Guernal found himself in a frightening situation when gangs started attacking the local police station in his town. Amidst the chaos, he was shot in the leg while his family was trying to escape. His father, scooped him up and rushed to our clinic for help. However, in the frantic escape, they became separated from Guernal’s mother and siblings. Once Guernal’s condition stabilized, he ventured back to find his missing family members. Thankfully, he was reunited with his mother, sister, and two brothers. The family stayed at our inpatient center until his leg was healed and they were able to return to their home.

Donlove is 6 years old and weighted 24 pounds when admitted. He was in our hospital for a while a few years ago. He got better and went back home to his family. But then he got sick and malnourished again because he moved around to different houses. When he was little, he drank from a container he found in his house. But it wasn’t water—it was a strong cleaning solution. He had to stay in the hospital for a long time, which made it hard for him to eat and drink. Doctors checked him and said his airway isn’t damaged, so he should be able to eat and drink like before.  Donlove has three sisters and one brother. His dad works in construction, and his mom buys things in bulk to sell for more money. They also grow millet and corn in their gardens and sell them in markets.  Donlove  was admitted for inpatient care and started on medika mamba to help him get better. We’re helping him find food he likes and can eat easily.

Judson is 8 months old and weighted 11 pounds when admitted. He came to the clinic with his mother. His dad lives in the Dominican Republic and is looking for work there. Judson has one sister and two brothers. One sibling died on the same day it was born. Their mom farms her land by growing millet, beans, and corn. Their home has four rooms and is built with cinder blocks, covered with tin, and rented. There is no running water or even a flush toilet in the home. They have to walk for an hour to get water from a pump.  Judson has been sick for about a month, but his mom was unable to travel to the clinic because gangs control the area she needed to pass through. She traveled for three hours by motorcycle taxi to reach the clinic. Judson has been sick with signs of malnutrition for about a month. The day he was admitted for inpatient care, he had nothing to eat, and the day before that, he only had some porridge. Judson’s mom is staying with him during his care. He was started on F-75 therapeutic milk and then, when he was stable, on medika mamba.

Ricarline is 6 months old and weighted 8 pounds when admitted. She came to the clinic with her mother. Her mother couldn’t breastfeed her, so she’s been trying to take care of her by giving her baby food and carrot juice. Ricarline’s mom buys things in bulk and sells them for more money. They live in a rented house with two rooms made of cinder blocks and covered with tin. There’s no running water or flush toilet, but they have an outhouse. They buy water from a vendor about 5 minutes away from their home. Ricarline has been sick for about two weeks with diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and a cough. She traveled for two hours by motorcycle taxi to get to the clinic. The day she was admitted for inpatient care, she had baby food to eat, and the day before that, she only had Pedialyte. She was given special formula and put on a feeding schedule.