Yoeun is a 64-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. Yoeun has one son, three daughters, and five grandchildren. She has been living with one of her daughters since her husband passed away. Yoeun spends most of her time looking after her grandchildren while their parents are at work. She also likes to visit the local pagodas.
One year ago, Yoeun developed a pterygium in her left eye, causing her blurry vision, itchiness, tearing, and a burning sensation in her eye. 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 Yoeun learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, she traveled for many hours to the hospital seeking treatment. Yoeun 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 May 12th.
Yoeun said, “I hope that after surgery I will finally be able to see things clearly, and that my eye irritation will go away once and for all. I can’t wait to play with my grandchildren, and I even want to help out again with farming.”