​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..