Ry is a 59-year-old rice farmer. He is married with one son and three daughters. He lives with his wife and his youngest daughter who are also farmers. Ry enjoys spending his free time time listening to the news on the radio and watching TV.
Four years ago, Ry developed a pterygium in his left eye, causing him itchiness, tearing, 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. Ry now has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside.
When Ry learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, he traveled for two and a half hours seeking treatment. Ry needs surgery to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a graft to prevent recurrence. The total cost of his procedure is $225. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. The procedure is scheduled for October 10th.
Ry says, “I hope after surgery my eye will feel comfortable and I can go back to planting crops without difficulty seeing. I’d like not to worry about my eye anymore.”