Sok is a 70-year-old retired rice farmer. She and her husband have one son, four daughters, and many grandchildren. After retiring from farming, they moved in with their oldest daughter. When she’s not helping her daughter with the house, Sok likes to listen to the monks pray on the radio.
One year ago, Sok developed a pterygium in her right eye, causing her tearing and irritation. She shared that it feels like she always has sand in her eye. 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.
When Sok learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On June 10th, Sok will undergo surgery to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent a recurrence. CSC is requesting $225 to fund the total cost of her procedure, which covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days.
Sok says, “After surgery, I hope my eye will feel comfortable so I can go outside and take care of my husband and help my daughter to take care of her children.”