Hour is an elderly assistant village chief who is married and has two daughters, six sons, and 20 grandchildren. He currently lives with his wife and their youngest son, who is a farmer. Hour enjoys listening to the news and to monks pray on the radio.
Five years ago, Hour developed a pterygium in his right eye, causing him to experience itchiness, eye tearing, and blurry vision. 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. Due to his condition, he has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside.
When Hour learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, he traveled for four and a half hours seeking treatment. Hour 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 his procedure is $225. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. The procedure is scheduled for July 6th.
Hour says, “I hope I can read books well and my eye stops hurting.”
