“Jairo’s older siblings love to play with him. They let him run around through their soccer matches, and tie him to their backs when they climb the peach trees in their front yard,” says our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK).
An adorable one-year-old boy from Guatemala, Jairo is the youngest of six siblings and according to his mother, “a surprise gift from God.” As six years separate him from the second youngest child, Jairo is definitely the baby of the family.
Unfortunately, he suffers from acute malnutrition – a condition marked by a below average weight and height for his age. “Jairo has chronic diarrhea and his family has no access to clean water,” says WK. “Without any intervention he will be at risk of the long-term effects of malnutrition.”
For a kid who loves to play outside and “is obsessed with cats, chickens, and cows” – all of which inhabit his front yard – this diagnosis is particularly distressing.
If his condition goes untreated, WK shares, “He will start to miss developmental milestones. His energy will decline, and he will be unable to develop to his full mental potential, thus limiting his ability to concentrate and go far in school. His immune system will weaken, putting him at risk for infections, such as pneumonia, and later in life he will be at higher risk for chronic illness such as diabetes and hypertension.”
Though Jairo’s father works as a corn farmer and “his older siblings help support the family by weaving beautiful blouses or working on the corn farm,” the family is unable to afford his treatment.
$535 in funding, however, can fully treat Jairo’s acute malnutrition and guarantee him a healthy future – providing food supplementation, nutritional support and medication.
“His treatment will supply supplemental nutrition to physically bolster Jairo’s capability to recoup his weight and height, as well as intensive nutrition education for his parents. The education will give Jairo’s parents the tools they need to continue providing nutrition to their children even after Jairo’s treatment is complete,” explains WK.
When asked what she most enjoys doing with her little brother, Jairo’s sister responds, “Squeezing him, and telling him stories.” She also thinks he’ll grow up one day to be a great doctor and dad. Let’s help Jairo reach his full mental and physical potential and continue to spend quality time with his family!
