Carmen is an active 13-month-old baby girl from Guatemala. She is the ninth child in her family, and loves to play with her toy doll. Carmen’s father works as a day laborer and her mother stays at home to take care of the household.
Carmen was recently diagnosed with malnutrition, a condition that occurs from consuming too little protein, calories, and nutrients. In the short term, malnutrition means Carmen has little energy to grow, and that her immune system is weak, leaving her vulnerable to diseases that could further compromise her growth. If left untreated, she may also face the long-term consequences of malnutrition, such as increased risk of chronic illness and a lowered IQ.
Concerned for her well-being, her mother took Carmen to our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, for treatment. Beginning June 16, Carmen will receive micronutrients and food supplementation, as well as regular growth monitoring. Community health workers will also teach her mother how to create a nutrient rich diet using limited resources. The $492 requested will cover all expenses of her continued treatment, allowing her to gain weight, strengthen her immune system, and catch up with other children her age.
Carmen’s mother says, “I did not know that my daughter wasn’t growing well. I only knew that she was getting sick every once and a while, but now I don’t know what to do because we are of scarce resources.”