HKIE and Dr. Pablo Salamea have been very busy this past week with new patients!

First is 2 year old Adrian, needing cleft palate surgery. Dr. Pablo had corrected his cleft lip a little over a year ago and now after this surgery, Adrian will be able to eat and speak correctly.
Next is 5 year old Kenia. She too had a cleft palate which Dr. Pablo was asked to repair. Due to the fact her parents were unable to get Kenia's surgery at the normal age of 1 1/2 years, she will need lots of help improving her speech.
Finally is little Isabella. Some may remember her case...after birth she was hospitalized with oxygen...the canula scratched the inside of her nose. Isabella developed a severe infection which ate away most of the inside and outside of her nose. Dr. Pablo Salamea, Dra Mariella Siguencia, and Dr. Diego Maldonado have been working together to recreate her nose. This is her 8th surgery performed over the last two years...the doctors each time replacing the nasal prosthesis to enable her to breathe.
Little Isabella and her family are real troopers and are so thankful to HKIE and our donors, and the doctors for working so hard to return Isabella's life back to normal.

Two eye surgeons at Hospital del Rio asked Dr Pablo if HKIE would sponsor this child. Of course we said yes!
Little 8 year old Ariana's eye was injured from a rock, causing a film not unlike that from glaucoma to cover her cornea. Dra. Elizabeth Pacheco and her sister Dr. Michele Pacheco performed a corrective surgery and placed a special lens in her eye. The doctors report the surgery went very well and the patient and her family are so happy and relieved that her severe eye injury has been corrected. 
​A huge thank you goes out to the entire surgical team for waiving their fees and for the generous discount from Hospital del Rio.

Little 5 year old Zara has Down Syndrome, but also has very bad vision, creating further problems for her. We got her to Exilaser who neede to sedate her to do a thorough eye exam. After the exam Dra. Naty Torres determined that fortunately Zara only neede a pair of glasses to help her along her learning path. Jim and Jennifer Cory assisted HKIE on this appointment and said Zara is a real cutie.
Vicky is a 13 year old who has worsening vision from doing all her schoolwork on the computer. Vicky needed a completely new prescription and drops to ease her eyestrain. She also has very bad foot problems and needed a new pair of orthotics for her shoes as she is growing so much!
Last is a photo of Valentina and Dr. Diego Maldonado. Valentina had her adenoid surgery 10 days ago and a follow up this week. She is, at last, able to sleep through the night (which she had not done before due to severe breathing problems). According to Dr. Diego she will also have a growth spurt with her body receiving enough oxygen.!
​All three children can now look forward to leading normal lives thanks to our donors and doctors.

This young lady is Kimberly from the Salinas area, who has only been able to "walk" with aid or crutches. Thanks to the coordination of our Salinas rep, Luis Galarza, HKIE was able to get Kimberly up to Ibarra to be fitted with a prosthetic foot. Thank you, Luis! Kimimberly spent several days there being fitted and learning to walk with her new foot.
With this prosthetic, not only will Kimberly be mobile and Independent, but she will also avoid hip and back problems as she gets older.
The short video shows her walking for the first time.
Another child helped to have a more normal life thanks to our donors and Prosthesis Imbabura.

16 year old Lenin was brought to our attention by Rocio from CETAP Lucy. He had a severely infected ingrown toenail that Rocio was treating with alcohol and salt baths. This helped, but he needed further treatment. Dr. Pablo Salamea put him on heavy duty antibiotics and proceeded to remove the toenail.
Also pictured is 2 year old Adrian. dr. Pablo had performed cleft lip surgery on him 18 months ago  and this past Wednesday repaired his  cleft palate. Adrian's entire family, including his grandmother accompanied Adrian for support and to personally thank HKIE for helping little Adrian have a chance at a normal life. Jim and Jennifer Cory who assisted HKIE that day, say Adrian was having a great time, laughing and talking to all who were there.

