Leat is a 45-year-old rice farmer. She is married and has one son, one daughter, and one grandson. Leat lives with her husband, who works as a farmer, and their daughter who is in 10th grade. In her free time, Leat likes to watch movies on TV.
Two years ago, Leat developed a pterygium in her right eye, causing her irritation, burning, and tearing. 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 Leat learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, she traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. On November 8th, she will undergo 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 $216, which will cover medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days.
Leat shared, “I hope my eye gets well and the irritation finally stops. I want to return to the rice field and be comfortable with my eye.”
