Thy is a 56-year-old housewife from Cambodia. She has three children, two grandchildren, and enjoys listening to music on the radio.
Four years ago, Thy developed a pterygium in her right eye, causing her irritation and tearing. 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 Thy learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, she traveled for one and a half hours seeking treatment. Thy 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 May 2.
She says, “I hope that my eyes heal after surgery and I will no longer have any tearing and will be able to see clearly again.”