Maria is a one-month-old baby girl who lives with her mother, grandparents, and aunts in rural Guatemala. Although Maria was born healthy, her mother has not been able to produce enough breast milk to sustain her growth, and has had to resort to feeding Maria boiled water to fill her up.
Maria was recently diagnosed with malnutrition, a condition that occurs from consuming too little protein, calories, and nutrients. In the short term, malnutrition means Maria 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 Maria to our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, for treatment. Beginning April 18, Maria will receive micronutrients, formula, 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 $1,162 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.
Maria’s mother says, “I want to thank you for the support my daughter will receive from you all, and I dream that when my daughter is big she will be able to study and become a doctor.”
