Rescue a Malnourished Child in Guatemala

I share with you today a story about two small “packages” and a wonderful opportunity to support malnourished children: Global Giving is offering a match of 30 percent for all donations received on March 16^th, 2011. They will also award a cash prize for the project receiving the most donations.

Among the many joys that come our way in life, nothing compares to the birth of our children.  In Guatemala, this also often a time of great challenge for many families.  After 20 hours of hard labour, an exhausted mom, Mary, gave birth to precious twin girls. Premature and critically underweight at only three pounds each, they were so tiny that they could each be held in just one hand. No doctor was on-hand for the delivery. The family knew that the local doctor would not come, because they still owed him money for his recent treatment of Mary's father Antonio. The new babies were having difficulty breathing. They were fighting for their lives.

Antonio had just enough money for the journey to Antigua.  From his tiny mountain village, eight hours away, he had heard that there was a place that might save his granddaughters' lives. Antonio wrapped the babies in tattered blankets and held them close during the day-long bus ride over the winding and rutted roads. He carried his precious cargo all the way to Casa Jackson.

The babies were two of the smallest ever admitted to Casa Jackson. As with every new patient admitted, we don't know for certain if they will respond to our care, or whether they will recover or not. But we provided them with intensive medical care, specialized baby formula, hugs and love in abundance. With time and love the girls began to open their eyes, move their small fingers and most importantly they began to grow and thrive. They each gained two pounds in their first 3 weeks and now weigh six pounds!

The story of these two very special girls, Maria Jose and Miriam Guadalupe, reflects the vital work of the GOD's CHILD Project.  This is only possible with your continued support for the needs of these special children. As Guatemala has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the world, Maria and Miriam are not alone and this vital work needs to continue.

We need you to make a gift on March 16^th  so that the joy of happy recoveries can continue. Together with love, prayers and support we can change the world!

(Photos 2-4 courtesy of Christiana Dittmann)

Links:

• The GOD'S CHILD Project
• Casa Jackson Center for Malnourished Infants

Casa Jackson is, first and foremost, a hospital for malnourished babies. Young children between the ages of 0 and 5 come to stay for couple of weeks or, in some cases, a few months, and they leave with the capacity to stay happy and healthy from that point on. We prefer to take in the smallest cases, because the smallest cases have the biggest chance of a full recovery. The science tells us that, if experienced beyond the age of 2 or 3, severe malnutrition has long-term effects. These include lifelong poor health, slow speech, low IQ, and more.

That said, Casa Jackson has become a loving and safe haven for many special children outside of the “ideal” age range. We have one special child, Josafina, staying with us now. Josafina is ten years old and comes from a family who has never given her the love and care that every child deserves. She is a quiet child, because she never learned how to talk, and she weighs as much as the average six year old. These days, Josefina receives food and medicine and is beginning to open up to staff, nurses, and fellow patients despite the years of abuse and neglect she has suffered.

It is difficult to see children like Josefina, whose chance in life comes so late. We’ll do all we can for her, but we don’t want to let more children reach the age of 10, or even 5, without receiving the care that they need. With the help of donors like you, we are continuing our important work with the smallest victims of poverty. And because your donations support outreach in addition to in-house care, we will continue to reach more families and more communities and to prevent the permanent effects of malnutrition in as many cases as we can.

This week, we thank you on behalf of Josefina for your continued support.

Links:

• Casa Jackson Center for Malnourished Infants
• The GOD'S CHILD Project