​This past week we were able to get a few of our patients in for doctor visits.
First is 8 year old Fernando, from Ludo. After the normal vision test the doctor needed a more in depth study and ordered a CT of his eyes. It turns out Fernando has nystagmus: a condition in which eyes make repetitive, uncontrolled movements...making it difficult for vision and balance. He has had this condition since birth and Dr Miotto explained it could not be helped by surgery. Monday Fernando will have a follow up with Exilaser's pediatric specialist to be fitted for glasses to greatly improved his vision.
Next is Fernando's 9 year old sister Anita who also has vision problems from birth. The CT confirmed a loss in her field of vision. Anita is pictured wearing her new frames, awaiting delivery on her new lenses so she can have normal vision on Monday. Exilaser, as always, waived the fees for the vision tests.
Last is 13 year old Nayali, also from Ludo. She has had a hearing problem from birth and it was thought she may need new hearing aids. After a hearing test through our ENT, Dr. Diego Maldonado at Hospital Del Rio, it was decided to first try to re calibrate her old hearing aids before considering new ones.
Dr Diego ,as always, waived his fees!
Thanks to our loyal supporters and these generous doctors, the lives of three more children have been greatly improved.

First is young 5 year old Juan (whose sweet mother Mercedes does the cleaning of many expat homes). Juan's legs and feet were beginning to grow incorrectly....forcing him into a waddle like walk. A special brace was created (shown here on the outside of his clothes but to be worn inside) from his waist down to some orthopedic insoles. Hopefully this brace will do the trick and he will soon be running around like all his friends. To be on the safe side, we will have him examined by Dr Gustavo Ochoa, our orthopedic surgeon, as soon as possible.
Next is 12 year old Mateo from Ludo, a very small village about 45 minutes from Cuenca. Mateo was introduced to HKIE by the local priest Father Joseph and our neighbor Dina
Dina Lea Klotz
. He needed new lenses,, but upon the basic examination the doctor was concerned and performed a very complete ophthamologic exam. It turns out Mateo has Nistagmus, which causes his eyes to jump around making focusing very difficult. The doctor feels it is a condition from birth. Surgery can be an possible option if his special glasses do not do the trick, so at a later date we will get Mateo to see our doctors at Exilaser. In the meantime it is felt his new glasses, which he will receive next week, will do the trick.
He is shown here with his blanket donated by Dina and in his protective gear for the exam.
Both of these patients are works in progress and we will be there for both of them all the way.

Pictured is 10 year old Jaklin with her mom. She lives in a little community outside Gualaceo, where most of her relatives are blind or have minimal vision. Her eyesight is so bad she could not read the board at school. Now with her new glasses, she will be able to keep up with the rest of her classmates.
Also shown is 14 year old Xavier...some may remember our first encounter with him several years ago. He had been told he was going blind and to start studying braille. Now, about 4 years later, while he needs exceptionally strong lenses, he is still able to see and keep up in school.
Many thanks to our donors and to Dr. Miotto and his staff at Exilaser for working so generously with HKIE.

Ok, this is a tough one to post. Just think what this family went through everyday!
This is 16 year old Karina who was born with glaucoma and lost her eyes at a very young age. As hard as it is to look at the before picture, imagine the family seeing their precious child like that. She was such an object of ridicule in her village she stopped leaving her house years ago and never attended any school.
Thanks to our supporters, Dra Mariela Elisa Siguencia and Hospital del Rio, Karina now has a new look and can now leave her house with her family. After a few months her eye socket and muscles will adjust to her new eyes and it will she will look even better.
As you can imagine, Karina's mother was overjoyed and thankful that a group of expats were willing to help her child in such a dramatic way.
Along with Dra Mariela, will be be looking for a special school for her to attend and be able to spend time with kids with other disabilities and perhaps have friends for the first time in her life!