We were asked by Garry of Hogar de Esperanza if we could help with 2 sisters staying at the hogar with their medical problems. Of course we were happy to do so.
On the 28th we took both girls to doctor appointments. Celeste at 12, was having eye problems. Dra. Naty Torres at Exilaser examined her and diagnosed severe eye strain from doing her schoolwork on a phone...and the need for glasses.  Jim and Jennifer met them at Exilaser.
Her sister, 5 year old Valentina was having headaches and nasal issues. Dr. Diego Maldonado, our ENT at Hospital del Rio, examined her and had xrays taken. Dr. Diego determined she had unusually large adenoids that should be removed. Her surgery was scheduled for the following Monday.
​Both these girls and their mother are thankful to all our donors for providing them with a better life.

This is 19 year old Diana. She was born with a malformed left eye. 8 years ago her parents were able to get her an "off the shelf" prosthetic eye which neither fit nor matched her other eye. She spent the last few years wearing her hair over her eye so no one would notice or make fun of her.
Diana's mother reached out to HKIE and Dra. Mariela Siguencia of Hospital del Rio fashioned a prosthetic eye to fit and match. As you can tell she looks great and this was HKIE's Christmas gift to her.
In  a few months she may need Dr. Pablo to perform minor surgery on her eye lid due to the improper fitting of her previous prosthetic. Needless to say, Diana is thrilled.

Also shown is Vicki, who in addition to poor vision, has a severe allegy in one eye, further impairing her vision. With medication it has improved and Dra. Naty Torres of Exilaser won't need to see her for another 6 months.

​These gifts to these children would not be possible without the support of our donors. Thanks!

Simple, urgent and life changing!

First is 14 year old Blanca who had a cyst at her left eye which was affecting her vision. Dr. Pablo performed the procedure to remove it under twilight and all is good!

Next is 3 year old Jandry who had been scheduled to have his webbed hand and foot repaired. However we received a call from his parents stating they had been told he needed another surgery immediately. He had a hydrocele (swollen and infected testicle) which could cause serious problems now and later in life. They came from the Ambato area several days later and Juan Carlos Molina (Pablo's brother) did the surgery. The family is now home awaiting their return for the little one's fingers and toes.

Last is 1 1/2 year old Roberta. Slightly over a year ago Dr. Pablo corrected her cleft lip. She came up this week for her cleft palate surgery. She will now have the opportunity to speak and eat without problems. 

​Needless to say, all the families are so grateful to our donors and doctors for these blessings.
Thanks!

Two more children benefitting from the skills and generosity of our Medical Director, Dr. Pablo Salamea Molina.

First is 2 year old Martin who had a cleft palate, which of course would have prevented him from eating and speaking correctly. We saw the family several days after the surgery and they are so happy with the results! he was ready for that surgery...zooming along in the wheelchair!

The second child blessed by Dr. Pablo's skill was Maria Celeste who had a very severe cleft lip. She had her corrective surgery yesterday and she too will be able to grow up like other children. Her family is from Gualaceo and were thankful and amazed that someone would help with their darling little girl.

​None of this happens without the support of our donors....thanks!​

First is14 year old Mar Alexandra who saw Dra. Naty Torres at Exilaser. Mar Alexandra told Dra. Naty she cannot ever remember seeing out of her left eye and just thought that was normal. Her myopia is twice as bad in her right eye...therefore her brain decided to concentrate on just her left eye. Dra Naty prescribed new lenses and a 6 hour a day therapy in which Mar's good eye is covered in the hopes of creating a stronger right eye.
Normally this therapy is done by the age of 7 but the doctor feels it is worth a try.

Also is 9 year old Belen. Most of her family have severe eye problems and even blindness, so fortunately all Belen needed was new lenses.

We thank all our donors who make this gift of vision to these two young girls possible.
​We also want to than D. Miotto, Dra. Naty and the entire Exilaser staff for always finding time for our kids and treating them with such loving cre.