Chanthy is a nurse from Cambodia. She has one daughter and one son. She enjoys sewing and watching Thai dramas on TV.
About 18 years ago, Chanthy developed a pterygium in her right eye, causing her blurry vision, pain, irritation, and photophobia. 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 Chanthy learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, she traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. Chanthy 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 $201. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. The procedure is scheduled for April 2.
She says, “I hope I can see everything clearly after surgery. I want to continue my work at the hospital again. I hope to be able to go outside without my pterygium problems anymore.”