Tha is a 55-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. She has five children, five grandchildren, and enjoys listening to the monks pray on the radio in her spare time.
Three years ago, Tha developed a pterygium in left, causing her tearing, irritation, 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. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside.
When Tha learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, she traveled for four and a half hours seeking treatment. Tha 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 September 10.
“I hope that after my surgery I can see clearly and am able to go outside on my own and return to planting rice.”