​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.

l​This is 15 year old Santiago who underwent chemo for leukemia at the Solca Hospital here in Cuenca. During his treatments he contracted herpes which seems to attack the eyes in young people. The disease has caused the inability to see out of his right eye.
HKIE was contacted and we had him examined by Dr. Miotto at Exilaser. It has been determined he needs a cornea transplant. Dr. Miotto stated this will be a difficult surgery because his cornea is partially attached to the iris; but Dr. Miotto says he would still recommend the surgery.
Santiago has been placed on the government cornea list and we are hopeful he can have his surgery within the next few months. Both Santiago and his father are anxious and grateful to all.

​Update from HKIE
A note of thanks from Miguel our 7 year old patient (#438) who received a partial esophageal transplant 2 weeks ago. No words we can say can match this except thank you to all who made this miracle happen. He is now home eating and enjoying regular food. He will no longer need a feeding tube for the rest of his life!
Running any foundation you will have a few bad days. Receiving a personal thank you note from our patients reminds all of us at HKIE and our supporters that what we do means so much to our children.

​Meet 7 year old Miguel Valencia from the Quito area. We were introduced to him via our friend at Hospital Metropolitano in Quito. While discussing another matter she told us the story of this young boy who desperately needed surgery. About two years ago, late one night, Miguel mistook a bottle containing a corrosive cleaner for a drink. The upper part of his esophagus was totally destroyed. The first hospital he was rushed to said nothing could be done. His parents got him to another hospital where they inserted a feeding tube and the doctors told Miguel and his parents that was how he would live his life...never again tasting food or drink!
Fortunately Miguel came to the attention of the doctors at Metropolitano. While it is a fairly new procedure, the doctors and parents decided an esophageal replacement could be the answer.
This was a complicated eight hour surgery!
Great News! HKIE was just notified by the hospital that not only is Miguel out of intensive care, he is eating solids for the first time since the accident and thoroughly enjoying every bite! Miguel is due to return home safely on Friday.
Thanks to the staff at Metropolitano who donated their services, and the generous donors of HKIE, this young man will now be able to live and enjoy a normal life!
The dramatic increase in the quality of his life is beyond words!