An I.V. had to be inserted into her head because all of her other veins were collapsed from dehydration.

As I stood watching helplessly, all I could think of was:

“What would I do if this was my child?”

One evening last month when I was in Uganda, I met a beautiful little girl named Violet at the Bishop Asili Hospital. She was seven months old and was just fat enough to let you know that she was well taken care of.

As soon as her eyes met mine, she turned to her mother, as if to ask, “who is this very different-looking creature?”

I was probably the first and last white woman she would ever see.

Dr. Charles Lwanga was trying to locate a vein anywhere on Violet’s tiny body to begin hydration and first line Malaria treatment. A lab test had diagnosed her with Malaria. The fluid depletion caused by high fever and other symptoms of Malaria make a baby’s veins virtually disappear. Violet’s head had to be shaved in search of a vein that can be entered. Treatment can’t begin until a viable vein is located.

In Violet’s case, the treatment came too late. In the middle of the night, Violet passed away.

Malaria from the type of mosquito found in Uganda can kill in as little as 36 hours. Even faster in a little baby.

It was a grim day, if I were Violet’s mother, I couldn’t have gone forward with life. Period. End of Story. I would have lost my will to live. But it made my resolution even stronger to stop this preventable and treatable disease from ever affecting babies like Violet in the first place.

Every 30 seconds a child dies of Malaria, a completely preventable and treatable disease.

The Just Like My Child Foundation has already distributed enough insecticide-treated bed nets to protect 45,000 children under five and pregnant mothers. We’re making a huge impact, but we desperately need your help to continue to save the lives of babies like Violet.

It’s so easy to make difference, it’s kind of crazy.

What can you do? For the price of a mocha latte you can save a life.

It only costs $10 to distribute an insecticide-treated bed net that protects up to 3 children from the bite of a mosquito at night — the time when they are most active.

Three little girls receive their insecticide-treated bed nets

$10         = 3 children protected from Malaria
$100       = 30 children protected from Malaria
$1000     = 300 children protected from Malaria

We purchase the nets ourselves and make sure they get right to the families who need them most.

The Just Like My Child Foundation works directly with communities on the ground to get funding and programs to the people who need it most. We don’t work through corrupt governments, we know exactly where money is going, and we are achieving remarkable results.

Help us observe World Malaria Day with a tax-deductible donation to Just Like My Child Foundation to help save the lives of babies like Violet. We welcome of course any amount you want to give, we just want to hear from you.

We know these are challenging times, but there’s no limit to what we can do if we pull together.

With Warmest Wishes,
Vivian Glyck
Founder and Executive Director
Just Like My Child Foundation

www.JustLikeMyChild.org