Vanna is a rice farmer from Cambodia. She has two sons, three daughters, and seven grandchildren. She enjoys watching the news and Thai films and chatting with her neighbors.
Four years ago, Vanna developed a pterygium in both eyes, causing her blurred vision, irritation, pain, tearing, and itching. 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 Vanna learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, she traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. Vanna 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 April 23.
She says, “I hope I am looking good and can see better so that I can continue my work and go anywhere outside by myself.”