Twin brothers Noah and Nahor started their lives in a critical condition with little hope of improvement - but thanks to early intervention from Open Arms and loving support from their family, they are defying the odds and looking forward to a much brighter future!
Born incredibly underweight (weighing a tiny 1.0kg and 1.1kg) in February 2023, Noah and Nahor spent the first 3 months of their lives in the hospital's Intensive Care Unit.
Though they stabilised enough to return home in May 2023, their condition sadly deteriorated further after they returned home as their mother simply could not produce enough breast milk to meet the nutritional needs of two newborns.
The hospital’s Social Welfare Officers referred the family to Open Arms in April 2024.
Though both boys were suffering from severe malnutrition, failing to thrive and in desperate need of support, Nahor’s condition was particularly critical. At 1 year and 4 months of age, his health was poor, he could not sit, stand or crawl and had missed several other important developmental milestones.
(Pictured right: Noah rests in his grandmother's lap.)
The family were placed on the Community-Based Care Programme and were immediately supported with formula milk and Likuni Phala – a fortified porridge flour. Though the boys started to improve, it was clear after a couple of months that their condition required additional treatment. Open Arms tailored its support to include special peanut butter-based protein supplements in the boys diets – used to treat severe acute malnutrition in young children.
After just 6 weeks following this nutritional programme, the difference in the boys’ health, appearance and energy levels is nothing short of remarkable!
Noah’s weight has increased to 9.3kg and he is now able to crawl, stand, walk and speak. Nahor has reached 7.3 kg, can sit and stand with support, and is beginning to utter a few words. They both love spending time with their mother, aunt, grandmother, siblings and cousins and the benefits of them being able to grow up with the love of their family will last a lifetime!
Both boys - Nahor especially - require ongoing support to ensure they achieve their developmental milestones. Open Arms remains committed to providing continued care and nutrition through its Community-Based Care initiative, ensuring they develop just like any other healthy children and their mother is supported in caring and providing for her children.
It is only through the generous donations of our supporters that Open Arms can step in and offer life-saving support to families such as this.
It costs just £15 to provide a 6-week course of the protein supplement that saved Noah and Nahor’s lives.
Anything you can give will help our team in Malawi to extend this critical support to more families in need.
And if you give before 12pm Tuesday 10th December, your gift will be DOUBLED by The Big Give!
Click the button below to find out more and to donate.
Thank you for your support!
Your donation will help children in Malawi grow up healthy with the love of a family
Donate