Touch is a 51-year-old rice farmer. She is married and has two daughters, four sons, and five grandchildren. Touch lives with her husband who is also a rice farmer. She likes to watch movies on TV.
Seven years ago, Touch developed a pterygium in her left eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. 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 places outside.
When Touch learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, she traveled for four and a half hours seeking treatment. Touch 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 $225. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. The procedure is scheduled for June 13th.
Touch says, “I hope after surgery my eye stops tearing and burning and I feel comfortable again.”