When Rainbow Network first met Dori Luz in September 2001, she weighed only three pounds. She was three months old, and could be held in the palm of your hand.
Her grandmother, who had never even ridden in a vehicle, boarded the bus with baby Dori Luz in her hand, and begged a Rainbow Network physician to save her granddaughter's life.
Before Rainbow Network, there was not a public health clinic or a doctor in her community. Dori Luz's mother, a single mom with little income, had given Dori Luz to her grandparents for them to raise her.
Dori Luz was suffering from severe malnutrition, dehydration and skin problems. She was so fragile, that she could not eat or drink anything, and continued to cry "without any tears" due to her extreme physical conditions.
Dori Luz's family prepared for the worst to happen: tiny Dori Luz may not survive.
The Rainbow Network medical team moved quickly to address Dori Luz's needs. She was set up on a strict nutrition plan tailored to treat her malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies. Dori Luz was transported to the hospital, where she stayed for several months while she regained her strength.
Dori Luz grew to be a happy, healthy teenager who excelled in school. In 2015, she became a Rainbow Network scholarship student and was overjoyed to have the opportunity to attend high school. She taught primary children in a colectivo, and she assisted at her grandma's pulperia (a small store). In 2019, she graduated from high school!
Dori Luz is now able to live a full life. She enjoys learning, playing sports, and laughing with friends. Rainbow Network has given her a new future!
