What a precious family who came to our Malnutrition Clinic. We have a mother, father, and eight children… the youngest is baby Benjamin Barthelemy. Benjamin came to our clinic with his mother the first time. Madamn Barthelemy is unemployed, but the father of the children is a hard-working man. He works as a bricklayer but it is not always easy to find a job. Little Benjamin has five brothers and two sisters. Madamn Barthelemy said that her husband wants her to get a job to help feed the family, but there are “no jobs” at all available. Madamn Barthelemy wanted to have a little piece of land to grow vegetables to sell, but she had none.

She was “breastfeeding” baby Benjamin but got an infection in her breast and could not feed him. Little Benjamin began to lose weight because she could not breastfeed him. She said she had to save the food for the other children. As for Benjamin, he had not had anything to eat for the last several days before he came to the Malnutrition Clinic. He had been losing weight for two months! Benjamin had severe acute marasmus malnutrition.

There are a lot of dynamics in this poor family. The mother wants to help but there are too many children and no jobs. But, we decided to give Madamn Barthelemy some money to start a little business in front of her small house. She can buy food items and resell them, and never leave her house. She will now feel that she is contributing to help feed the family, and we believe this will help the whole family. Meanwhile, baby Benjamin will stay with us at our Malnutrition Clinic until he gains weight and is ready to go home.

Baby Benjamin is such a sweet baby. Since he is in our Malnutrition Clinic, he will eat the right things to help him grow and he will receive the best of care. In the meantime, his mother has money to start a little business so that they can feed “the entire family,” especially baby Benjamin! What a precious baby and what a sweet family! Thank you so much, partners, for everything you do to help these children.

Sherry