Our colaboration with Exilaser continues to grow! The entire Exilaser staff are such a pleasure to work with!
This is 15 year old Cristina (also shown with her uncle and aunt). She comes from a small community outside Gualaceo of many blind and partially sighted people, mostly due to genetic problems.
When her family realized she was having headaches and poor vision, they naturally feared the worst! Fortunately, a visit and exam at Exilser showed she needed eye drops and glasses only.
Another happy HKIE and Exilaser moment.
Thank you Exilaser, Drs Miotto and Torres for your generosity with our children. And of course, thanks to all our donors who make this possible!

Another child's vision saved!
This is 15 year old Nathaly...shown with her mother and Dr. Guiseppi Miotto ( also is Dr Miotto during the Surgery).
Nathaly suffered from Keratoconus in both eyes. it is a codition in which the clear tissue on the cornea bulges outward, causing blurred vision and high sensitivity to light and glare. Today Dr. Miotto of Exilaser implanted 2 corneal rings which will flatten the cornea and thereby removing the blurred vision and light sensitivity.
Mom was crying tears of joy and thanks this morning...what a Christmas gift to Nathaly and the family! Many thanks To Dr. Miotto of Exilaser for his skill and generous heart. And of course huge thanks to our supporters who made this Christmas present possible! The gift of sight!
Also pictured is young Juan David who was born with glaucoma. HKIE has been helping with special eye drops (and a previous 2 surgeries) and his vision remains clear!

Pictured is child 384, 5 year old Maykol, who had his eye removed several years ago due to cancer. It was necessary to wait until he was through with all his chemo before he could recieve a prosthetic eye. Due to the waiting period between the eye removal and now, his eye socket needed surgery with Dra Mariela Siguencia to prepare him for his prosthethic eye.
Maykol was referred to HKIE and Dra Siguencia by the Solca Cancer Hospital in Cuenca.
Also, this week, little Carlitos had his 6th surgical procedure on his scars. What a brave little boy. All six surgeries were performed by Dr Pablo.
Today, our little cutie Jandry, was to have his surgery on the other side for his webbed hands and feet. (The results from the first surgery are so incredible you cannot tell anything was done.)
Unfortunately his hemoglobin count was too low; this afternoon he will see our pediatrician Dr Niera at Hospital del Rio. Jandry will be provided with supplements and return in a month or two for some more blood work.
Our last child is young Roberto who recieved his prosthetic eye 2 years ago and saw Dra Mariela the other day for a check up. He is doing great!
All these children have a better future thanks to our supporters and our doctors! Thanks!

Helping Kids in Ecuador (HKIE) Child 363
This is 4 year old Luis Gabriel. His left ear was significantly larger and protruder more than his other ear. You can imagine the teasing he endured! This last week, Dr. Pablo Javier Salamea Molina perfomed osteoplasty on this young child to have his ears match.
This is the fifth child helped by the money raised by The Fishbon del Sur play.
Thanks to the donors, Dr Pablo and Hospital del Rio, little Luis will look and feel like the rest of his peers.

This is David Alexander who turns 10 in 2 days. He was born with a severe hearing loss.The family lives in a small community (San Francisco) in the Amazon region about a 10 hour bus ride from Cuenca. We were contacted by Rocio of Cetap Lucy and made an appointment for a hearing test with Dr. Diego Maldonado at Hospital del Rio. He called around to get us the best deal on David's hearing aids.
As you can tell by the photo, he was so excited to be hearing. He is now very excited to get back to the classroom.
Thanks to Dr. Diego, Salud Audativa and our supporters, this young man will have a much brighter future!

Pictured is 8 year old Kelli. She has had minimal vision in her left eye since birth. Unfortunately she needed treatment and glasses to allow her brain to "see" through that eye. The doctors at this point could only give her glasses to increase vision in the left eye to 50%. Fortunately with her other eye at 20/20 she will be able to cope. Thank you Exilaser and Dr. Giuseppe Miotto for waiving the eye exam fee and for the generous discount for her glasses!
Also pictured is 13 year old Luis. Last week Dr Pablo Performed surgery on his nose and repaired his lip at Hospital Del Rio.
As he always does, Dr Pablo waived his surgical fees and Hospital Del Rio gave HKIE a significant discount! Thank You!
Both children will have improved lives thanks to our generous donors.