Yen is an 81-year-old nun. Widowed during the Khmer Rouge period, Yen was a single mom of two daughters and earned a living by rice farming and odd jobs. Her daughters have married and moved out to nearby villages, but visit often along with Yen’s seven grandchildren. She lives in a pagoda in Prey Veng province near the Vietnamese border, where she helps cook, clean, and take care of the cats. In her downtime at the pagoda, she enjoyed reading Buddhist books, but has not been able to read for several months due to deteriorating eyesight.
Around three months ago, Yen developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her blurry vision and watery eyes. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, so it is like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so is not able to go places on her own.
When Yen learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, she traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. On December 5th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. She and her family are able to contribute towards the cost of her treatment, but need help raising $228 more to fund the surgery.
She shared, “I would like to see more clearly so that I can read again and do my work at the pagoda.”

