{"id":1652,"date":"2021-08-14T14:06:34","date_gmt":"2021-08-14T14:06:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hqd.mah.mybluehost.me\/themes\/anymag\/multi\/?p=1652"},"modified":"2024-05-20T16:02:56","modified_gmt":"2024-05-20T21:02:56","slug":"a-jar-on-a-bar-led-to-the-formation-of-helping-kids-in-ecuador","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/2021\/08\/14\/a-jar-on-a-bar-led-to-the-formation-of-helping-kids-in-ecuador\/","title":{"rendered":"CITIZEN JOURNALISM &#8211; A Jar On A Bar Led To The Formation Of \u201cHelping Kids In Ecuador\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"1652\" class=\"elementor elementor-1652\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9e033cb e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"9e033cb\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;boxed&quot;}\" data-core-v316-plus=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4d506e9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"4d506e9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.19.0 - 29-01-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"331\" src=\"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/LOGO-HELPING-KIDS-IN-ECUADOR-.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-2461\" alt=\"LOGO-HELPING-KIDS-IN-ECUADOR-\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/LOGO-HELPING-KIDS-IN-ECUADOR-.jpg 768w, https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/LOGO-HELPING-KIDS-IN-ECUADOR--300x129.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e0f3fbb e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"e0f3fbb\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;boxed&quot;}\" data-core-v316-plus=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3fce754 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3fce754\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;full&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7f7d275 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7f7d275\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.19.0 - 29-01-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p><em><strong>Cuenca Expats Magazine &#8211; Issue 44<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>By Ashley Rogers<br \/>Photos courtesy of HKIE<\/p>\n<p>It all started with a jar on a bar, according to Helping Kids in Ecuador\u2019s co-founders, Tod and Mary Freeman. In 2011, in Salinas, Ecuador, a restaurateur was raising money for his employee\u2019s 16-month-old girl, who was born without an anal track.<\/p>\n<p>With no prior experience, the Freemans started a small fundraising campaign. \u201cWe made raffle tickets out of cut paper,\u201d says Mary,<\/p>\n<p>\u201cand we, along with our co-founders, Peggy and Will Saunders, were able to get this child the surgery she needed. It was a great feeling and we decided, maybe, we can help some other kids.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>And, they did! From these humble beginnings, a miraculous organization, Helping Kids in Ecuador (HKIE), was born and to date more than 1,000 children have been helped.<\/p>\n<p>HKIE is a US 501.c3 charity providing lifesaving and life-changing surgeries to underprivileged children throughout Ecuador. Surgeries range from heart defects, birth defects, cleft lip and web finger repairs to burn reconstruction and eye surgeries. They have also provided eye and leg prosthetics, wheelchairs, PT, leg braces, and temporary medicines.<\/p>\n<p>In 2013, the Freemans moved to Cuenca and had a chance meeting with Dr. Pablo Salamea, of Hospital del Rio, asking to help a child get a cochlear implant. Dr. Pablo was smitten, and is currently the Foundation\u2019s Medical Director.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d615abd elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"d615abd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"411\" height=\"593\" src=\"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Daniel-HKIEs-first-heart-patient.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-2462\" alt=\"Daniel, HKIE&#039;s first heart patient\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Daniel-HKIEs-first-heart-patient.jpg 411w, https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Daniel-HKIEs-first-heart-patient-208x300.jpg 208w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 411px) 100vw, 411px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2f2c1be e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2f2c1be\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;full&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a4d3d18 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a4d3d18\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u201cHe\u2019s the best thing that ever happened to us,\u201d according to Tod. \u201cHe\u2019s personally donated his time for more than 200 surgeries, rallied other doctors to also donate their time (including his brothers Rafael, an anesthesiologist and Juan Carlos, a trauma surgeon). He also encouraged the administrators of Hospital del Rio to give us discounts. Without these surgeons and anesthesiologists donating their skill and time, HKIE would not be the success it is.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This trifecta of amazing doctors, hospitals and HKIE donors has, indeed, made this impossible mission exceed expectations.<\/p>\n<p>Not only have they helped 1,000 kids but HKIE is now also working with Hospital Metropolitano in Quito and Roberto Gilbert Hospital in Guayaquil.<\/p>\n<p>One of HKIE\u2019s most heart-wrenching and dramatic patients was Daniel, who was born with a heart defect. When HKIE learned of Daniel\u2019s illness, he was 11 years old. His prognosis was that he would die within a couple of months.\u00a0 HKIE intervened and today Daniel is 21 years old and is studying to be an engineer.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u00a0\u201cYou can\u2019t imagine the feeling we get when we\u2019re able to help a child and his family live a normal, healthy life,\u201d says Mary. \u201c<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>And the parents can\u2019t believe that strangers from another country are the ones who helped them. We will forever be grateful for Dr. Pablo, his team, the hospitals, and all the kind-hearted people who have given so generously over the years. It is the ultimate honor and it\u2019s an honor we all share.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-005ec03 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"005ec03\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"526\" height=\"743\" src=\"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Daniel-is-now-19-and-is-studying-to-be-an-engineer-thanks-to-HKIE.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-2463\" alt=\"Daniel is now 19 and is studying to be an engineer thanks to HKIE\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Daniel-is-now-19-and-is-studying-to-be-an-engineer-thanks-to-HKIE.jpg 526w, https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Daniel-is-now-19-and-is-studying-to-be-an-engineer-thanks-to-HKIE-212x300.jpg 212w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 526px) 100vw, 526px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4b2631c e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"4b2631c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;boxed&quot;}\" data-core-v316-plus=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b229577 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b229577\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>For more information on HKIE or to donate to this charity, go to helpingkidsinecuador.org.<\/p>\n<p>For updates on children, see Helping Kids in Ecuador on Facebook.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cuenca Expats Magazine &#8211; Issue 44 By Ashley RogersPhotos courtesy of HKIE It all started with a jar on a bar, according to Helping Kids in Ecuador\u2019s co-founders, Tod and Mary Freeman. In 2011, in Salinas, Ecuador, a restaurateur was raising money for his employee\u2019s 16-month-old girl, who was born without an anal track. With [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":2458,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[54,318],"tags":[101,103,64,102,104,66],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1652"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1652"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1652\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2469,"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1652\/revisions\/2469"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2458"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1652"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1652"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1652"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}