Srean is a 60-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. Srean is married and has three sons, two daughters, and ten grandchildren. Her husband is also a rice farmer. Srean enjoys listening to the monks praying on the radio or in the pagoda.
Ten years ago, Srean developed a pterygium in her right eye, causing her burning, irritation, and discomfort with her appearance. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye. The growths occur when the conjunctiva is exposed to excessive sun damage and the cells grow abnormally over the pupil. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside.
When Srean learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours by taxi with her daughter seeking treatment. Srean needs a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. The total cost of her procedure is $216. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. The procedure is scheduled for October 19th.
Srean shared, “I hope after my surgery my eye irritation will stop so I can go back to my work without discomfort and I won’t have to worry about my eye getting any worse.”