This is 11 year old Xavier with his mom. He was brought to our attention by Rocio Cetap Illescas of CETAP Lucy school in Chilcbamba. We were told he had a severe eye problem and could we get him seen as soon as possible. Thanks to Exilaser for getting him in almost immediately!Xavier had a regular eye test and was told to return for a special testing including that for glaucoma. It was determined that in addition to having severe vis...ion problems he also has a touch of glaucoma.
HKIE got him medication and ordered his special lenses which he will receive this week. He is shown here with the frames he chose......he was literally hopping up and down with a grin from ear to ear after trying on the frames.....knowing he will finally be able to see!
Another miracle of vision thanks to all our HKIE donors.

This is Junior...a sweet 3 year old who suffered a stroke at birth.
His muscle coordination is severely impaired, making it difficult to hold his head up or sit up on his own. We saw him recently and he seems to be improving....​Junior was in need of a chair designed to fit his body and allow his legs to grow normally and keep his spine straight. The back of the chair can be adjusted for his comfort and his physical therapy sessions. As he gets older and his body grows, the chair can be adjusted accordingly.
Look at that smile! You think he likes his new comfortable chair?
​Junior and his family are very thankful to our loyal HKIE supporters for providing this specialized chair.

 This is Cristian, an eleven year old boy from Gualaceo. From birth he has suffered with photophobia ( super sensitivity to sunlight) that causes a lot of pain when he goes outdoors. When he does venture out of his house, he walks bent over with his face covered with his hoodie, hat down to his eyebrows and his hands!
Today at the Exilaser clinic in Cuenca, he received his temporary dark glasses. His permanent glasses with special prescription transition lenses should be available later this week. After much coaxing and encouragement from the medical staff and his mother, Cristian walked out of the clinic standing up straight with his head high and with his face uncovered for the first time in his life!
​Now that he can walk normally, he will also avoid future back problems. To say the least, today was a very happy day for Cristian and his mother.

...is Batista, a four month old boy from La Liberdad near Salinas, along with his parents.
Batista was born with hydrocephaly ( water on the brain) and several weeks ago his parents were informed he needed urgent surgery or he would suffer brain damage.
​Luis Galarza, our HKIE board member from the coast, coordinated between the parents, Sister Veronica from Palmar and Hospital Roberto Gilbert in Guayaquil. Yesterday Batista received his life changing surgery. He will remain in the hospital under observation for two weeks. Please keep him and his parents in your thoughts and prayers.
We want to thank all of our loyal HKIE supporters for making this surgery possible!

One month old Mateo was born with a severe cleft lip. Dra Mariela Elisa Siguencia fashioned a special plate for him to use until Dr Pablo Salamea Molina can perform corrective surgery when Mateo is three months old.
As she has done for HKIE on all the previous patients, Dra Siquencia waived her fees and provided the protective plate at her cost. Thank you!
Mateo will not face a future having difficulty chewing food or speaking clearly. Also, with his cleft lip corrected, he will not go through life with self esteem issues!
​A huge thank you goes out to our loyal HKIE supporters for making Mateo's upcoming life changing surgery possible!

Update from Helping Kids in Ecuador (HKIE) patient # 223
This is three month old Juan David. He was born with Glaucoma in both eyes.Yesterday morning, Dr Renee Cabrera from Soi Optica, performed the surgery at the Hogar Del Ecuador clinic.
While the surgery went well, this is a very difficult case that will require additional surgeries. Without medical care, Juan David would be blind for his entire life. Hopefully he will have sight in at least one eye.Dr Cabrera waived his fees.
Thank you Dr Cabrera
This is our first patient working with Hogar Del Ecuador. We will have more information about this outstanding foundation in a future post. We will post more information on Juan David's progress. The fight to save his eyesight has begun!