Felix is just one month old and is already malnourished. Felix’s mother cannot produce breastmilk, so Felix is underweight and small for his age. He often cries from hunger, and his mother feeds him boiled water because it is the only substance she can afford to soothe him and fill him up. This limited diet is insufficient and has dangerous implications for Felix’s health. Lactation failure can lead to starvation and dehydration. It can also provoke electrolyte imbalances that cause seizures. Brain development occurring during this delicate time is compromised, and the baby is at risk of long-term damage.
Felix lives with his parents and grandmother in Guatemala’s rural coastal area. When Felix’s mother realized she could not produce breastmilk, she went to the local health post, where they recommended that she feed Felix formula. Felix’s father was able to buy one canister of formula before he was laid off from his job as a day laborer.
Lactation failure, while dangerous, is easy to treat. By supplying Felix with formula and his mother with health education, Felix will receive the calories he needs to grow and thrive. One-on-one education with Felix’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. Felix’s immune system will strengthen, and he will grow up to be a healthy, energetic baby.
The treatment will cost $1,162 and will be provided by our medical partner’s hospital, Clinic Miller, starting May 30.
