Kea is a 79-year-old rice miller. He is married and has one daughter, one son, and five grandchildren. Last year, due to his age, Kea and his wife moved in with their daughter, who is a midwife at a local clinic. Before his retirement last year, he ran the rice mill, which processed raw rice grown by villagers, turning it into edible white rice by removing the outer husk and bran layers.
One year ago, Kea developed a cataract in his left eye, causing him blurry vision and difficulty seeing in bright or low light. Because his daughter has a traditional stilt house, he has difficulty navigating the stairs and needs assistance. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, so it is like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. As a result of this condition, Kea has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so he cannot go places on his own.
When Kea learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, he traveled for two and a half hours seeking treatment. On March 3rd, doctors will perform phacoemulsification surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his left eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Kea’s family contributed $35, but need an additional $218 to fund this procedure.
Kea said: “I hope, after my operation, I can walk around by myself and enjoy life with my family.”