This is 4 year old Andres from the Cotacachi area. He was born with a condition called Macroglossia. As you can see his condition makes speaking impossible. The only way he can eat is with his parents holding his tongue down and putting soft food at the back of his mouth to swallow.
The expat community in that area held a fundraiser to help little Andres, but he needs at least 3 months of medical treatment through Hospital Metropolitano in Quito. Then the doctors will reevaluate his case to see if surgery is possible.
HKIE has wrapped this young man in our "blanket" to insure he gets the care needed. How could we say no? Andres and his family has HKIE and our loyal donors ready to help!
Thanks to Paulette Mayfield for bringing him to our attention and to all of the people who attended their fundraiser.

First is 18 month old Pedro who had his cleft palate repaired by Dr. Pablo Salamea Molina at Hospital del Rio.He will now be able to learn to speak correctly and will have no problem chewing his food.
Second is Jhander. Some of you may remember from 4 years ago when HKIE paid for his first heart procedure at Sta Ines Hospital. The doctors had said the surgery was a matter of life and death. He has since had 2 more procedures done at IESS.
Last week he was released from Sta Ines after his fourth heart procedure to put in another stint. His blood saturation level pre surgery was only 74%. The surgeons fell good aout this surgery and Jhander is happy to be on his way home.
As you can imagine, both families are so thankful to HKIE, our generous supporters, hospitals and medical staff for giving their. children the opportunity to have a healthy, normal life.

Helping Kids in Ecuador (HKIE) Child 330
Pictured is 15 year old Bryan with Dr Mendoza from Hospital del Rio. Bryan's plight was brought to our attention by our friend and supporter Derrylyn Churchill. He is in desperate need of heart surgery...his father having died within the last year of the same heart disease.
In his present condition, he can only walk about half a block before he needs to stop and catch his breath.
Bryan and his family were told that without the surgery his life expectancy would be very short. We had Bryan seen by Dr. Mendoza in the hopes he could repair the heart through angioplasty. After several exams, it was decided he needs open heart surgery.
Bryan was sent to Hospital Metropolitano in Quito where they have several pediatric heart surgeons. He had many more tests there also and it has been decided he will have his (8 to 10 hour) open heart surgery this coming Tuesday..
While they know the risks involved with this surgery, the surgical team took the time to explain exactly what they would be doing and made the entire family very comfortable and confident that all will go well.
He needs his aortic valve replaced; also two areas of his aortic artery are in need of repair: one area being restricted and the other too open.
To date this is the most difficult and expensive surgery HKIE has ever taken on.
Please keep Bryan and his family in your prayers and thoughts while they go through this very difficult surgery and recovery.
More updates coming..

​This is 4 year old Jeremi.
Jereni was involved in a horrible automobile accident when he was one old and literally lost most of his face. The family was told by the clinic in Quito there was nothing to be done. Fortunately the family was able to contact a German foundation there which arranged with a hospital in Germany to perform whatever surgeries necessary or possible there. The only cost to the family would be their transportation.
Jeremi has had several surgeries and is leaving in October for another: this one to create a mouth.
In the meantime Jeremi needed a new prosthetic to cover most of his face and create an eye and a nose. Thanks to Dra Mariela Elisa Siguencia Siguencia, Dr Pablo Salamea Molina, Hospital del Rio, and most importantly, our HKIE supporters, Jeremi received his prosthetic face piece.
His mother know feels she can take him out in public and perhaps get him in school.
Once Jeremi has suffiicent time to recover from his next surgery, we will bring back to Cuenca to see if any of his future surgeries can done here.
What a life changer for Jeremi!!
A huge thank you goes out to our friend Ed Lindquist from Expat Magazine for bringing Jeremi to our attention. Thanks Ed!

This is Belen, a year and a half old little one from the coast. Over a year ago HKIE provided hydrocephalus (water on the brain) surgery for her.
This last month we were informed she had a hernia, but that the surgery could be more dangerous than normal due to a weak heart. Fortunately, thanks to Sr Veronica from the Palmar Clinic, she was admitted to a hospital in Guayaquil where she had her hernia successfully repaired with no ill effects.
Her parents are grateful to all the HKIE supporters who made both surgeries possible.

Mary Freeman
May 29 at 2:12pm · Helping Kids in Ecuador (HKIE) Child #264
HKIE supporters take a bow! You again helped to save a child's life!!!
This is 5 month old Reyna following her kidney surgery.
HKIE was informed by Hospital Metropolitano in Quito, in April, that there was desperate need for a baby to have emergency surgery to prevent renal failure. Unfortunately little Reyna also had a high fever which prevented the immediate surgery. She was admitted to ICU until she was out of danger and put on medication to stabilize her and was watched closely for weeks.
Two weeks ago she had her surgery and the doctors were able to save her kidney. As you can tell, that is one extremely happy and thankful mom!
Thanks again to all our supporters who made this happen, and to Fundacion Metrofraternidad in Quito for covering half the hospital cost, and the doctors who perform these miracles at no cost.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
If Ecuadorians celebrated Thanksgiving Day, this family would certainly be celebrating!
This is 4 year old Betsy who lives below Palmar on the coast. She was brought to the attention of HKIE by Sister Veronica in Palmar. This morning Dr. Pablo Javier Salamea Molina met with her and reviewed the tests. He immediately called in a maxillofacial specialist who after seeing her, called in another doctor...an orthodontist. So the family is seeing 3 doctors: Dr Pablo, Dr Hugo, the maxillofacial specialist, and Dr Jose Urgilles, the orthodontist. The family was pleasantly overwhelmed by the attention given to their daughter by these specialists.
Dr. Pablo will perform surgery Monday to remove the growths at the sides of her mouth and also close the edges of her mouth to correct the size. After three months the orthodontist will make a plate to correct her bite. Then at the age of six the maxillofacial specialist will perform a surgery to correct her jaw alignment.
The family will stay at the Buen Samaritano House (our version of the Ronald McDonald House in the US) until after the surgery, receiving free room and board.
Mom and dad are excited...seeing a positive future for their delightful little girl. This Thanksgiving gift is made possible by the supporters of HKIE and the generosity of these three doctors.

Update on Daniel Alejandro​
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Most of you remember our first heart patient, Daniel from three years ago. He was a blue baby and when his mother was told that he only had months to live, HKIE became involved. His surgery was immediate and performed at Hospital Metropolitano in Quito, by one of Ecuador's foremost pediatric heart surgeons, Dr Gerardo Davalos. After his first surgery, Daniel's family was told he would likely need another one in a few years.

Now Daniel will have a right cava vein ligation surgery.. Obviously another serious operation..Needless to say, both Daniel and his mother Silvy are scared and nervous. His surgery takes place this Tuesday midday at Hospital Metropolitano with Dr. Davalos.
Please keep Daniel and his family in your thoughts and prayers during this critical time.
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And a huge thank you to the doctors and Fundacion Metropolitano and all our donors who work together to help young Daniel have a normal, full life.

Update on Daniel,
Daniel had a successful heart catheterization in Quito yesterday and he and his mom (Silvy) will return to Cuenca tomorrow.
Dr. Davalos told Silvy that Daniel will need another heart surgery but it can wait until his school break in July.
We have reassured Silvy that HKIE and our supporters will again be there for them and not to worry about the cost of the July surgery.
​The "Story of Daniel" continues!