Our work in action...

We held a clinic at a village in the mountains on our October trip. While there, we met a mother of 3 children, ages 3 mos, 2 yrs, and 3 yrs. The 2 youngest children were severely malnourished. Since the baby was still nursing, we didn't want to take her from the mother. After seeing this little girl, her hair falling out, terribly under weight, sores all over her body, we shared with the mother the severity of her daughters condition. The mother is 21 years old, and not very educated. She told us she would talk to the father and let us know. After discussing with not only the father, but also the grandparents, all parties decided it would be best for the little girl to come to the nutrition center. Our center wasn't quite up and running, so we took her to the nutrition center in Teculutan. She was there for 3 weeks, went home for 2 weeks and has been at our center all week. Look at the difference....

Our first encounter at the village at the end of October.

Aura this week at our center! First week of December.

She is the funniest little thing and absolutely loves to cuddle, which is my favorite.

She eats like a little piggy and feeds herself.

We are told that in many villages, due to the shear poverty, mothers will make beans and only give the youngest the broth, rather than any beans. They feed the older children and themselves the whole beans. This upon giving their babies coca cola in bottles, and watered down milk, then adding several scoops of sugar, will never make for a healthy child. The lack of educated individuals is almost uncomprehendible.