Meet Phalla, a 49-year-old farmer who lives with her husband, four sons, and daughter in Cambodia.
Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), tells us: “Phalla has a pterygium in both eyes that gives her burning sensations and makes her vision blurred.”
A pterygium is triangular growth of tissue in the eye that extends from the inner or outer corner of the eye toward the center. The tissue appears as a white or pink membrane on the surface of the eye. It often is not noticeable until it begins to cover the iris—the colored portion of the eye. Symptoms include discomfort and blurry vision, both of which Phalla is experiencing.
“Phalla no longer goes to the farm because it is too uncomfortable for her to be outside for long periods. Her face is also red and puffy from all the scratching she does,” shares CSC.
With $150 in funding, Phalla will undergo surgery to remove the pterygium from each of her eyes. Funding also covers medication and post-operative follow-up care. CSC tells us that, after surgery, “Phalla will no longer have problems in her eyes.”
Phalla looks forward to regaining her independence after surgery. She plans to return to the farm and to sell groceries to make money for her family.
Let’s help fund Phalla’s eye surgery!