This week our pediatrician at Hospital delRio saw two of our patients. First was 6 year old Angel who has a lump on his neck. Upon examination it was determined it is a benign tumor most likely cause by and infection. Dr. Niera assured mom that it will not grow and is not dangerous. Should it cause pain or problems down the line, surgery would be an option.
Next was 3 year old Domenic, referred to us by Rocio from CETAP Lucy. Domenic was having trouble breathing and getting fevers. Dr. Niera determined he has an allergic reaction to the dust and heat inside the house. We purchased some medicine and hopefully he will be fine.

This week the public hospital (Vicente Corral Moscoso) is hosting Fundacion Rostros Felices, HKIE, and ReSurge International from Stanford University Medical School to create ears for 12 children.
The team will perform 4 surgeries each day....the surgeries taking approximately 3 1/2 hours. Today we watched
Dr. Fernando Quintana Jedermann from Guayaquil and Dr Pablo Javier Salamea Molina create an ear on a 6 year old born with Microtia...a condition where the ear is barely formed. It was an amazing process to watch these two doctors take 2 pieces of rib cartilage, form them together in the shape of the child's other ear and insert it under the skin!
He will have a second cosmetic surgery to make to complete the process. These surgeons are all Michaelangelos with a scalpel!
ReSurge.org have been taking surgical teams around the world for 50 years not only performing surgeries, but also training surgeons in third world countries on the proper techniques for plastic/reconstructive procedures.

Remember our Super Bowl Party? Well, thanks to Jennifer Cory, Jim Cory, Brian Hitsky, Robin Littlepage and Brad Littlepage and all the great folks who partipated and bid on the raffle, two little girls are in the process of gaining a better life!
Yesterday Little 18 day old Angelita from Cotocachi was fitted for a mouth prosthesis by Dra Mariela Siguencia. This will enable her to eat and drink correctly until she can have her cleft lip surgery in about 3 months. Dr Pablo Salamea attended to explain the surgery process and also ordered serveral tests to evaluate her health.
Last week Dra Mariela created a prosthesis for 9 year old Sarahi from Machala.Her cleft palate had never been repaired and at 9 years old she is unable to speak. The prosthesis ( think of our old style retainers ! ) fits tight against her palate...she is beginning speech therapy and will have her palate repaired soon.
Thank you Dra Mariela Elisa Siguencia, Dr Pablo Javier Salamea Molina, Hospital del Rio and all our donors who make these little miracles happen

This past week while dropping some articles off at Hogar del Esperanza, Gary introduced us to a sweet family from Columbia who had been living under bridge for a month. He explained that three of the children, ages 11, 9 and 7 had some very bothersome dermatological issues.
We got the three into our dermatologist Dra Yadira Tapia at Hospital del Rio the following morning. After examining all three, we purchased the needed medicines (following a thorough explanation by Dra Yadira). The children will do a follow up in a couple weeks.
Thnaks to our donors and our volunteer doctors at Hospital del Rio this sweet, thankful family is on their way to a healthier life

First is 20 day old Maria Paz who has a very severe cleft lip making it impossible for her to feed adequately. Dra Mariela Siguencia of Hospital del Rio fashioned a custom prosthetic for her mouth enabling her to eat until her surgery at 3 months.
Next is little Carlitos who just completed his 10th corticoid surgery to lessen and soften his severe scarring, especially on his lower face. he will now be ready for surgery to remove the scar. More on him later.
Then we have shown Dr Juan-Carlos Salamea-Molina (Dr Pablo's brother) of Hospital del Rio with Josue Cristopher and mom before having his surgery on a private area causing him pain and infection.
All of this again made possible by our loyal supporters, the generosity of our doctors and Hospital del Rio. The children and families send a huge thank you!

This is 13 year old Rolando. When he was 4 years old, he was run over by a bus and lost both his legs. Since that time he has been confined to a wheelchair or needed to be carried.
Thanks to Prostesis Imbambura and our HKIE supporters, Rolando has been fitted with 2 full prosthetic legs. It will take him a while to learn how to walk ,but he and his family are feeling so blessed to have recieved this life changing gift!
Again, many thanks to our donors and Prostesis Imbambura.