Pictured is 17 year old Kevin, born with spina bifida. He was given braces over 5 year ago but has obviously outgrown them since then. So he was spending most of his time in his wheelchair. HKIE and Protesis Ibabura got him fitted with new braces to enable him to walk comfortbly.
Our other child is 16 year old Ariel who was born missing the lower part of one leg. He comes from a little town outside of Ibarra, living alone with his infirm mother who is unable to work. He also needed an updated fitting as his leg had outgrown his old prosthesis. He is shown walking on his new leg.
Thanks to Protesis Imbabura and our loyal supporters, these two young men can again be independent.

​This is 6 year old Pedro who was born with Cerebral Palsy type symptoms. He is fairly mobile and the therapist at his special school had strongly recommended the use of a TENS unit to stimulate his muscles and nerves on his legs to enable him to walk. Here he is wearing the unit just minutes after purchase.
Mom was extremely proactive in running down the best source to purchase the unit.
Hopefully this device, along with his physical therapy, will greatly improve Pedro's mobility and ability to live a more normal life
.
Thanks to all our supporters making these little miracles possible.

"Hip, Hip, Hooray!"
Pictured is 10 month old Martin from Riobamba. He has misaligned hips. His father contacted us for help with a brace because several years ago HKIE provided his older brother Juan Francisco with 2 life saving kidney surgeries. Papa keeps in touch..also shown is a healthy Juan Francisco ...with his hat...always....and his twin )
Also pictured is 8 month old Lupita who also has misaligned hips. Today she recieved her specially made braces.
Both these children will now be able to grow up and walk correctly, thanks to the help of our HKIE supporters!

Pictured is 6 year old Amelia, along with her mother, Karina and Dr Gustavo Ochoa Ramirez. 
Karina noticed her daughter's left foot and leg began turning inward soon after walking. For over three years Karin has spent time and money seeking a definitive diagnosis and help for her little girl.
Monday evening they arrived to the Emaus House from Salinas where they spent the night. Yesterday we took them to Dr. Ochoa's office at Clinica de Fracturas. Dr. Ochoa (Having already seen the requested MRI and xrays) spent over 40 minutes talking with Karina and explaining exactly the problem and the "cure". Amelia has Blounts Syndrome and will need 2 surgeries....the first to insert a type of pin to force the one side of her bone not to grow so the other side can "catch up". The second surgery will insert a piece in her knee joint that is missing...thus insuring her leg will be straight.
Amelia and her mom will return to Cuenca within the next week or so for the first surgery and the first step to a pain free normal life.
Thanks to Dr. Ochoa and our supporters for making these surgeries happen!

This is 14 year old Marcelino from Ibarra who was born without legs. He has lived in a community home for the past 7 years due to his family"s drug and alcohol addiction.
The community has asked Prostesis Imbabura to provide him with 2 prosthetic legs. HKIE works closely with Prostesis Imbabura and they asked for our help to provide this young man with functioning prosthetics. Also needed are special sleeves to protect his stumps as he has never worn a prosthetic.
Imagine how thrilled he is knowing he will soon be able to walk for the first time in his life!
The community and government have declared this young man adoptable. However, without legs and mobility the chances of adoption are slim. Marcelino loves to be active and with these prosthetics he can more easily move, play and become an active member of society. We hope and pray that this young man will now be able to become part of a loving family.
We will update you on this brave young man's progress!

This is 2 1/2 year old Johan. He had foot surgery 2 months ago through our coastal coordinator Sister Veronica Kim. Johan had severely pronated feet. Following surgery HKIE was asked if we could provide him with special orthopedic shoes to insure that his feet grow properly. Johan can now learn to walk and run correctly.
Thanks to all our HKIE supporters who made this small miracle possible.

This is 10 year old Eduardo Daniel. He has a degenerative muscular and spinal disease and needs 2 hand, 2 leg and one body brace to aid him in his mobility.. His family is so excited that thanks to our HKIE donors and Prostesis Imbabura in Ibarra, their son will have the aids needed to help Eduardo lead a more normal life.
Thank you HKIE donors and supporters!!

This is 16 year old Hilda. Hilda was born with a malormed hip and unfortunately her parents were told she neede to wait til she was older to get it corrected.
Dr.Gustavo Ochoa examined her and determined she will need a hip replacement, but if done now she would most likely need at least two more. In the hopes of easing her pain he determined that special orthopedic shoes may help until she is in her early 20's and suitable for surgery.
Her special shoes need to lift the one foot almost 2 inches. The shoe was made to Hilda's specs, so no one could tell she needed special shoes. We are all hoping and praying these shoes will help her live a good life while she awaits surgery.

This is 8 year old Camilla from Cotacachi. She was born ith cerebral palsy and is struggling to learn to stand and walk on her own.
HKIE was contacted with the request for braces and a "stand". Prostesis Imbabura formed the braces and stand for us. Camilla and her family are hoping this will help her mobility. The goal is to be able to join the Cotacachi special olympic cheer squad in Adu Dabai and Florida this coming spring.
Thanks to our supporters Camilla has a chance to have her dream come true!

This is 15 year old Brianna. She lost her leg several years ago to cancer. Unfortunately her leg was not correctly prepared for a prosthesis, so Brianna was forced to use crutches or a wheelchair.
Thanks to our HKIE supporters and a generous discount from Hospital Metropolitano in Quito, Brianna's leg has been surgically repaired and she will now be able to receive a prosthetic leg and will be able to walk on her own in no time!