​We are pleased to announce that Jim and Jennifer
Cory
have joined our HKIE Cuenca team. They will initially be helping us with patient coordination and future fundraising campaigns. They will be bringing a high level of energy and commitment to our efforts of helping the less fortunate children in Ecuador. They are not new to HKIE; Jim and Jennifer, along with some of their friends, hosted a very successful Super Bowl fundraising event last year!
Please welcome them to the HKIE team!

​Today was busy for HKIE and Exilaser. We received a call early this am about a young boy from Gualaceo with severe eye pain. We told the family to come to Exilaser ASAP.Thanks to Dra Nataly Torres (and the crew) at Exilaser, we were able to get little 5 year old Alexis squeezed in for an exam. Dra Nataly diagnosed him with scar tissue on one eye and gave him drops for the pain. We will have a follow up on Monday with Dr. Miotto to determine if there is any damage to the cornea.
Also today Exilaser saw 15 year old Pablo. After his exam Dr. Miotto determined that he is in desperate need of surgery. His eyesight with the best corrective lens is 50% and Dr. miotto said that if left untreated his eyesight would continue to deteriorate most likely be total blind in a few years. CAN'T LET THAN HAPPEN, CAN WE?
Pablo is set for surgery on both eyes this Thursday. Then in 3 months he will need a follow up surgery to prevent any further deterioration.
Thanks to a generous discount from Exilaser and all of our faithful donors, 2 children will not lose their eyesight. Two very happy and thankful families!

​Update from Helping Kids in Ecuador (HKIE)
Both of these kiddos are from Salinas. The baby with the severe cleft lip was referred to HKIE by Sister Veronica Kim from the Palmar Medical Clinic. While this will be a difficult case, Dr Pablo Salamea Molina will perform the surgery and she will grow up with a beautiful smile and be able to speak clearly!
The second child was referred to HKIE by
Dodie Schadlich
before the lockdown. She was born with deformed legs making it impossible to learn to walk. She has been on our minds the last few months. She will be examined by Dr Gustavo Ochoa at Clinica Fracturas to determine if she is a good candidate for surgery. We PRAY and hope she is! If she is cleared for surgery by Dr Ochoa, he will determine if one or two surgeries for each leg will be needed.
The HKIE team will do whatever it takes to give this little cutie the chance to walk and run with other children and have a normal life!
Because of our VERY loyal donors we can provide funding for the surgeries for both of these little ones.

​This is little 4 month old Damien from Troncal, a very lucky little boy who will now be able to grow up without the stigma and problems associated with a cleft lip. His parents (shown here with Dra Nicole) are so thankful for the HKIE supporters and doctors who made this dream come true for their little one!

​This is little 7 month old Angelina from the Cotacachi area. She had been scheduled for her cleft lip surgery in March, which unfortunately had to be postponed due to the Covid lockdown.
HKIE arranged to have all her pre surgery testing done near home and the family came in for the surgery on the 10th. As Emaus is still closed, Posada del Angel (Mangiare Bene restaurant) on Simon Bolivar gave us a deal to house them for the night following surgery.
Dr Pablo Salamea Molina performed the surgery on the 10th. As you can tell from the picture of her pre surgery, this was a very difficult case. Yet just 10 days later one can see what a beautiful job was done and that this little "angel" will grow up to be quite a beauty.
Even after all of the years working with Dr Pablo, it still amazes us to see what he can do in a two hour surgery with a scalpel in his talented hands! The before and after pictures says it all!
Needless to say, her parents were thrilled to have their precious little one healed. The father creates leather goods and had a gift for all of us.

​This is 11 month old Pablito. Pablito was born 3 months premature and after several months developed hydrocephalus. The doctors put a shunt into his brain but it recently became partially blocked causing undue pressure and infections.
HKIE took Pablito to our Pablo, Dr.
Pablo Javier Salamea Molina
. Dr Pablo talk with surgeons at two other hospitals and the decision was made that he should have the surgery at Del Rio. His case was deemed an emergency and Pablito was admitted through the ER.
Also pictured is 4 year old Danny who has needed life saving
anti- seizure medication. The doctor feels that he has just about outgrown the danger, but in the meantime the medicines have allowed him to grow into a healthy young boy.
Thanks to Hospital del Rio, the doctors and our supporters for allowing HKIE to help these children and their families.

This is 7 day old Maria Celeste. Maria was born with such a severe cleft lip, she was unable to eat or breathe efficiently.
Dra. Mariela Elisa Siguencia fashioned (under anesthesia) a special prosthetic for Maria Celeste's mouth that will enable her to drink and breathe until she reaches the age of 3 months. At that point Dr. Pablo Javier Salamea Molina
will be able to repair her cleft lip.
Thanks to Dra. Mariela, Hospital del Rio and all our supporters.

​First is little 2 year old Lian who suffered from a cleft palate. Dr.
Pablo Javier Salamea Molina
repaired the palate 2 weeks ago. Lian's mother is very happy her son was able to receive this corrective surgery.
Also treated is 2 year 4 month old Felix, shown with Dra.
Nicole Solano
, Dr. Pablo's assistant and also with his mother. Felix too had a cleft palate that Dr. Pablo repaired this past week.
Both boys can now grow up speaking correctly and not have the added problem of food going up into their nasal passages. Thanks to Dr. Pablo, Hospital del Rio, and our supporters, these two children will have the chance to lead normal, productive lives.
A huge thank you goes out to Hospital Del Rio for providing HKIE with significant discounts for both surgeries!

This is 11 year old Valentin who had his eye removed following blindness from glaucoma.
He is shown here with Dra
Mariela Elisa Siguencia
at Hospital Del Rio who fashioned a prosthetic eye for him. Valentin is so excited to now look like all of his friends...without having an empty eye socket.
His new eye looks so normal!
Thanks to Dra Mariela for donating her medical fees and all our donors for making this happen..

​This is 15 year old John David whose parents were unable to get his cleft lip repaired when he was younger. HKIE was contacted and Dr.
Pablo Javier Salamea Molina repaired his lip. Now this young man will be able to continue his life without the stigma of a cleft lip.
Also shown is 14 year old Christopher whose leg was severely injured in an accident several years ago. The pain had become severe and is causing him to walk incorrectly.
Rocio Illescas from Lucy Cetap
contacted HKIE in the hopes of getting him some needed therapy. Dr. Quezada, who offered a significant discount is shown giving Christopher a tens unit therapy...this first of 10 therapies to improve the quality of his life.
Thanks to the doctors, Hospital del Rio, and our supporters for giving these young men the opportunity to live normal lives.