Sitha is a 43-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. She has one son and two daughters, and she enjoys watching Khmer dramas on television.
Ten years ago, Sitha developed a pterygium in her left eye, causing her photophobia, blurry vision, irritation, and redness. 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 Sitha learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, she traveled for one hour seeking treatment. Sitha 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 June 3.
Her daughter says, “I hope that after my mother’s operation, she will be able to see clearly and her condition will go away.”