Clemene and Kwashiorkor

Kwashiorkor is something I had never heard of 5 years ago. Now it is on my mind almost daily as I think and pray for the kids at the Rescue Center in Cazale, Haiti.

I was showing pictures that I had taken in Haiti last year to a group of teenagers and one of the teenage boys laughed and pointed at one of the pictures of a swollen baby and said "that kid isn't malnourished. She's chubby!" They all laughed...until I told them what Kwashiorkor was, and that because of protein deficiency that baby's life could end soon. The poor teenager hung his head and looked like he wanted to crawl into a hole. I reassured him that most people have NO idea of this condition. I'm thankful that he will never point and laugh again at one of these photos.

You can read more about Kwashiorkor HERE and you can help us to help these kids by creating something to donate to Artists For Hope (100% of the proceeds go to the Rescue Center to help feed and care for these kids!) and you can buy items from our
Etsy site and our website.

This is Clemene. She was just admitted to the Rescue Center this week. This is her 2nd time being in the Rescue Center. She is 2 1/2 years old and weighs 24 pounds....but a LOT of that weight is from the Kwashiorkor. She is so swollen and in a lot of pain. Can you imagine how painful that swelling must be around her little nose? :(

All of the swelling is causing extreme pressure which is making her skin split open on her legs. It will be a long road to what will hopefully be a full recovery for Clemene. Thanks to RHFH, she's already started on the Medika Mamba program.

Please spread the word about Artists For Hope to all of your artsy friends and to everyone you know for Christmas shopping. We will be listing new things soon and I can't imagine a better Christmas present than to know you purchased something that will help feed kids like Clemene. Thank you!