Phong is a lovely grandmother from Kampong Cham province, Cambodia. She is 77 years old and works as a street food vendor. She is a widow; her husband passed away six months ago due to liver disease. She has three sons, two daughters, and ten grandchildren. Currently, she lives with her third daughter, who works in a garment factory. In her free time, she enjoys visiting the pagoda.
Five years ago, Phong developed a pterygium in her right eye, causing her excessive tearing, irritation, and redness, which made her feel uncomfortable. 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, wind, or dust, and the cells grow abnormally over the pupil. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside.
When Phong learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. Phong needs a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. She is scheduled for surgery on May 4th. Phong can contribute $25, but needs help raising $273 more to fund her procedure and care.
Phong said, “I hope that after surgery, my vision will improve so I can see clearly again, move around easily, and continue going out to sell food as before.”