Even though Jose is five months old, he is currently the size of a one-month old. This is because he has acute malnutrition, a condition that results from not receiving a sufficient amount of breast milk. His mother could not breast feed for two months, leaving Jose with only sugar water to eat during that time–and now she is unable to produce milk. At such a young age, proper nutrition is especially important. Lactation failure can lead to the child becoming starving, dehydrated, and provoke electrolyte imbalances that can cause seizures. Brain development occurring during this delicate time is compromised and the baby is at risk of long term damage.
Jose is the the only child and he lives with his parents and grandparents in a one-room adobe house with a tin roof and dirt floor in Guatemala. Jose loves to play with his one toy–which is a stuffed fish, and his mother says that he loves to babble and laugh whenever anyone talks to him. His mother is a minor, and thus does not work, and his father works as a day-laborer, getting paid about $3 per day when there’s work.
Lactation failure, while dangerous, is easy to treat. By supplying the baby with formula and the mother with health education, Jose will receive the calories he needs to grow and thrive. One-on-one education with Jose’s mother will prepare her for when he needs to start eating solid food, as well as help her watch for further signs of malnutrition and other illness. Jose’s immune system will strengthen and he will grow up to be a healthy and energetic baby.
“I hope that my son grows healthy and that when he is big he can study and become a nurse and help others,” his mother shared. “I have this hope because he can have the support from you.”