Somphors is a 51-year-old traditional Khmer noodle seller from Cambodia. She’s married and has two sons, two daughters, and two grandchildren. Somphors lives with her husband who is a construction worker. She sells Khmer noodles in the morning and in the afternoon she works as a laborer with her husband. Somphors likes to listen to the news and music on the radio.
Three years ago, Somphors developed a pterygium in her left eye, causing her itching, irritation, and burning. 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.
When Somphors learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, she traveled for two and a half hours seeking treatment. Somphors 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 $216. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. The procedure is scheduled for October 26th.
Somphors said, “I hope after surgery my eye gets better. I want to focus on my noodle selling and not worry about my eye anymore.”