News from the Nutrition Center

I  have been enjoying my time at the Nutrition Center the most. So, three weeks ago I brought a Swiss girl, Bigna, who is working at COPPROME to come work with me at the Nutrition Center in the mornings. She was really impressed during her first visit. I could see in her eyes what she felt because I had the same feelings on my first day working with the babies. At first, it is really shocking and depressing to see such malnourished babies. One of the saddest things that I have realized is that the babies don't get enough love in their homes. They deserve all the love and food that children need to grow, but they just don't get it. So that is what we try to give them at the Nutrition Center.

Since I've been working there, several babies have left the center, including my favorite boy, Nelson. He is the one who threw up AND peed on me in the same day. He is also one of the babies living with AIDS. I am worried that he is going back to live with his mother because he will not get the same type of care that he gets from the women at the Nutrition Center. I am sad that I did not get to say goodbye before he left, but I will think about him often and I wish the best for his future.

ALSO, I'M FAMOUS! All over Progreso people recognize me as "the tall gringo who was on the television." While I was working at the Nutrition Center one day, a camera crew from the local television station came to interview the staff because a new boy, Jason, had just left the hospital and entered the Nutrition Center. It was a big deal that Jason was well enough to leave the hospital, but he is still very small. Although Jason had been in the newspaper for a month before my television debut, that day "the tall gringo at the Nutrition Center" was the main attraction. Now, wherever I go people treat me like I'm a celebrity.

Signed,

Reto