Ok, this is a tough one to post. Just think what this family went through everyday!
This is 16 year old Karina who was born with glaucoma and lost her eyes at a very young age. As hard as it is to look at the before picture, imagine the family seeing their precious child like that. She was such an object of ridicule in her village she stopped leaving her house years ago and never attended any school.
Thanks to our supporters, Dra Mariela Elisa Siguencia and Hospital del Rio, Karina now has a new look and can now leave her house with her family. After a few months her eye socket and muscles will adjust to her new eyes and it will she will look even better.
As you can imagine, Karina's mother was overjoyed and thankful that a group of expats were willing to help her child in such a dramatic way.
Along with Dra Mariela, will be be looking for a special school for her to attend and be able to spend time with kids with other disabilities and perhaps have friends for the first time in her life!

Shown is Yesly, a 3 month old from Loja, with her mother. Yesly had a severe cleft lip; in fact Dr. Pablo Javier Salamea Molina said it was one of his more difficult cases! The family spent several days at our Emaus House to rest and ensure all was well. Thankfully this little girl will grow up without the stigma of a severe cleft lip!
Also is Juan Carlos, a 14 year old who lost both eyes to hereditary glaucoma at a very young age. Dra. Mariela Elisa Siguencia created a prosthetic eye of which he is very proud. Unfortunately we were only able to provide him with one eye, as a prosthetic in the other proved too painful. Never the less he is one happy young man, as you can see from the photo.
Thanks to Dr. Pablo, Dra Mariela, and all our HKIE supporters, two more children's lives were changed for the better.
Also, a huge thank you goes out to Hospital del Rio for providing HKIE with a signiciant discount!

Our colaboration with Exilaser continues to grow! The entire Exilaser staff are such a pleasure to work with!
This is 15 year old Cristina (also shown with her uncle and aunt). She comes from a small community outside Gualaceo of many blind and partially sighted people, mostly due to genetic problems.
When her family realized she was having headaches and poor vision, they naturally feared the worst! Fortunately, a visit and exam at Exilser showed she needed eye drops and glasses only.
Another happy HKIE and Exilaser moment.
Thank you Exilaser, Drs Miotto and Torres for your generosity with our children. And of course, thanks to all our donors who make this possible!

Another child's vision saved!
This is 15 year old Nathaly...shown with her mother and Dr. Guiseppi Miotto ( also is Dr Miotto during the Surgery).
Nathaly suffered from Keratoconus in both eyes. it is a codition in which the clear tissue on the cornea bulges outward, causing blurred vision and high sensitivity to light and glare. Today Dr. Miotto of Exilaser implanted 2 corneal rings which will flatten the cornea and thereby removing the blurred vision and light sensitivity.
Mom was crying tears of joy and thanks this morning...what a Christmas gift to Nathaly and the family! Many thanks To Dr. Miotto of Exilaser for his skill and generous heart. And of course huge thanks to our supporters who made this Christmas present possible! The gift of sight!
Also pictured is young Juan David who was born with glaucoma. HKIE has been helping with special eye drops (and a previous 2 surgeries) and his vision remains clear!

Pictured is child 384, 5 year old Maykol, who had his eye removed several years ago due to cancer. It was necessary to wait until he was through with all his chemo before he could recieve a prosthetic eye. Due to the waiting period between the eye removal and now, his eye socket needed surgery with Dra Mariela Siguencia to prepare him for his prosthethic eye.
Maykol was referred to HKIE and Dra Siguencia by the Solca Cancer Hospital in Cuenca.
Also, this week, little Carlitos had his 6th surgical procedure on his scars. What a brave little boy. All six surgeries were performed by Dr Pablo.
Today, our little cutie Jandry, was to have his surgery on the other side for his webbed hands and feet. (The results from the first surgery are so incredible you cannot tell anything was done.)
Unfortunately his hemoglobin count was too low; this afternoon he will see our pediatrician Dr Niera at Hospital del Rio. Jandry will be provided with supplements and return in a month or two for some more blood work.
Our last child is young Roberto who recieved his prosthetic eye 2 years ago and saw Dra Mariela the other day for a check up. He is doing great!
All these children have a better future thanks to our supporters and our doctors! Thanks!

For Child 372 to 383 see our facebook page under Mary Freeman. 
HKIE accompanied Fundacion Rostros Felices to Puerto Viejo for a 3 day medical mission.

A First for HKIE
This is 2 1/2 year old Kimberly who lives about 5 hours north of Cuenca. She was born with an extra vein between her heart and lungs, causing oxygenated and deoxygenated blood to mix. This in turn caused her lungs to work overtime to provide her little body with enough oxygen rich blood.
Without this surgery, Kimberly's long term prospects was not very promising
HKIE was contacted by Dr Rodrigo Mendoza and Dra Semeramis Portillo of Hospital del Rio. They explained Kimberly's condition and the inabliity of the parents to pay for heart surgery. Kimberly had her surgery (which cut and sutured both ends of the extra vein) on Tuesday and she is now on her way home to live a normal and healthy life.
Pictured is part of the cardiology team...left to right Dr Mendoza, Dra Portillo, Dr. Juan Flores, Kimberly and mom. Not shown: Dra Cristina Vintimilla and Dr Guillermo Lopez.
HKIE and the family want to sincerely thank Hospital del Rio and the doctors for giving HKIE a significant discount for this surgery and of course huge thanks to our supporters, without whom this would not have happened.
A huge huge thank you goes out to Dr Pablo for working with the hospital administration and the surgical team to make this surgery a reality.

This is 4 year old Andres from the Cotacachi area. He was born with a condition called Macroglossia. As you can see his condition makes speaking impossible. The only way he can eat is with his parents holding his tongue down and putting soft food at the back of his mouth to swallow.
The expat community in that area held a fundraiser to help little Andres, but he needs at least 3 months of medical treatment through Hospital Metropolitano in Quito. Then the doctors will reevaluate his case to see if surgery is possible.
HKIE has wrapped this young man in our "blanket" to insure he gets the care needed. How could we say no? Andres and his family has HKIE and our loyal donors ready to help!
Thanks to Paulette Mayfield for bringing him to our attention and to all of the people who attended their fundraiser.