Pha is a baker from Cambodia. She makes Khmer cakes. She likes watching Thai films and social dramas. She enjoys listening to the news on the radio.
Three years ago, Pha developed a pterygium in her left eye, causing her blurry vision, burning, 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 Pha learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. Pha 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 June 12.
She says, “I hope my eye is good looking without the pterygium so that I can continue my business as a seller of Khmer cakes.”
