Srey is a 49-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. She is married and has one daughter, two sons, and seven grandchildren. She lives with her husband, who is also a farmer. In the evening, she likes to listen to the news on the radio.
Five years ago, Srey developed a pterygium in her left eye, causing her to experience eye redness 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. She describes her condition as a film covering her eye, making it difficult to see any small details clearly. This makes it difficult for her to recognize faces, work, and go anywhere outside.
When Srey learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, she traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. Srey 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 $225. This covers supplies, treatment, and inpatient care for two days. The procedure is scheduled for August 15th.
Srey shares, “I hope that after surgery my eye can see better. I hope to plant our rice crops well so we can earn money to support our family.”