Maakes' story

Maakes is 1 year, 7 months and weighs 4.4 kg. He has severe malnutrition related to a very sick mom. Malnutrition is ugly and for most situations, is avoidable. Zambia has not had drought (for 2011). There is food out in the bush if you are resourceful - which most Zambians are and can keep their families relatively healthy even when the garden has mostly failed. So whats gone wrong with Maakes? The mom has been declared sick by the family. She's been bewitched, by a man who had bewitched her mother and her mother's mother, and another relative. That relative died. The belief in witchcraft is costly ~ for Maakes, it has almost cost him his life. At 19 months old he could hardly hold his head up a month ago. He is now in the care of his young granny, Molly(see photo) who has removed the child from his mother who hasn't been able to provide care for Maakes for over a year. Maakes has been "surviving" off sugar water - since he hasn't been breastfed for over a year and the cowsmilk supply had also dried up. Molly is now coming for the milk program monthly to supplement Maake`s diet and has stayed with us at Kasensa for a couple of weeks in order for us to take Maakes to the clinic and to monitor care and feeding. Maakes is now 5.0 kg, has been on 3 antibiotics to clear up his chronic diarrhea, and is now able to sit independently. Yesterday, they went back to their village and will return to us on the 15th of January for the milk program. There are many questions you may have about this! Feel free to write or talk to us when we return to Canada in a few months! In the meantime, continue to pray for Maakes and his family and that his family can break free from the stronghold of witchcraft and its hold on the family. Maake's granny is SO grateful for the help Maakes is receiving. PS - Molly, (granny) blessed us with this bucket of veg that she grew! Twalumba, Molly!