Yom is a 49-year-old rice farmer who lives with her husband, daughter, and grandchildren on a farm in a province many hours away from the capital city, Phnom Penh, in Cambodia. In her spare time, Yom likes to watch funny stories on her phone.
Several years ago, Yom developed a pterygium in her left eye, causing itching, teariness, and difficulty seeing outside. 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. As a result, Yom has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going outside.
When Yom learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), she traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. Doctors recommended surgery to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. CSC is requesting $216 to fund this procedure and cover the costs of medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. Yom’s surgery is scheduled for November 25th.
Yom shared, “I hope my eye can see better after surgery, and it won’t look bad anymore. I want to help my husband outside again with crops.”