Life-Saving Food for Children with Rare Diseases

From May to August, Institute Jô Clemente (IJC) continued supporting children with phenylketonuria (PKU) by providing Special Food Baskets with essential low-protein foods. During this period, the project received approximately $1,100 in donations GlobalGiving's matching funds, about 10% more than in the period covered by our previous report. This support helped provide 18 Special Food Baskets to 5 children with PKU.

The baskets contain foods suitable for the low-protein diet required to manage PKU. For the children and families supported by the project, access to these specialized foods is an important part of maintaining treatment and promoting healthy development and quality of life. 

One of the children receiving the baskets is Ana Luiza, who has PKU, just like her older sister, Laura. Their experiences highlight the importance of early diagnosis. Laura was diagnosed later in childhood, while Ana Luiza's PKU was identified early through newborn screening, allowing her to begin appropriate treatment and follow-up from the beginning of her life. Today, Ana Luiza continues to receive specialized care and the Special Food Baskets provided by IJC. For her family, the sister's experiences are a powerful reminder of how early diagnosis, continuous care, and access to appropriate nutrition can make a meaningful difference in the life of a person with PKU.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who supported this project. Your contributions help transform donations into specialized nutrition and continued care for children with PKU and their families. Thank you for being part of this work and helping make this support possible.

Catarina Chanquini
Institute Jô Clemente (IJC)