate in his family’s lives supported by a healthy brain and body.
Ronaldo’s parents wish to see their son grow to be big and strong, but they do not have the resources to pay for Ronaldo’s $492 malnutrition treatment, scheduled to begin on May 25 . Ronaldo’s mother says, “I am very grateful for the support we will receive, because for our lack of resources I often cannot afford enough food for my children. I will do all I can so that Ronaldo grows and gets better.”