Yoeung is 81 years old and a loving grandmother from Cambodia. She used to work as a laborer harvesting potatoes but has now stopped working due to her age. She is a widow, as her husband passed away 10 months ago. She has three sons, six daughters, and 30 grandchildren. She currently lives with her youngest daughter, who also works as a laborer harvesting potatoes. In her free time, she enjoys going to the pagoda and listening to monks praying on the radio.
Two years ago, Yoeung developed age-related cataracts in her right eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. 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 she is not able to go places on her own.
When Yoeung learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On October 15th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $263 procedure.
Yoeung shared, “I hope that after the surgery, my eyesight will improve so I can go home and recognize my relatives, move around more easily, and live a happier life.”