4 year old Edyn has spasticity, is a condition in which muscles stiffen or tighten, preventing normal fluid movement. His mother contacted us because he needed flexible splints for his legs in order to walk.

Between the coordination of our Director of Development and Communications Maite Mijares and  our coastal representative Luis Galarza, we sponsored Edyn and his parents trip from Machala, Oro Province in the coastal region to Protesis Imbabura in Ibarra, Tunguragua Province in the Andes. We also sponsored the splints done for him.

In two days they fashioned special boots to support his feet and ankles.

With practice he will have his folks running to catch up with him!

Thanks to Protesis Imbabura and all the donors for helping this sweet little boy!

Please ponsor a child with your donations, and be a part of these life changing experiences.

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This is 10 year old Stiven who was born with two deformed legs which did not allow him to walk or get around like other children.

Our treasurer, Luis Galarza was contacted by Protesis Imbabura in Ibarra to see if HKIE could supply prosthetics for this young man.

In the video you can see him taking his first steps. Look at the smile on his face!...what an accomplishment!

Thanks to Protesis Imbabura for their help and generous discount and to all our donors who make such miracles happen.

www.helpingkidsinecuador.org
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Fundación Rostros Felices-Cuenca
Hospital del Rio The primary hospital for HKIE & FRF-C
Dr Pablo Salamea Molina The Medical Director for HKIE & FRF-C

Heller is a two year old who had a severe cleft palate. (His cleft lip was repaired by Dr. Pablo Salamea a year and a half ago.) Dr. Pablo performed the second surgery this past week.

Diana is 4 months old with a severe cleft lip. She also had surgery with Dr. Pablo. 

Both  these children can now grow up eating and speaking properly thanks to our donors, Dr. Pablo and Hospital del Rio.
Just imagine how thankful and relieved the parents are that their children can now have a normal life and can go to school looking just like the other kids.
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​Nathaly is a 16 year old with severe myopia.

Dra Naty Torres at Exilaser reexamined her this past Friday and set her up on a regimen of eye therapy for 6 hours a day and prescribed new lenses.

Juan David at 3 1/2 was born with congenital glaucoma and HKIE sponsored his 2 eye surgeries.

Dra. Naty prescribed glasses...he was so excited he had a big smile on his face when he was tested and could see!

Thank you Exilaser, Dra. Naty and all our donors for helping these two children have improved vision!

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First is 13 year old Ariana. She was having palpitations and breathing problems. After confirming the problem was not her heart. HKIE got her to our pediatrician Dr. Neira at Hospital del Rio, who then recommended she see a pediatric endocrinologist. Following an ultrasound of Ariana's thyroid, it was discovered she has multiple cysts on her thyroid. The doctor prescribed 6 months of medicine which hopefully will do the trick. Otherwise Ariana (shown with her mom) will need surgery.

Another child was referred to us by Garry at Hogar de Esperanza. 14 year old Naomi suffered from "lazy eye" in both eyes making it difficult to read or see with both eyes moving around. Can you imagine going through life like that? Dr. Miotto from Exilaser performed surgery  on both eyes. All went well and Naomi, though she may need glasses after her eyes heal, will have normal vision.

Last is 10 year old Mariangelina. Mariangelina was also having vision problems. A quick trip to Exilaser with Jim and Jennifer Cory and a pair of glasses and Mariangelina is good to go.

Thanks to all our doctors and donors neither of these young ladies will go through life with limited vision.

14 year old Pablo had an eye condition which caused his corneas to bulge out in a cone shape, severely impairing his vision. Dr. Miotto of Exilaser reached out to HKIE as the parents were unable to afford a double eye surgery. Special rings were placed in his eyes. He is shown here post surgery with Dr. Miotto.

Also having surgery this last week was 5 year old Cristal. Before Christmas Cristal received a pair of glasses to take the strain off and improve the vision in her one eye. (Cristal's one eye was unformed at birth). The surgery last week was performed by Dr. Pablo Salamea and Dra. Mariela Siguencia to prepare her eye socket for a prosthetic eye which she will receive when her eye heals.
Cristal is shown reuniting with Jim Cory. Two children and two families who will have better lives thanks to our donors and the generosity of our doctors and hospitals.

Little 1 year 4 month old Franklin had been waiting for 2 months for the hospitals to clear enough to get his hernia surgery. Not being old enough to understand why he needed to wait...he was in a lot of pain. Thanks to Sister veronica Kim from Palmar and the Roberto Gilbert Hospital in Guayaquil, Franklin is now pain free. A thank you also goes out to Luis Galarza for working with the family to make this surgery happen.

2 year old Patricio had his severe cleft palate repaired by our own Pablo Salamea. His family is thankful he can now grow up eating and speaking correctly.