Breathing Easier in Guatemala

It’s 1:43am. I look over at my baby. She’s fast asleep in her bassinet next to my bed. I lean in closer just to confirm – yes, she’s still breathing. In the first four months of my daughter’s life, I’ve probably done this half a dozen times a night.

What would I do if, in the middle of the night, my nervous glances found her struggling to catch her breath?

I would rush my daughter to the nearest medical center, which is exactly what baby Juanito’s parents did when he developed pneumonia at just two months old. They brought him to our community health center, called a Casa Materna, where he was quickly referred to a hospital for nebulizer treatment. A nebulizer is a medical device that turns liquid medicine into a fine mist. A patient breathes this mist in, allowing the medication to quickly and effectively reach their lungs and provide relief. In the United States, nebulizers can be bought for less than $100 and are used to treat a range of lung conditions including pneumonia, bronchitis, and asthma.

Unfortunately, Juanito’s parents could not transfer him to the hospital as they did not have the funds to transport Juanito such a long distance, a common problem in the rural areas of Guatemala in which we work. The staff at the Casa Materna continued to care for Juanito, and after four tense days he was, thankfully, well enough to return home.

Baby Alejandro received nebulizer treatment at a Casa Materna

When baby Alejandro suffered pneumonia at seven months old, his parents also brought him to a Casa Materna. However, Alejandro’s course of treatment was different from Juanito’s, because the Casa Materna Alejandro was brought to had recently received a donated nebulizer from visiting Impact Global Health Alliance volunteers. With antibiotics and nebulizer treatment, Alejandro quickly recovered. Both Alejandro and Juanito have benefitted from follow-up visits and personal nutrition services from Casa Materna nurses.

Though both boys’ stories end happily, their course of care was very different. Because his Casa Materna had a nebulizer available for use, Alejandro recovered more quickly than Juanito and his parents were never faced with the difficult decision to seek expensive hospital treatment or stay with the trusted medical partners at the Casa Materna.

In our program area in Guatemala, 38% of deaths in children under the age of five are caused by acute airway infections, including pneumonia. Our Guatemalan partners are looking forward to the time when every Casa Materna will have nebulizers so that all children like Juanito and Alejandro can receive the best care. Your gift of time or money can help make a difference. Will you help babies – and their parents – breathe easier at night?