One of the greatest privileges of our ministry is walking beside families from pregnancy through infancy. Sometimes that journey is straightforward. Sometimes it involves unexpected challenges that nobody could have predicted.
Today we are raising support for three babies who need supplemental formula during their first year of life.
Although we will attach the campaign, we wanted to take a moment to introduce the families in more detail here.
Lucia Amparez and her Baby Wilson Moisis
Lucía first began visiting our clinic when she was approximately five months pregnant. While that may seem late by Western standards, it is fairly common in the remote mountain communities we serve.
Travel is difficult, resources are limited, and many mothers do not seek care until they are certain they are pregnant.
Lucía comes from a community in the mountains near Villa Nueva Sajcabajá, approximately forty minutes from town- for us by car. For her, it’s a bit longer walking to the mountain pass, and waiting for a loaded pickup truck to pass by.
Over the past year we have seen increasing numbers of families from this area seeking prenatal care through our clinic. We are thankful for the trust that has grown between these communities and our ministry team, in large part due to Daniel’s reputation in this area as a former community teacher. In fact, Lucia had been part of the school’s local representation, so they had worked together. Trust is personally gained here, and word of mouth matters.
Lucía’s pregnancy progressed normally. She wanted to deliver at her remote health center rather than at home or in town, and her routine evaluations did not reveal any concerns, so the central health center and our clinic approved of her plan.
Yet childbirth is inherently unpredictable.
During delivery, Lucía experienced a serious hemorrhage. She required emergency transport by ambulance to the regional hospital approximately an hour and a half away. Delivering at that small health center instead of at home saved her life. While she recovered, she was separated from her newborn son for nearly a week.
Because of that unexpected separation, breastfeeding was interrupted during a critical time. When Lucía returned home, she continued working hard to establish her milk supply and faithfully brought baby Wilson for follow-up care.
Although Wilson is making progress, he remains underweight. Our first approach was to support Lucía herself through nutritional assistance and hydration. However, despite her determination and continued breastfeeding efforts, her son still needs additional nutritional support.
Lucía has already begun purchasing formula herself, but the cost is extremely difficult for a family living in such a remote area.
Our goal is not to replace breastfeeding. Rather, we hope to provide enough supplemental formula to allow Lucía’s son to receive the nutrition he needs while she continues nursing and building her supply.
Antonia Mayic and her twins Elian Josue and Alison Kareli
When Antonia first visited our clinic, it was well into her third trimester.
She really only came hoping to learn whether her baby was a boy or a girl.
After a long ultrasound evaluation, something seemed unusual. The images were difficult to interpret, but eventually one explanation became impossible to ignore:
There wasn’t one baby.
There were two.
Because twins carry significantly greater risks, we recommended Antonia for higher-level evaluation in a larger city approximately an hour farther away. This was a financial and logistic challenge for the family, let alone an exercise in trust. Mayan families who do not speak Spanish are often mistreated by the formal healthcare system, so their trust in our recommendation shows the strength of our relationship. They trusted us enough to go. That matters.
The referral confirmed twin pregnancy, and doctors recommended a period of bedrest in hospital.
The twins were ultimately born early and small, weighing approximately four and five pounds.
Given the challenges associated with premature and low birth weight infants in rural settings, we visited the family at home shortly after delivery. We brought supplies, provided guidance, and carefully assessed how the babies were feeding and growing.
We were thrilled to discover that both babies had already regained their birth weight.
Over the following weeks, however, Antonia began noticing signs that the babies still seemed hungry after feedings. Caring for newborn twins is demanding under any circumstances, and she found herself increasingly concerned. The work of a mom does not stop either, and her three other sons also requite their mom, limiting rest and time to rest for herself.
Determined to meet their needs, she began supplementing with formula while continuing to breastfeed.
When Daniel conducted a follow-up visit at approximately five weeks, both Josue and Alison were growing well – with this supplementation.
The combination of breastfeeding and supplemental formula appears to be helping, but the cost of feeding twins remains a substantial challenge.
Our goal is to help relieve that burden so that Antonia can continue breastfeeding while ensuring both babies receive the nutrition they need during this critical first year.
Looking Ahead
For both families, our support extends far beyond formula alone.
We continue to provide:
- Growth monitoring
- Breastfeeding support
- Maternal nutrition assistance
- Education regarding safe formula preparation
- Guidance on introducing complementary foods after six months
- Ongoing follow-up and community support
- So much prayer and spiritual encouragement!!!
Formula use in remote communities brings unique challenges, including safe water access, sterilization, transportation, and cost. We will continue walking alongside these families to help them use supplemental feeding safely while strengthening maternal health and breastfeeding whenever possible.
Shared below is our Campaign Goal
Q14,000 ($1,800)
This funding will provide supplemental NAN formula for these three precious babies throughout their first year of life while continuing to support their mothers’ breastfeeding efforts. Following this, we will continue to be involved and include other forms of nutritional supplementation as they eat more and more rounded diets.
Please check out and share the formula campaign link below!
https://www.missiongo.org/confirmation/daniel-and-katie-cabrera-3: Three Babies, Two Families, One Community of SupportFollow Their Journey
We provide more detailed updates, photos, prayer requests, and stories through a private Facebook group, this blog, and newsletters.
To request access, please contact:
katie@hopeforhome.org
or send a direct message to Daniel or Katie through Facebook or another available means of communication.
Please do not request access through public comments so that these families’ privacy can be protected.
A Final Request
Whether or not you are able to support this project financially, we ask that you join us in praying for these families.
Please pray:
- For healthy growth and development for all three babies.
- For continued milk supply and good health for both mothers.
- For wisdom as they navigate infant feeding and nutrition.
- For protection from illness and infection.
- For safe access to healthcare when needed.
- For God’s provision for every need, both physical and spiritual.
- For encouragement and peace for these families as they care for their little ones.
Your prayers are a meaningful part of supporting these families, and we are grateful for every person who stands with them in this way.
Formula Campaign Link:
https://www.missiongo.org/confirmation/daniel-and-katie-cabrera-3
